Honda Insight
Encyclopedia
The Honda Insight is a hybrid electric vehicle
manufactured by Honda
and the first production vehicle to feature Honda's Integrated Motor Assist
system. The first-generation Insight was produced from 1999 to 2006 as a three-door hatchback. The 2000 Insight ranks as the most efficient United States Environmental Protection Agency
(EPA) certified gasoline-fueled vehicle ever, with a highway rating of 61 miles per US gallon (25.9 km/L) and combined city/highway rating of 53 miles per US gallon (22.5 km/L).
Honda introduced the second-generation Insight to its home market of Japan in February 2009. The car went on sale in the United States
on March 24, 2009. At $19,800 as a five-door hatchback it is the least expensive hybrid available in the US.
In December 2010, Honda introduced a less expensive base model for the 2011 model year priced US$18,200.
The Insight was launched April 2009 in the UK as the most affordable hybrid on the market with a starting price from £15,490 (otr), which was more than £2,000 lower than other hybrids, and became the best selling hybrid for the month.
Honda's Insight, billed as the cheapest gas-electric hybrid on the market, ranked as the top-selling vehicle in Japan for the month of April 2009, the first time a hybrid has clinched that spot. During its first twelve months after first available in the Japanese market, the second-generation Insight sold 143,015 units around the world.
concept car unveiled at the 1997 Tokyo Motor Show
, the Insight was first introduced in Japan in November 1999 as the first production vehicle to feature Honda's Integrated Motor Assist
system. In the following month, December 1999, Insight became the first hybrid available in North America, beating Toyota's Prius
by seven months. It featured optimized aerodynamics and a lightweight aluminum structure to maximize fuel efficiency and minimize emissions.
The Honda Insight is a subcompact hatchback
3945 mm (155.3 in) in length with a wheelbase of 2400 mm (94.5 in) a height of 1355 mm (53.3 in) and a width of 1695 mm (66.7 in). The Insight was only produced as a two-seater. The model launched with only a single trim- manual transmission
, no air-conditioning- a choice made to reduce weight and maximize economy. In the second year of production another two trims became available: a manual transmission with automatic climate-control system, and a continuously variable transmission
(CVT) with automatic climate-control system. The only major change during its life span was the introduction of a trunk mounted, front controlled, multiple CD changer.
In addition to the hybrid drive system, the Insight was small, built of light materials and streamlined.
The gasoline engine is a 67 hp, 1.0 litre, ECA series
3-cylinder
unit providing lean burn operation with an air-to-fuel ratio that can reach 25.8 to 1. The engine utilizes lightweight aluminum, magnesium, and plastic to minimize weight. The electrical motor assist adds another 10 kW and a maximum of 36 pound-feet (49 Nm) of torque when called on, with the aim to boost performance to the level of a typical 1.5L petrol engine. It also acts as a generator during deceleration and braking to recharge the vehicle's batteries, and as the Insight's starter motor. (This both improves fuel efficiency and also extends the lifetime and fade resistance of the brakes, without adding unsprung weight
). When the car is not moving, for example, at a stop light, the engine shuts off. Power steering is electric, reducing accessory drag.
The Insight uses the first generation of Honda's Integrated Motor Assist
(IMA) hybrid technology. (The next generation, used in the Honda Civic Hybrid
, is much more space-efficient.) The Insight's electric assist is a ultrathin (about 2.5 inches) brushless
10-kW electric motor
located on the crankshaft
. Located behind the seats are a series of commercial grade "D" sized NiMH
batteries
wired to provide a nominal 144 V DC. During heavy acceleration, the NiMH batteries drive the electric motor, providing additional power; during deceleration, the motor acts as a generator and recharges the batteries using a process called regenerative braking. A computer control module regulates how much power comes from the internal combustion engine, and how much from the electric motor; in the CVT variant, it also finds the optimal gear ratio. The digital displays on the dashboard display fuel consumption instantaneously. On the manual transmission up and down arrows suggest when to shift gears. Dashboard gauges monitor the current battery status, instantaneous fuel consumption, and mode of the electric motor — standby, engine assist or charging the batteries. High pressure, low rolling resistance tires and the use of low viscosity
"0W-20" synthetic oil also enhance fuel economy.
The original Insight had a conventional manual transmission. Starting with the 2001 model, a CVT variant of the Insight was available; the CVT is similar to that used in the Honda Civic Hybrid
and the Honda Logo
. A traditional transmission shifts between a fixed set of engine-to-wheel ratios; however, a CVT allows for an infinite set of ratios between its lowest gear and its highest. A feature shared by the two hybrids (and now appearing in others) is the ability to automatically turn off the engine when the vehicle is at a stop (and restart it upon movement). Since it is more powerful than most starters
of conventional cars, the Insight's electric motor can start the engine nearly instantaneously. The Integrated Motor Assist is run by an "Intelligent Power Unit (IPU)", a desktop computer-sized box. The Intelligent Power Unit, the Power control Unit, the Electronic Control Unit, the vehicle's batteries, converter and a high-voltage inverter are all located under the cargo floor of the vehicle, behind the seats.
