Six Rules Of The Road You Should Observe (But Probably Won't)
Journalists who cover the auto industry drive a lot of cars. Which means we like to think we know a... Read More
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The HVAC controls are integrated into one huge rotary knob with easy-to-read icons.
navigation system, which includes a touchscreen interface, voice controls...and a digital audio card reader.
Lighting in the digital speedometer glows green when you're driving most efficiently, blue when you're driving hard, blue-green in between.
in ECON mode those little fuel-wasting dithers of your accelerator foot are smoothed out
FEATURES | 7 out of 10
Expert Quotes:
The HVAC controls are integrated into one huge rotary knob with easy-to-read icons.
Car and Driver
navigation system, which includes a touchscreen interface, voice controls...and a digital audio card reader.
Edmunds
Lighting in the digital speedometer glows green when you're driving most efficiently, blue when you're driving hard, blue-green in between.
USA Today
in ECON mode those little fuel-wasting dithers of your accelerator foot are smoothed out
Road & Track
The 2012 Honda Insight starts at just over $19,100 (including a mandatory $770 destination fee), which on the surface can make it a tough sell against the remarkably good Honda Fit subcompact that sits on the same showroom floor with a price more than $3,000 lower.
The Insight doesn't skimp on equipment, though the base model was a new addition last year to respond to an even greater price differential two years ago, when the Insight was first launched. And unlike the Prius, Honda's least expensive hybrid doesn't offer a long list of high-tech options--lane assist, automated parking guidance, and the like.
The base Insight does include automatic climate control, a tilting and telescoping steering wheel, power locks and windows, remote entry, and a two-speaker audio system with a CD player.
The next trim level up is the Insight LX, at about $21,000, which adds cruise control, a center console with armrest and a storage box inside, a security alarm, and a four-speaker audio system with USB jack. For 2012, Honda has added map lights and steering-wheel controls for the audio to the LX.
The top of the 2012 range is the Insight EX, which adds paddle shifters behind the steering wheel, heated side mirrors with turn signals integrated into them, and alloy wheels. New for 2012 on the EX are automatic headlights, a Bluetooth link, and leather wrapping on the steering wheel and shift knob.
A navigation package is the only major option, and only on the EX trim level, with a 6.5-inch display and voice recognition. For 2012, the navigation system adds a rearview camera, along with FM real-time traffic alerts, and the maps are now stored on 16 GB of flash memory, rather than the previous system's DVDs.
Conclusion
A handful of new features keep the 2012 Honda Insight up to date, but it still doesn't offer most of the high-tech electronic features found on other hybrids.
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