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2010 Honda Insight Safety Review

June 15, 2009

SAFETY | 8 out of 10

Expert Quotes:

Not yet tested
IIHS

Not yet tested
NHTSA

All Insights come standard with antilock brakes (front disc/rear drum)
Edmunds

As of this writing, the 2010 Honda Insight hasn't been crash-tested yet. However, Honda has a long safety pedigree, and editors at TheCarConnection.com expect better-than-average scores for this compact 2010 Honda hybrid. Stay tuned to TheCarConnection.com for the latest updates on the 2010 Insight's crash-test scores.

Aside from the pending crash-test scores, TheCarConnection.com's editors note that the 2010 Honda Insight has most of the requisite safety equipment. Standard safety features on the 2010 Insight include "antilock brakes and side-impact and side curtain airbags," according to Cars.com. Cars.com reviewers also point out that "the front seats also have active head restraints." Unfortunately, Edmunds reports that the base 2010 Honda hybrid "LX lacks stability control and traction control, which come standard on the EX." These lifesaving features alone might make the jump up to the EX trim of the 2010 Honda Insight worth the extra couple thousand dollars that the upgraded model will cost you.

One area where this 2010 Honda excels is, surprisingly, driver visibility. Typically, these teardrop-shaped hatchbacks have poor rearward visibility, but Automobile Magazine reports that "rear visibility isn't bad through the CRX-style split hatch glass" that adorns the tailgate of the 2010 Honda Insight. Cars.com also states that "visibility is very good to the front and sides" from the driver's seat of the Honda Insight.

Conclusion

Crash-test data should only confirm that the 2010 Honda Insight is family-safe.

SAFETY | 8 out of 10Expert Quotes:Not yet testedIIHSNot yet testedNHTSAAll Insights come standard with antilock brakes (front disc/rear drum)Edmunds As of this writing, the 2010 Honda Insight hasn't been crash-tested yet. However, Honda has a long safety pedigree, and editors at TheCarConnection.com expect better-than-average scores for this compact 2010 Honda hybrid. Stay tuned to TheCarConnection.com for the latest updates on the 2010 Insight's crash-test scores. Aside from the pending crash-test scores, TheCarConnection.com's editors note that the 2010 Honda Insight has most of the requisite safety equipment. Standard safety features on the 2010 Insight include "antilock brakes and side-impact and side curtain airbags," according to Cars.com. Cars.com reviewers also point out that "the front seats also have active head restraints." Unfortunately, Edmunds reports that the base 2010 Honda hybrid "LX lacks stability control and traction control, which come standard on the EX." These lifesaving features alone might make the jump up to the EX trim of the 2010 Honda Insight worth the extra couple thousand dollars that the upgraded model will cost you. One area where this 2010 Honda excels is, surprisingly, driver visibility. Typically, these teardrop-shaped hatchbacks have poor rearward visibility, but Automobile Magazine reports that "rear visibility isn't bad through the CRX-style split hatch glass" that adorns the tailgate of the 2010 Honda Insight. Cars.com also states that "visibility is very good to the front and sides" from the driver's seat of the Honda Insight. ConclusionCrash-test data should only confirm that the 2010 Honda Insight is family-safe. 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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