One key in increasing the vehicle's fuel efficiency was reducing the mass via the extensive use of aluminum and plastic. Both the body and the frame are lightened over conventional vehicles by the use of aluminum. Honda achieved a body weight less than half that of the contemporary Civic 3-door, but simultaneously increased torsional rigidity by 38% and bending rigidity by 13%. Honda built the Insight with aluminum front brake calipers and rear brake drums, and with a largely aluminum suspension, in addition to standard aluminum wheels; all these reduced the ratio of un-sprung to sprung weight as well as the total weight. (This may have been needed to compensate for the bouncy ride of the high pressure low friction tires.) The fuel tank is plastic; the engine mounts were aluminum; and the exhaust is a small, thin wall pipe. Even the compact spare is aluminum. The Insight weighed 1847 lb (837.8 kg) in manual transmission form or 1964 lb (891 kg) with CVT and air conditioning. The combination of materials and design gave the Insight body structure 13 percent more bending strength and 38 percent more torsional rigidity than a comparably-sized steel body, despite weighing 40 percent less.
To maximize fuel efficiency and give good high speed performance with its small engine, the Insight is very aerodynamic. It has a coefficient of drag
of 0.25, one of the lowest of any marketed automobile. Because it has no rear seat, the body can start tapering narrower and lower just behind the driver's head, approximating the classic tear drop more closely than is possible in a four passenger car. The rear fenders limit the taper of the lower part, but the rear track is narrower than the front track.
The CVT-equipped Insight is classified as a super-low emissions vehicle. The Insight features low emissions: the California Air Resources Board
gave the 5-speed model a ULEV
rating, and the CVT model earned a SULEV
rating – the 5-speed model's lean-burn ability traded increased efficiency for slightly higher NOx
emissions.
, Japan
, where the Honda NSX
and the Honda S2000
were also assembled. The Insight and the NSX are aluminum-bodied, while the S2000 employs a steel body.
At the 2003 Tokyo Motor Show
, Honda introduced the concept car
Honda IMAS, an extremely fuel-efficient and lightweight hybrid car made of aluminum and carbon fiber, which was perceived by most observers to be the future direction where the Insight is heading.
With its aluminum body and frame, the Insight was an expensive car to produce and was never designed for high-volume sales. Instead it was designed to be a real world test car for hybrid technology and a gauge to new consumer driving habits. With an aerodynamic fuel-saving shape similar to Audi A2
, and some unconventional body colors it was a bit more than mainstream car buyers could handle, preferring more conservative styles. Production halted announced in May 2006, with plans announced to replace Insight with a new hybrid car, smaller than the eighth generation Civic, but not earlier than in 2009. Ahead of this announcement, Honda stopped selling Insight in the UK, for example, as early as December 2005.
To fill the market niche void, in 2002 Honda rolled out a hybrid version of the Honda Civic – Honda Civic Hybrid
, followed by Toyota's relaunch of the Prius in 2003.
, achieving 70 miles per US gallon per its then current United States Environmental Protection Agency
(EPA) highway rating. Insight was introduced in US at a base price of just US$
18,880. Other hybrids soon followed, with the Toyota Prius
arriving in June 2000.
Upon the Insight's release, Honda challenged several automotive magazines to a competition to see who could obtain the best fuel efficiency on the 195 miles (313.8 km) drive from Columbus, Ohio
to Detroit. The contest was won by Car and Driver magazine, which rigged a box behind a Ford Excursion
, and had the Insight drive within the confines of the box. With much less wind resistance, the Insight made the trip with a fuel consumption of 121.7 miles per US gallon, while averaging 58 miles per hour (93.3 km/h). A two-year test of an Insight with air conditioning, driven 40000 miles (64,373.6 km), averaged 48 miles per US gallon. The New York Times noted that "[if] you drive the car badly, you will get bad mileage."
In the EU fuel economy tests, the Insight achieved a combined efficiency figure 69.2 miles per US gallon with an Extra-Urban figure of 78.4 miles per US gallon and Urban figure of 57.4 miles per US gallon.) This remains unbeaten in the UK market for a petrol car, and has only recently been eclipsed by the Smart ForTwo cdi
. However the original Smart
diesel matched the combined figure when release in Europe in 2000. The Insight has an official emissions figure of 80 g/km which is still the lowest of any UK market car. It was also the only car to fall into the VED
band A (up to 100g/km ), introduced in 2005, until 2008 when other manufacturers started developing cars to benefit from the tax free status.
in the United States, the Honda Insight was eligible for a US$
1,450 tax credit.
Cars registered in the UK after 2001 qualified for free road tax because of their low CO2 emissions (2000 registered cars would be taxed on the lower rate of the old system based on engine size). As a Hybrid the Insight also qualifies for an exemption from the London Congestion Charge.
As of October 2009, as part of a class-action suit settlement, Honda had extended the warranty of these batteries on cars with up to 157000 miles (252,666.4 km) of use, or 10 years, for cars registered in certain warm states only. As of 1 June 2008, the replacement battery costs US$
1,968 and installation is around US$
900.
As of 2008, independent mechanics have been known to replace Insight batteries with either Prius sub-packs or Civic Hybrid subpacks. A US$
300 used NiMH battery from another more mass produced HEV can be used to build a replacement Insight battery pack. Other independent mechanics have been reconditioning their old Insight battery packs to correct wear and tear issues. Reconditioning allows correction of some issues at lower cost than rebuilding a replacement pack from other used packs.
In 2009, Honda introduced its second-generation Insight based on an all-new, 5-passenger, 5-door, dedicated hybrid platform, which was also later used for the Honda CR-Z
. The concept version of the Insight hatchback
hybrid electric vehicle
had made its public debut at the 2008 Paris Motor Show
. and its North American debut at the Los Angeles Auto Show. In the US, the new Insight is classified as a compact car
based on its interior volume.
U.S. version has minor improvements and its updated EPA fuel economy rating is: City 41 mpgU.S. (17.4 km/L), Highway 44 mpgU.S. (18.7 km/L), Combined 42 mpgU.S. (17.9 km/L).
