2012 Honda Insight vs 2012 Toyota Prius

2012 Honda Insight

2012 Toyota Prius

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

5-Door HB Five

Style	MPG City	MPG Hwy	Invoice	MSRP
Prius 5-Door HB Five	51	48	$27,744	$29,805
Prius 5-Door HB Four	51	48	$26,284	$28,235
Prius 5-Door HB One	51	48	$21,864	$23,015
Prius 5-Door HB Three	51	48	$23,799	$25,265
Prius 5-Door HB Two	51	48	$22,560	$24,000
Prius Plug-In 5-Door HB	51	49	$30,721	$32,000
Prius Plug-In 5-Door HB Advanced	51	49	$37,945	$39,525

Show Only Differences

Pricing

Invoice Price

$17,629

$27,744

Manufacturer Suggested Retail Price

$18,500

$29,805

Monthly Payment Estimate

$308 / month

$497 / month

The Car Connection's Take

TCC Rating

7.0

Read Our Full Review

7.6

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.

The 2012 Toyota Prius remains the highest-mileage car offered in the U.S., and it's a practical and capacious mid-size hatchback with room for five

TCC Likes

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

Best gas mileage of any car
Capacious cabin
Useful hatchback utility

TCC Dislikes

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

Lifeless driving experience
Flying-buttress console limits knee room
Hard plastics hardly luxurious

Fuel Economy

City

41 mpg

51 mpg

Highway

44 mpg

48 mpg

Vehicle

EPA Classification

Compact Cars

Midsize Cars

Interior Dimensions

Passenger Capacity

Front Hip Room (in)

51.6

52.7

Second Leg Room (in)

33.0

36.0

Front Head Room (in)

38.4

38.6

Second Hip Room (in)

48.7

51.2

Front Shoulder Room (in)

52.7

54.9

Passenger Volume (ft³)

85.0

93.7

Second Head Room (in)

36.4

37.6

Second Shoulder Room (in)

50.4

53.1

Front Leg Room (in)

42.3

42.5

Exterior Dimensions

Track Width, Rear (in)

58.0

59.4

Wheelbase (in)

100.4

106.3

Liftover Height (in)

- TBD -

Width, Max w/o mirrors (in)

66.7

68.7

Track Width, Front (in)

58.3

59.6

Min Ground Clearance (in)

- TBD -

5.5

Length, Overall (in)

172.3

175.6

Height, Overall (in)

56.2

58.7

Cargo Area Dimensions

Cargo Volume with Rear Seat Down (ft³)

31.5

67.3

Cargo Volume with Rear Seat Up (ft³)

15.9

21.6

Brakes

Rear Brake Rotor Diam x Thickness (in)

10.2 x - TBD -

Brake Type

Pwr

Rear Drum Diam x Width (in)

7.9 x - TBD -

Disc - Front (Yes or )

Yes

Front Brake Rotor Diam x Thickness (in)

10.3 x - TBD -

10.0 x - TBD -

Drum - Rear (Yes or )

Yes

Brake ABS System

4-Wheel

Disc - Rear (Yes or )

Yes

Fuel Tank

Fuel Tank Capacity, Approx (gal)

10.6

11.9

Steering

Steering Type

Electric rack & pinion

Electric Rack & Pinion

Lock to Lock Turns (Steering)

3.29

- TBD -

Turning Diameter - Wall to Wall (ft)

- TBD -

Steering Ratio (:1), Overall

16.8

34.2

Turning Diameter - Curb to Curb (ft)

36.1

- TBD -

Tires

Spare Tire Order Code

Rear Tire Size

P185/60R15

P215/45R17

Rear Tire Order Code

Front Tire Size

P185/60R15

P215/45R17

Spare Tire Size

T135/80D15

T135/80D16

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

3042

Wheels

Rear Wheel Size (in)

15 x - TBD -

17 x 7.0

Front Wheel Material

Steel

Aluminum

Spare Wheel Material

Steel

Front Wheel Size (in)

15 x - TBD -

17 x 7.0

Spare Wheel Size (in)

Compact

Rear Wheel Material

Steel

Aluminum

Cooling System

Total Cooling System Capacity (qts)

- TBD -

Electrical

Maximum Alternator Capacity (amps)

- TBD -

Cold Cranking Amps @ 0° F (Primary)

- TBD -

Engine

Engine Type

Gas/Electric I4

Fuel System

Electronic Fuel Injection

SAE Net Torque @ RPM

123 @ 1000 - 1700

105 @ 4000

Engine Order Code

Displacement

1.3L/82

1.8L/110

SAE Net Horsepower @ RPM

98 @ 5800

98 @ 5200

Mileage

Fuel Economy Est-Combined (MPG)

EPA Fuel Economy Est - Hwy (MPG)

EPA Fuel Economy Est - City (MPG)

Transmission

Reverse Ratio (:1)

4.51 - 1.69

- TBD -

Second Gear Ratio (:1)

Trans Order Code

Final Drive Axle Ratio (:1)

4.20

- TBD -

Fourth Gear Ratio (:1)

Trans Description Cont.

Continuously Variable Transmission

Continuously Variable Ratio

Sixth Gear Ratio (:1)

First Gear Ratio (:1)

3.17 - 0.53

- TBD -

Clutch Size (in)

Third Gear Ratio (:1)

Trans Type

Drivetrain

Front Wheel Drive

Fifth Gear Ratio (:1)

Trans Description Cont. Again

Summary

Body Style

Hatchback

Vehicle Name

Honda Insight

Toyota Prius

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

Torsion Beam

Suspension Type - Rear (Cont.)

Emissions

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

4.0

3.8

EPA Greenhouse Gas Score

Crash Test Ratings

Overall Rating

Overall Frontal Barrier Crash Rating

Frontal Barrier Crash Rating Driver

Frontal Barrier Crash Rating Passenger

Overall Side Crash Rating

Side Barrier Rating

Side Barrier Rating Driver

Side Barrier Rating Passenger Rear Seat

Side Pole Rating Driver Front Seat

Combined Side Rating Front Seat

Combined Side Rating Rear Seat

Rollover Rating

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