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2010 Honda Insight Features Review

June 15, 2009

FEATURES | 6 out of 10

Expert Quotes:

Mainly functional features that distinguish the EX
Cars.com

Emphasis here is on bringing down the price of hybrid benefits more than pushing out the technical frontier
Car and Driver

Base LX is surprisingly deficient: no stability control, center storage or map lights
USA Today

When you make the decision to purchase a 2010 Honda Insight, you won't have many options to choose from. In fact, the only real question is whether you want the 2010 Insight in EX or LX trim, since TheCarConnection.com's research shows that virtually no options are available on the all-new Honda Insight.

Although both trims of the 2010 Honda Insight are quite cheap, there is a huge disparity between the equipment levels found on each. Cars.com reports that "it's mainly functional features that distinguish the [2010 Insight] EX, including cruise control, a USB audio interface, seatback pockets, visor vanity mirrors, [and] a center armrest storage console between the front seats." Car and Driver remarks that "the emphasis here is on bringing down the price of hybrid benefits more than pushing out the technical frontier," which explains why the base 2010 Honda LX is so lightly equipped. According to Edmunds, the 2010 Honda Insight LX "comes standard with 15-inch steel wheels, full power accessories, automatic climate control...and a four-speaker CD audio system with an auxiliary jack," and not much else after that. USA Today properly describes the 2010 Honda Insight LX as "surprisingly deficient," with "no stability control, center storage or map lights," and thus, "Honda expects 65% of buyers to take the fancier EX."

You might expect that, with such a limited standard features list, options would play a large role in outfitting and personalizing this 2010 Honda. In reality, however, absolutely no options are available for the Honda Insight LX. With the 2010 Honda Insight EX, Edmunds reports "the lone option is a navigation system...that includes voice-activated controls and Bluetooth connectivity."

Conclusion

The 2010 Honda Insight is the obvious choice for a fun and cheap hybrid, but for cutting-edge technology features, you'll have to look elsewhere.

FEATURES | 6 out of 10Expert Quotes:Mainly functional features that distinguish the EXCars.comEmphasis here is on bringing down the price of hybrid benefits more than pushing out the technical frontierCar and DriverBase LX is surprisingly deficient: no stability control, center storage or map lightsUSA Today When you make the decision to purchase a 2010 Honda Insight, you won't have many options to choose from. In fact, the only real question is whether you want the 2010 Insight in EX or LX trim, since TheCarConnection.com's research shows that virtually no options are available on the all-new Honda Insight. Although both trims of the 2010 Honda Insight are quite cheap, there is a huge disparity between the equipment levels found on each. Cars.com reports that "it's mainly functional features that distinguish the [2010 Insight] EX, including cruise control, a USB audio interface, seatback pockets, visor vanity mirrors, [and] a center armrest storage console between the front seats." Car and Driver remarks that "the emphasis here is on bringing down the price of hybrid benefits more than pushing out the technical frontier," which explains why the base 2010 Honda LX is so lightly equipped. According to Edmunds, the 2010 Honda Insight LX "comes standard with 15-inch steel wheels, full power accessories, automatic climate control...and a four-speaker CD audio system with an auxiliary jack," and not much else after that. USA Today properly describes the 2010 Honda Insight LX as "surprisingly deficient," with "no stability control, center storage or map lights," and thus, "Honda expects 65% of buyers to take the fancier EX." You might expect that, with such a limited standard features list, options would play a large role in outfitting and personalizing this 2010 Honda. In reality, however, absolutely no options are available for the Honda Insight LX. With the 2010 Honda Insight EX, Edmunds reports "the lone option is a navigation system...that includes voice-activated controls and Bluetooth connectivity." ConclusionThe 2010 Honda Insight is the obvious choice for a fun and cheap hybrid, but for cutting-edge technology features, you'll have to look elsewhere. 2010 HONDA INSIGHT STYLING | [7 out of 10] Cars.com: "More distinctive and much better-looking than the current Prius" Jalopnik: "Looks like a cynical attempt to copy the Toyota Prius . It's not" Automobile Magazine: " Honda owners who get behind the wheel of the new Insight will feel ...

Read More of this Review:

  1. styling
  2. performance
  3. quality
  4. safety
  5. features

Other Choices:

The new Insight enters a segment of the new-car market long dominated by the Toyota Prius, and only the Prius. To a lesser degree, the Honda Civic Hybrid has competed with the Prius; unlike the Prius and the new Insight, the Civic Hybrid has essentially the same outward appearance as the mainstream Civic sedan models, but with Honda's IMA hybrid system to yield fuel economy ratings of 40 mpg city, 45 mpg highway. The 2010 Honda Insight has a similar hybrid system, but the rest of the package is unique, with a versatile hatchback arrangement and a more memorable look that screams "hybrid." Backseat headroom is a bit short in the Insight. Another alternative is Honda's own Fit, which returns fuel economy in the 30s in normal driving and has an amazingly vast and versatile interior, thanks to the so-called Magic Seat arrangement, along with very crisp, responsive handling. Those who plan to do a lot of highway driving will also be happy with the Jetta Sportwagen TDI, which gets similar mileage on the highway, in a big, roomy vehicle, albeit with lower numbers in the city. Then there's the Smart Fortwo, which some might consider alongside the Insight, but the Fortwo is more of a novelty. It only fits two, parking is a snap, and fuel economy approaches 40 mpg; however, the ride is very choppy, the seats are skimpy, and it's twitchy on the highway. But stop the presses! The Prius will be completely redesigned for the 2010 model year, adding interior space, safety and luxury features, and improvements to the hybrid system, resulting in even better fuel economy and a more responsive powertrain.

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See the Honda Insight in Other Years:

2010 | 2009 | 2006 | 2005 | 2004 | 2003 | 2002 | 2001 | 2000

Comments (2 total)

  1. By Carl F Thelin #1, Posted: 6/4/2009

    "Honda owners who get behind the wheel of the new Insight will feel instantly at home." That says a lot for consistent, and logical ergonomics found in Honda and Toyota vehicles. Look around the industry and see how many varieties of "cruise control" buttons and levers there are. SAE tries to standardize ergonomics but...

  2. By Bruce Clark #2, Posted: 6/5/2009

    Crash test results are now in and posted on the government website. Five star frontal driver rating, four star frontal passenger. Five star side impact ratings. Great rollover ratings too.

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