Honda UK state that the official UK fuel efficiency data for the Insight SE is: Urban 61.4 mpgimp, Extra urban 67.3 mpgimp, Combined 64.2 mpgimp and the CO2 emissions rating is: 101 g/km, putting it in the second lowest UK road tax band.
The wedge shape of the second-generation Insight has been criticized by many automotive journalists for its similarities with the more successful and older second-generation Toyota Prius
. This is, however, an unfair comparison as the fastback
profile was first seen on the first-generation insight, before the Toyota Prius
used such a design.
The Insight's exterior design merges design cues from both the first generation Insight (the tapered tail and triangular taillights) and Honda’s production hydrogen fuel cell vehicle, the FCX Clarity (the low hood, six-point front grille, and wedge-shaped profile).
The interior of the new Insight includes a variation of the two-tier instrument panel first introduced on the 2006 Honda Civic. In this arrangement, a digital speedometer is mounted high on the instrument panel within the driver’s normal line-of-site for ease of visibility. An analog tachometer, fuel gauge, hybrid assist gauge, and Multi-Information Display are housed in the lower tier.
The Insight’s IMA includes a high-efficiency, lightweight, low-friction 1.3-liter SOHC i-VTEC 4-cylinder engine and it is rated for 98 hp at 5800 rpm and 123 lbft of torque from 1000–1700 rpm. The high torque at low rpm is made possible by the electric motor which contributes up to 13 hp at 1500 rpm and 58 lbft of torque at 1000 rpm to the powertrain, assisting in acceleration and some steady state cruising situations at low-to-mid vehicle speeds. The motor acts as a generator during braking, steady cruising, gentle deceleration and coasting in order to recharge the IMA battery. The motor also serves as the engine starter, quickly spinning the engine to idle speed after Idle Stop and during normal vehicle starting. The system will automatically switch to a back-up, conventional 12-volt starter to start the engine if the IMA system is disabled or if the car is started at extreme cold temperatures. As an additional safety feature, Honda’s hybrid configuration allows the car to operate like a conventional, gas-engine vehicle even if the IMA hybrid-electric motor system is completely disabled.
The Insight’s Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT) provides infinite ratios to keep the engine operating within its most efficient range. Forward gear ratios are infinitely variable between 3.172–0.529 and reverse gear ranges from 4.511~1.693. Final drive is 4.20:1. On Insight EX models, paddle shifters mounted behind the steering wheel allow the driver to engage a manual shift mode and select from seven simulated gear ratios for full control over acceleration and engine braking. Since the CVT’s gear ratios are continuously variable the system electronically directs the transmission to up- or downshift into pre-determined ratios when the driver taps the shift paddles. In normal driving, the CVT allows the engine and IMA motor to stay in their most efficient operating range thereby providing superior fuel efficiency to that of a conventional automatic transmission with fixed gear ratios. The CVT’s variable gear ratios allow for both quick, initial acceleration and efficient, low-rpm cruising.
In order to allow the powertrain computer to optimize performance under every driving condition, the Insight’s accelerator pedal is a “drive-by-wire” type that uses an electronic position sensor instead of the conventional metal cable that usually connects the pedal to the engine’s throttle body. In the drive-by-wire system, the engine’s throttle body is controlled by the powertrain computer in response to the gas pedal position—allowing the computer to determine the optimal throttle body, fuel, and CVT settings based on the accelerator pedal position and its rate of travel.
s. The power density of the modules is 30 percent greater than in the current-generation Civic Hybrid. The battery is recharged automatically by scavenging engine power, when needed, and by regenerative braking when the car is decelerating. The power management electronics, battery modules, and cooling system are all self-contained within the IMA battery pack.
As a visual aid, the background of the Insight’s digital speedometer glows green when the car is being driven in an efficient manner. Somewhat less-efficient driving makes the meter glow blue-green. Aggressive starts and stops that consume extra fuel make the meter glow blue. By observing the color shift of the speedometer background, the driver receives assistance in developing driving habits that typically enhance fuel economy.
In addition, ECO ASSIST includes a dedicated ECON button that enables the driver to initiate a range of functions that increase the fuel economy of the IMA system via a single button press. In ECON mode, the driver trades off a measure of performance for enhanced fuel economy but gains the following advantages:
Overall, ECO ASSIST is designed to assist the driver in adopting a balanced approach between efficient highway commuting and efficient city driving. However, the EPA found during fuel economy testing that using the ECO ASSIST mode "registered no effect" on its fuel economy rating. "It relaxes throttle response, so the test driver simply compensates with additional throttle to achieve the required speeds."
The most significant difference between the Fit and the Insight platform is the position of the fuel tank. Whereas the Fit locates the fuel tank under the front seats (a move designed to free up space for maximum versatility in the Fit’s rear compartment) the Insight positions the fuel tank under the rear seats. This fuel tank location enables the Insight’s hybrid battery pack to be located in the cargo floor below the spare tire, a move that allows folding rear seats, a lower roofline, and a more aerodynamic body shape to assist fuel economy at high speed.
Front and rear suspension components from the Fit are used including MacPherson struts at the front and an H-shaped torsion beam at the rear to keep the load floor low in order to increase luggage capacity. Front and rear stabilizer bars are also installed. On Insight EX models, the 175/65-15 low rolling resistance tires are mounted on very lightweight aluminum rims. Each tire and wheel together weigh only 34 pounds.
The Insight's electrically-assisted, rack-and-pinion steering does not rely on an engine-driven, hydraulic power steering pump as in conventional non-hybrid vehicles. Electric assist improves fuel efficiency (less parasitic drag on the engine) and allows the Insight to steer normally even when the engine is shut off in Idle Stop mode.
