2012 Honda Insight vs 2012 smart fortwo

2012 Honda Insight

2012 smart fortwo

Select style

5-Door CVT

Style	MPG City	MPG Hwy	Invoice	MSRP
Insight 5-Door CVT	41	44	$17,629	$18,500
Insight 5-Door CVT EX	41	44	$20,916	$21,965
Insight 5-Door CVT EX PZEV	41	44	$20,916	$21,965
Insight 5-Door CVT EX w/Navi	41	44	$22,553	$23,690
Insight 5-Door CVT EX w/Navi PZEV	41	44	$22,553	$23,690
Insight 5-Door CVT LX	41	44	$19,313	$20,275
Insight 5-Door CVT LX PZEV	41	44	$19,313	$20,275
Insight 5-Door CVT PZEV	41	44	$17,629	$18,500

Select style

2-Door Convertible Passion

Style	MPG City	MPG Hwy	Invoice	MSRP
fortwo 2-Door Convertible Passion	34	38	$16,452	$17,690
fortwo 2-Door Coupe Passion	34	38	$13,662	$14,690
fortwo 2-Door Coupe Pure	34	38	$11,616	$12,490

Show Only Differences

Pricing

Invoice Price

$17,629

$16,452

Manufacturer Suggested Retail Price

$18,500

$17,690

Monthly Payment Estimate

$308 / month

$295 / month

The Car Connection's Take

TCC Rating

7.0

Read Our Full Review

6.0

Read Our Full Review

TCC’s Bottom Line

The 2012 Honda Insight has been updated for 2012, but it has less space than other subcompacts and lower mileage than several other hybrids.

Still stylish and quirky, the 2012 Smart Fortwo can be a fun and useful car for tight urban spaces where its size and maneuverability is an asset; but for even occasional highway driving, nearly any other small car would be a better pick.

TCC Likes

Handles and maneuvers well
Ride is smooth for such a small car
Clever twin-cluster dash design

Nimble and responsive at city speeds
Actually fits tall folks
Can park nearly anywhere

TCC Dislikes

Rear seat remains tight for taller adults
Load bay is shallow
Adding options makes the price climb quickly

Busy, jittery ride
Nervous and noisy on the highway
Short on passing power

Fuel Economy

City

41 mpg

34 mpg

Highway

44 mpg

38 mpg

Vehicle

EPA Classification

Compact Cars

Minicompact

Interior Dimensions

Front Hip Room (in)

51.6

45.4

Second Leg Room (in)

33.0

Front Head Room (in)

38.4

39.7

Second Hip Room (in)

48.7

Front Shoulder Room (in)

52.7

48.0

Passenger Volume (ft³)

85.0

45.4

Second Head Room (in)

36.4

Second Shoulder Room (in)

50.4

Front Leg Room (in)

42.3

41.2

Passenger Capacity

Exterior Dimensions

Wheelbase (in)

100.4

73.5

Liftover Height (in)

- TBD -

Width, Max w/o mirrors (in)

66.7

61.4

Track Width, Front (in)

58.3

50.5

Min Ground Clearance (in)

- TBD -

Length, Overall (in)

172.3

106.1

Height, Overall (in)

56.2

60.7

Track Width, Rear (in)

58.0

54.5

Cargo Area Dimensions

Cargo Volume with Rear Seat Down (ft³)

31.5

Cargo Volume with Rear Seat Up (ft³)

15.9

Trunk Volume (ft³)

7.8

Brakes

Rear Drum Diam x Width (in)

7.9 x - TBD -

8.0 x - TBD -

Disc - Front (Yes or )

Yes

Front Brake Rotor Diam x Thickness (in)

10.3 x - TBD -

11.0 x - TBD -

Drum - Rear (Yes or )

Yes

Brake ABS System

4-Wheel

Disc - Rear (Yes or )

Rear Brake Rotor Diam x Thickness (in)

Brake Type

Pwr

Fuel Tank

Fuel Tank Capacity, Approx (gal)

10.6

8.7

Steering

Lock to Lock Turns (Steering)

3.29

- TBD -

Turning Diameter - Wall to Wall (ft)

- TBD -

Steering Ratio (:1), Overall

16.8

- TBD -

Turning Diameter - Curb to Curb (ft)

36.1

28.7

Steering Type

Electric rack & pinion

Rack & Pinion

Tires

Spare Tire Order Code

Rear Tire Size

P185/60R15

P175/55R15

Rear Tire Order Code

Front Tire Size

P185/60R15

P155/60R15

Spare Tire Size

T135/80D15

Front Tire Order Code

Trailering

Dead Weight Hitch - Max Trailer Wt. (lbs)

Wt Distributing Hitch - Max Trailer Wt. (lbs)

Dead Weight Hitch - Max Tongue Wt. (lbs)

Wt Distributing Hitch - Max Tongue Wt. (lbs)

Weight Information

Base Curb Weight (lbs)

2747

1852

Wheels

Front Wheel Material

Steel

Aluminum

Spare Wheel Material

Steel

Front Wheel Size (in)

15 x - TBD -

15 x 4.5

Spare Wheel Size (in)

Compact

Rear Wheel Material

Steel

Aluminum

Rear Wheel Size (in)

15 x - TBD -

15 x 5.5

Cooling System

Total Cooling System Capacity (qts)

- TBD -

4.5

Electrical

Cold Cranking Amps @ 0° F (Primary)

- TBD -

Maximum Alternator Capacity (amps)

- TBD -

Engine

Engine Type

Gas/Electric I4

Gas I3

Fuel System

Electronic Fuel Injection

SAE Net Torque @ RPM

123 @ 1000 - 1700

68 @ 4500

Engine Order Code

Displacement

1.3L/82

1.0/61

SAE Net Horsepower @ RPM

98 @ 5800

70 @ 5800

Mileage

Fuel Economy Est-Combined (MPG)

EPA Fuel Economy Est - Hwy (MPG)

EPA Fuel Economy Est - City (MPG)

Transmission

Final Drive Axle Ratio (:1)

4.20

4.53

Fourth Gear Ratio (:1)

0.94

Trans Description Cont.

Continuously Variable Transmission

Automatic w/Manual Shift

Sixth Gear Ratio (:1)

First Gear Ratio (:1)

3.17 - 0.53

3.31

Clutch Size (in)

- TBD -

Third Gear Ratio (:1)

1.26

Trans Type

Drivetrain

Front Wheel Drive

Rear Wheel Drive

Fifth Gear Ratio (:1)

0.71

Trans Description Cont. Again

Reverse Ratio (:1)

4.51 - 1.69

3.23

Second Gear Ratio (:1)

1.91

Trans Order Code

Summary

Body Style

Hatchback

2 Door Cabriolet

Vehicle Name

Honda Insight

Smart fortwo

Suspension

Shock Absorber Diameter - Rear (mm)

- TBD -

Suspension Type - Front

MacPherson strut

MacPherson Strut

Stabilizer Bar Diameter - Rear (in)

Suspension Type - Front (Cont.)

Shock Absorber Diameter - Front (mm)

- TBD -

Stabilizer Bar Diameter - Front (in)

0.71

Suspension Type - Rear

Torsion-beam

DeDion

Suspension Type - Rear (Cont.)

Emissions

Tons/yr of CO2 Emissions @ 15K mi/year

4.0

5.1

EPA Greenhouse Gas Score

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