The Insight’s hydraulic braking system includes four-channel ABS (to prevent wheel lockup), Electronic Brake Distribution (to improve braking effectiveness under different vehicle loads), and a Creep Aid System (to prevent the car from rolling on a hill when the driver transitions from the brake pedal to the throttle pedal). Also included are Traction Control and Vehicle Stability Assist (the latter system employing an electronic yaw rate/lateral acceleration sensor to detect excessive understeer or oversteer when cornering). A Brake Booster Pressure Monitoring System continuously monitors boost vacuum when the engine is shut off during Idle Stop mode. The front brakes use a single-piston sliding caliper and a one-piece ventilated rotor. The rear brakes are drum-type.
In July 2010, Honda UK announced an update for the Insight to be released in September. The update comprising suspension changes are a response to feedback of the Insight's ride and handling. There are revisions to the recoil rate of the springs, change of the rear camber angles and alterations to the rear suspension brace and adjusting mounts. As a result, Honda promised better ride, handling and stability. Interior changes were also made: dashboard and seat fabric colours have been revised, as have some of the interior plastics, now higher in quality. The air vents received a chrome surround and a silver garnish now adorns the door sills.
In order to control costs, Honda decided not to include the electric-assist air conditioning compressor used in the Civic Hybrid. The Civic Hybrid's electric-assist allows the air conditioning compressor to continue running (using battery pack power) to maintain cabin temperature when the engine is shut off in Idle Stop mode. Instead, the Insight limits the duration of the Idle Stop mode during air conditioning use and restarts the engine, when needed, to maintain cabin temperature. However, when the Insight's ECON function is engaged, a longer Idle Stop time is invoked for improved fuel efficiency at the expense of rapid cabin cooling.
In an interview in early February 2011, a Honda executive disclosed that Honda produced around 200,000 hybrids a year in Japan.
After less than eleven months on sale, Honda sold 93,283 Insight in Japan in 2009, ranking it the fifth best-selling car for the year. In March 2010, Honda announced that the new Insight broke through 100,000 sales in Japanese market in just one year after its introduction.
prices between and , making it the least expensive hybrid vehicle available in the United States.
Within less than ten months from its introduction, Insight total sales for 2009 in the U.S. market
were 20,572 units, selling more than the Fusion Hybrid (15,554 units) and the Civic Hybrid (15,119), but behind the Camry Hybrid (22,887 units) and the Toyota Prius
(139,682 units).
The sales in the U.S. is below expectation, mainly due to the economic recession in 2008-09, stiff competition and a drop in gasoline prices of over one-third over the past year, eroded demand for fuel-efficient cars.
In December 2010, Honda introduced a less expensive Insight hybrid for the 2011 model year to help boost sales. The new base model Insight will start at a MSRP
of , less expensive than the previous lowest trim level, the LX. For the 2011 LX model, center armrest, cruise control, USB connectivity for the audio system and floor mats are newly added. Price increase is limited to . Electronic stability control and brake assist are now standard across all trim levels. All models come with automatic climate control. Honda explained the move "to make (the vehicle) more affordable for those younger customers who couldn't previously get into a hybrid." In 2009, Toyota promised a lower-priced version of the Prius to compete with Insight, but quietly dropped the deal for consumers.
In 2010, 20,962 Insights were sold in the country. The Insight ranked number two in all hybrid vehicle sales after the Toyota Prius, beating out the Toyota Camry Hybrid and the Ford Fusion Hybrid. From January 2011 to August 2011, cumulative sales of the Insight in the U.S. reached 13,106 units, ranking number two among hybrid sales for 2011 and outsold only by the Prius. By September 2011, cumulative sales reached 13,618 units, falling to the third place, surpassed by the Hyundai Sonata.
In October 2009, Consumer Reports
named the Honda Insight the most reliable vehicle as it scored the highest of any vehicles in predicted reliability, according to its annual vehicles reliability survey.
. Starting from autumn 2010, revised suspension should improve ride and handling, parking sensors are added to ES model and above, furthermore, a top of the range EX model is added with standard leather interior and sat-nav priced at £20,215.
Its fuel economy is rated 4.6 L/100 km in official Australian testing. Although electric vehicles like i-MiEV from Mitsubishi is available for leasing by fleet customers, plus Nissan Leaf and plug-in hybrid Holden Volt will be released sometime in 2012, Honda Australia believes hybrid vehicles will remain a major alternative-fuel vehicle for some time because of affordability and practicality weaknesses of electric vehicles. It believes electric vehicles will face severe range limitations because of heat and distances in Australia market.
The company plans to launch three more hybrids within the following 18 months, CR-Z
, Fit hybrid
and Civic Hybrid
.
Honda also questions the green credentials of an electric vehicle when electricity is generated from coal-fired power stations, "For Australia, unless you're tapped into a green power source, the benefits are negligible".
Honda includes an eight-year, unlimited mileage warranty for the car's hybrid powertrain battery.
Reviews have been mostly positive, praising the low cost, fuel economy, good handling and performance in city driving, while being somewhat critical of the car's performance on the highway and its rear visibility. Particularly impressive is the high vehicle safety rating. The EuroNCAP judged the Insight the second safest car of 2009, just behind the Volkswagen Golf but ahead of its main rival, the Toyota Prius.
The sales of the Honda Insight, along with those of the Honda Civic Hybrid
, helped Honda achieve their best sales result in the Netherlands since 1989. These good results did not go unnoticed and it has been decided that the official European launch of Honda's next hybrid car, the CR-Z
, will take place in the Netherlands.
In Malaysia, Honda launched the Insight on December 2, 2010 at the Kuala Lumpur International Motor Show (KLIMS) 2010. Priced at (about ) on the road, including insurance, the Insight became the first affordable hybrid that is priced below . It is priced only more than the top model Honda City
. It is reported that a few hundred sales orders were received even before its launch.
In Israel, the Insight with the "Comfort" features package, including import taxes, retails for .
or Popular Mechanics
tests. Despite a high reliability rating in Consumer Reports
testing, the Insight was assigned a low score, stating that it fell short in ride quality, handling, interior noise, acceleration, refinement, rear seat access and rear visibility.
Autoblog
praised it for its fuel economy, tight handling, and good steering feedback, and stated "the Insight is a shockingly fun car to drive in a spirited manner in spite of the comparatively modest thrust available.", but criticized the Insight for its low passenger volume.
Automotive critic Jeremy Clarkson
, known for his disdain for hybrid vehicles, criticized the Insight for its continuously variable transmission, engine noise, and build quality. He recognized that the price was low, but concluded that a Volkswagen Golf
is a better deal. He remarked that the Insight is "possibly the worst new car money can buy", and awarded it one out of five stars.
Edmunds.com
praised the Insight for improving upon the formula of rival Prius and costing thousands less, but criticized it for excessive road noise, a tight back seat, and buzzy engine under hard acceleration. In addition, they state it "is by far the most enjoyable hybrid hatchback to drive" and praised the ride for being firm, the steering for being relatively responsive, and the seamless integration between the electric and gas motor.
In 2009, Edmunds pitted a Honda Insight against other hybrids like Toyota Prius and Ford Fusion hybrid, a Volkswagen Jetta
TDI automatic and a MINI Cooper with manual transmission over two days of mixed city and highway driving.
Europe NCAP:
Hybrid electric vehicle
A hybrid electric vehicle is a type of hybrid vehicle and electric vehicle which combines a conventional internal combustion engine propulsion system with an electric propulsion system. The presence of the electric powertrain is intended to achieve either better fuel economy than a conventional...
manufactured by Honda
Honda
is a Japanese public multinational corporation primarily known as a manufacturer of automobiles and motorcycles.Honda has been the world's largest motorcycle manufacturer since 1959, as well as the world's largest manufacturer of internal combustion engines measured by volume, producing more than...
and the first production vehicle to feature Honda's Integrated Motor Assist
Integrated Motor Assist
Integrated Motor Assist is Honda's hybrid car technology, introduced in 1999 on the Insight.It is a specific implementation of a parallel hybrid. It uses an electric motor mounted between the internal combustion engine and transmission to act as a starter motor, engine balancer, and assist...
system. The first-generation Insight was produced from 1999 to 2006 as a three-door hatchback. The 2000 Insight ranks as the most efficient United States Environmental Protection Agency
United States Environmental Protection Agency
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is an agency of the federal government of the United States charged with protecting human health and the environment, by writing and enforcing regulations based on laws passed by Congress...
(EPA) certified gasoline-fueled vehicle ever, with a highway rating of 61 miles per US gallon (25.9 km/L) and combined city/highway rating of 53 miles per US gallon (22.5 km/L).
Honda introduced the second-generation Insight to its home market of Japan in February 2009. The car went on sale in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
on March 24, 2009. At $19,800 as a five-door hatchback it is the least expensive hybrid available in the US.
In December 2010, Honda introduced a less expensive base model for the 2011 model year priced US$18,200.
The Insight was launched April 2009 in the UK as the most affordable hybrid on the market with a starting price from £15,490 (otr), which was more than £2,000 lower than other hybrids, and became the best selling hybrid for the month.
Honda's Insight, billed as the cheapest gas-electric hybrid on the market, ranked as the top-selling vehicle in Japan for the month of April 2009, the first time a hybrid has clinched that spot. During its first twelve months after first available in the Japanese market, the second-generation Insight sold 143,015 units around the world.
History
Based on the Honda J-VXHonda J-VX
The Honda J-VX was the first hybrid sports car concept to employ Honda's Integrated Motor Assist electric hybrid system and was initially unveiled at the Tokyo Motor Show in October, 1997...
concept car unveiled at the 1997 Tokyo Motor Show
Tokyo Motor Show
The is a biennial auto show held in October-November at the Makuhari Messe, Chiba City, Japan for cars, motorcycles and commercial vehicles. Hosted by the Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association , it is a recognized international show by the Organisation Internationale des Constructeurs...
, the Insight was first introduced in Japan in November 1999 as the first production vehicle to feature Honda's Integrated Motor Assist
Integrated Motor Assist
Integrated Motor Assist is Honda's hybrid car technology, introduced in 1999 on the Insight.It is a specific implementation of a parallel hybrid. It uses an electric motor mounted between the internal combustion engine and transmission to act as a starter motor, engine balancer, and assist...
system. In the following month, December 1999, Insight became the first hybrid available in North America, beating Toyota's Prius
Toyota Prius
The Toyota Prius is a full hybrid electric mid-size hatchback, formerly a compact sedan developed and manufactured by the Toyota Motor Corporation...
by seven months. It featured optimized aerodynamics and a lightweight aluminum structure to maximize fuel efficiency and minimize emissions.
Design
Hatchback
A Hatchback is a car body style incorporating a shared passenger and cargo volume, with rearmost accessibility via a rear third or fifth door, typically a top-hinged liftgate—and features such as fold-down rear seats to enable flexibility within the shared passenger/cargo volume. As a two-box...
3945 mm (155.3 in) in length with a wheelbase of 2400 mm (94.5 in) a height of 1355 mm (53.3 in) and a width of 1695 mm (66.7 in). The Insight was only produced as a two-seater. The model launched with only a single trim- manual transmission
Manual transmission
A manual transmission, also known as a manual gearbox or standard transmission is a type of transmission used in motor vehicle applications...
, no air-conditioning- a choice made to reduce weight and maximize economy. In the second year of production another two trims became available: a manual transmission with automatic climate-control system, and a continuously variable transmission
Continuously variable transmission
A continuously variable transmission is a transmission that can change steplessly through an infinite number of effective gear ratios between maximum and minimum values. This contrasts with other mechanical transmissions that offer a fixed number of gear ratios...
(CVT) with automatic climate-control system. The only major change during its life span was the introduction of a trunk mounted, front controlled, multiple CD changer.
In addition to the hybrid drive system, the Insight was small, built of light materials and streamlined.
Technology
Honda E07A engine
-E05A, E07A SOHC 4 Valve:EH-cylinder engine which two series-successor, SOHC 4-cylinder engine series 3 cross-flow valve. D structure of a miniature engine, the same as conventional reverse direction...
3-cylinder
Straight-3
A straight-three engine, also known as inline-three engine, or a triple, is a reciprocating piston internal combustion engine with three cylinders arranged in a straight line or plane, side by side....
unit providing lean burn operation with an air-to-fuel ratio that can reach 25.8 to 1. The engine utilizes lightweight aluminum, magnesium, and plastic to minimize weight. The electrical motor assist adds another 10 kW and a maximum of 36 pound-feet (49 Nm) of torque when called on, with the aim to boost performance to the level of a typical 1.5L petrol engine. It also acts as a generator during deceleration and braking to recharge the vehicle's batteries, and as the Insight's starter motor. (This both improves fuel efficiency and also extends the lifetime and fade resistance of the brakes, without adding unsprung weight
Unsprung weight
In a ground vehicle with a suspension, the unsprung weight is the mass of the suspension, wheels or tracks , and other components directly connected to them, rather than supported by the suspension...
). When the car is not moving, for example, at a stop light, the engine shuts off. Power steering is electric, reducing accessory drag.
The Insight uses the first generation of Honda's Integrated Motor Assist
Integrated Motor Assist
Integrated Motor Assist is Honda's hybrid car technology, introduced in 1999 on the Insight.It is a specific implementation of a parallel hybrid. It uses an electric motor mounted between the internal combustion engine and transmission to act as a starter motor, engine balancer, and assist...
(IMA) hybrid technology. (The next generation, used in the Honda Civic Hybrid
Honda Civic Hybrid
The Civic hybrid, based on the seventh generation Civic, was first introduced to the Japanese market in December 2001. Honda claimed it was the most fuel efficient 5-passenger gasoline-powered production vehicle in the world at the time. It was introduced to the U.S. in spring 2002 as a 2003 model...
, is much more space-efficient.) The Insight's electric assist is a ultrathin (about 2.5 inches) brushless
Brushless DC electric motor
Brushless DC motors also known as electronically commutated motors are electric motors powered by direct-current electricity and having electronic commutation systems, rather than mechanical commutators and brushes...
10-kW electric motor
Electric motor
An electric motor converts electrical energy into mechanical energy.Most electric motors operate through the interaction of magnetic fields and current-carrying conductors to generate force...
located on the crankshaft
Crankshaft
The crankshaft, sometimes casually abbreviated to crank, is the part of an engine which translates reciprocating linear piston motion into rotation...
. Located behind the seats are a series of commercial grade "D" sized NiMH
NIMH
NIMH or NiMH may refer to:*Nickel-metal hydride battery, a type of rechargeable battery*National Institute of Mental Health, a part of the United States National Institutes of Health...
batteries
Battery (electricity)
An electrical battery is one or more electrochemical cells that convert stored chemical energy into electrical energy. Since the invention of the first battery in 1800 by Alessandro Volta and especially since the technically improved Daniell cell in 1836, batteries have become a common power...
wired to provide a nominal 144 V DC. During heavy acceleration, the NiMH batteries drive the electric motor, providing additional power; during deceleration, the motor acts as a generator and recharges the batteries using a process called regenerative braking. A computer control module regulates how much power comes from the internal combustion engine, and how much from the electric motor; in the CVT variant, it also finds the optimal gear ratio. The digital displays on the dashboard display fuel consumption instantaneously. On the manual transmission up and down arrows suggest when to shift gears. Dashboard gauges monitor the current battery status, instantaneous fuel consumption, and mode of the electric motor — standby, engine assist or charging the batteries. High pressure, low rolling resistance tires and the use of low viscosity
Viscosity
Viscosity is a measure of the resistance of a fluid which is being deformed by either shear or tensile stress. In everyday terms , viscosity is "thickness" or "internal friction". Thus, water is "thin", having a lower viscosity, while honey is "thick", having a higher viscosity...
"0W-20" synthetic oil also enhance fuel economy.
The original Insight had a conventional manual transmission. Starting with the 2001 model, a CVT variant of the Insight was available; the CVT is similar to that used in the Honda Civic Hybrid
Honda Civic Hybrid
The Civic hybrid, based on the seventh generation Civic, was first introduced to the Japanese market in December 2001. Honda claimed it was the most fuel efficient 5-passenger gasoline-powered production vehicle in the world at the time. It was introduced to the U.S. in spring 2002 as a 2003 model...
and the Honda Logo
Honda Logo
The Honda Logo series GA3 and GA5 is a supermini produced by the Japanese automaker Honda between 1996 and 2001. The Logo was available as a three-door and five-door hatchback. It was sold in the United Kingdom from 2000 until 2001. It was a platform mate to the Honda Capa and replaced the Honda...
. A traditional transmission shifts between a fixed set of engine-to-wheel ratios; however, a CVT allows for an infinite set of ratios between its lowest gear and its highest. A feature shared by the two hybrids (and now appearing in others) is the ability to automatically turn off the engine when the vehicle is at a stop (and restart it upon movement). Since it is more powerful than most starters
Automobile self starter
A starter motor is an electric motor for rotating an internal-combustion engine so as to initiate the engine's operation under its own power.- History :...
of conventional cars, the Insight's electric motor can start the engine nearly instantaneously. The Integrated Motor Assist is run by an "Intelligent Power Unit (IPU)", a desktop computer-sized box. The Intelligent Power Unit, the Power control Unit, the Electronic Control Unit, the vehicle's batteries, converter and a high-voltage inverter are all located under the cargo floor of the vehicle, behind the seats.
One key in increasing the vehicle's fuel efficiency was reducing the mass via the extensive use of aluminum and plastic. Both the body and the frame are lightened over conventional vehicles by the use of aluminum. Honda achieved a body weight less than half that of the contemporary Civic 3-door, but simultaneously increased torsional rigidity by 38% and bending rigidity by 13%. Honda built the Insight with aluminum front brake calipers and rear brake drums, and with a largely aluminum suspension, in addition to standard aluminum wheels; all these reduced the ratio of un-sprung to sprung weight as well as the total weight. (This may have been needed to compensate for the bouncy ride of the high pressure low friction tires.) The fuel tank is plastic; the engine mounts were aluminum; and the exhaust is a small, thin wall pipe. Even the compact spare is aluminum. The Insight weighed 1847 lb (837.8 kg) in manual transmission form or 1964 lb (891 kg) with CVT and air conditioning. The combination of materials and design gave the Insight body structure 13 percent more bending strength and 38 percent more torsional rigidity than a comparably-sized steel body, despite weighing 40 percent less.
To maximize fuel efficiency and give good high speed performance with its small engine, the Insight is very aerodynamic. It has a coefficient of drag
Automobile drag coefficient
The drag coefficient is a common metric in automotive design pertaining to aerodynamic effects. As aerodynamic drag increases as the square of speed, a low value is preferable to a high one...
of 0.25, one of the lowest of any marketed automobile. Because it has no rear seat, the body can start tapering narrower and lower just behind the driver's head, approximating the classic tear drop more closely than is possible in a four passenger car. The rear fenders limit the taper of the lower part, but the rear track is narrower than the front track.
The CVT-equipped Insight is classified as a super-low emissions vehicle. The Insight features low emissions: the California Air Resources Board
California Air Resources Board
The California Air Resources Board, also known as CARB or ARB, is the "clean air agency" in the government of California. Established in 1967 in the Mulford-Carrell Act, combining the Bureau of Air Sanitation and the Motor Vehicle Pollution Control Board, CARB is a department within the...
gave the 5-speed model a ULEV
Ultra Low Emission Vehicle
An ultra-low-emission vehicle is a motor vehicle that emits extremely low levels of motor vehicle emissions compared to other vehicles...
rating, and the CVT model earned a SULEV
Super Ultra Low Emission Vehicle
Super Ultra Low Emission Vehicle is a U.S. classification for conventionally powered, natural gas powered, or gasoline-electric hybrid vehicle designed to produce minimal emissions of certain categories of air pollution at their exhaust, typically 90% less than that of an equivalent ordinary full...
rating – the 5-speed model's lean-burn ability traded increased efficiency for slightly higher NOx
NOx
NOx is a generic term for the mono-nitrogen oxides NO and NO2 . They are produced from the reaction of nitrogen and oxygen gases in the air during combustion, especially at high temperatures...
emissions.
Manufacturing
The Insight was assembled at the Honda factory in SuzukaSuzuka, Mie
is a city located in Mie, Japan.As of 2011, the city has an estimated population of 198,716 and the density of 1,020 people per km². The total area is 194.67 km².Located about 83 km east from Nara, and 52 km southwest from Nagoya.-History:...
, Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
, where the Honda NSX
Honda NSX
The Honda NSX, or Acura NSX, is a sports car that was produced between 1990 and 2005 by the Japanese automaker Honda. It is equipped with a mid-engine, rear-wheel drive layout, powered by an all-aluminium V6 gasoline engine featuring Honda's Variable Valve Timing and Lift Electronic Control ...
and the Honda S2000
Honda S2000
The Honda S2000 is a roadster that was manufactured by the Japanese automaker Honda Motor Company. It was launched in April 1999 and was created to celebrate the company's 50th anniversary. The car was first shown as a concept at the Tokyo Motor Show in 1995, following which it was launched in...
were also assembled. The Insight and the NSX are aluminum-bodied, while the S2000 employs a steel body.
At the 2003 Tokyo Motor Show
Tokyo Motor Show
The is a biennial auto show held in October-November at the Makuhari Messe, Chiba City, Japan for cars, motorcycles and commercial vehicles. Hosted by the Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association , it is a recognized international show by the Organisation Internationale des Constructeurs...
, Honda introduced the concept car
Concept car
A concept vehicle or show vehicle is a car made to showcase new styling and or new technology. They are often shown at motor shows to gauge customer reaction to new and radical designs which may or may not have a chance of being produced....
Honda IMAS, an extremely fuel-efficient and lightweight hybrid car made of aluminum and carbon fiber, which was perceived by most observers to be the future direction where the Insight is heading.
With its aluminum body and frame, the Insight was an expensive car to produce and was never designed for high-volume sales. Instead it was designed to be a real world test car for hybrid technology and a gauge to new consumer driving habits. With an aerodynamic fuel-saving shape similar to Audi A2
Audi A2
The Audi A2 is a Compact MPV styled five-door four- or five-seat hatchback designed supermini, produced by the German automaker Audi AG from November 1999 to 2005...
, and some unconventional body colors it was a bit more than mainstream car buyers could handle, preferring more conservative styles. Production halted announced in May 2006, with plans announced to replace Insight with a new hybrid car, smaller than the eighth generation Civic, but not earlier than in 2009. Ahead of this announcement, Honda stopped selling Insight in the UK, for example, as early as December 2005.
To fill the market niche void, in 2002 Honda rolled out a hybrid version of the Honda Civic – Honda Civic Hybrid
Honda Civic Hybrid
The Civic hybrid, based on the seventh generation Civic, was first introduced to the Japanese market in December 2001. Honda claimed it was the most fuel efficient 5-passenger gasoline-powered production vehicle in the world at the time. It was introduced to the U.S. in spring 2002 as a 2003 model...
, followed by Toyota's relaunch of the Prius in 2003.
Sales
Total global sales for the first generation Insight were 17,020 units. Honda had originally planned to sell 6,500 Insights each year of production.US market
The Insight was the first mass-produced hybrid automobile sold in the United StatesUnited States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, achieving 70 miles per US gallon per its then current United States Environmental Protection Agency
United States Environmental Protection Agency
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is an agency of the federal government of the United States charged with protecting human health and the environment, by writing and enforcing regulations based on laws passed by Congress...
(EPA) highway rating. Insight was introduced in US at a base price of just US$
United States dollar
The United States dollar , also referred to as the American dollar, is the official currency of the United States of America. It is divided into 100 smaller units called cents or pennies....
18,880. Other hybrids soon followed, with the Toyota Prius
Toyota Prius
The Toyota Prius is a full hybrid electric mid-size hatchback, formerly a compact sedan developed and manufactured by the Toyota Motor Corporation...
arriving in June 2000.
Fuel efficiency
The car was the most fuel efficient car available in the U.S. for the length of its production run and is still the leader of any current mass market car. The Insight earned an EPA fuel economy estimate of 70 miles per US gallon in highway driving, 61 miles per US gallon city. With air conditioning it was 66 miles per US gallon/60 miles per US gallon. With a CVT it was 57 miles per US gallon/56 miles per US gallon. Insight aficionados who are "hypermilers" compete to eke out as many miles as possible from a tank, with some achieving considerably more than the EPA estimates.Upon the Insight's release, Honda challenged several automotive magazines to a competition to see who could obtain the best fuel efficiency on the 195 miles (313.8 km) drive from Columbus, Ohio
Columbus, Ohio
Columbus is the capital of and the largest city in the U.S. state of Ohio. The broader metropolitan area encompasses several counties and is the third largest in Ohio behind those of Cleveland and Cincinnati. Columbus is the third largest city in the American Midwest, and the fifteenth largest city...
to Detroit. The contest was won by Car and Driver magazine, which rigged a box behind a Ford Excursion
Ford Excursion
The Ford Excursion is a full-size sport utility vehicle that was produced by the Ford Motor Company between model years 2000 and 2005 . Based on the Super Duty pickup truck platform, it served as Ford's largest SUV in its lineup during the tenure of its production and mainly competed against the...
, and had the Insight drive within the confines of the box. With much less wind resistance, the Insight made the trip with a fuel consumption of 121.7 miles per US gallon, while averaging 58 miles per hour (93.3 km/h). A two-year test of an Insight with air conditioning, driven 40000 miles (64,373.6 km), averaged 48 miles per US gallon. The New York Times noted that "[if] you drive the car badly, you will get bad mileage."
In the EU fuel economy tests, the Insight achieved a combined efficiency figure 69.2 miles per US gallon with an Extra-Urban figure of 78.4 miles per US gallon and Urban figure of 57.4 miles per US gallon.) This remains unbeaten in the UK market for a petrol car, and has only recently been eclipsed by the Smart ForTwo cdi
Smart Fortwo
The Smart Fortwo is a rear-engined two-seater city car manufactured by Smart GmbH, introduced at the 1998 Paris Motor Show as the Smart City Coupé, and currently in its second generation...
. However the original Smart
Smart (automobile)
Smart is an automotive branch of Daimler AG. Smart is a German manufacturer of microcars produced in Hambach, France, and Böblingen, Germany...
diesel matched the combined figure when release in Europe in 2000. The Insight has an official emissions figure of 80 g/km which is still the lowest of any UK market car. It was also the only car to fall into the VED
Vehicle excise duty
Vehicle Excise Duty is a vehicle road use tax levied as an excise duty which must be paid for most types of vehicle which are to be used on the public roads in the United Kingdom...
band A (up to 100g/km ), introduced in 2005, until 2008 when other manufacturers started developing cars to benefit from the tax free status.
Usage incentives
Under the Energy Policy Act of 2005Energy Policy Act of 2005
The Energy Policy Act of 2005 is a bill passed by the United States Congress on July 29, 2005, and signed into law by President George W. Bush on August 8, 2005, at Sandia National Laboratories in Albuquerque, New Mexico...
in the United States, the Honda Insight was eligible for a US$
United States dollar
The United States dollar , also referred to as the American dollar, is the official currency of the United States of America. It is divided into 100 smaller units called cents or pennies....
1,450 tax credit.
Cars registered in the UK after 2001 qualified for free road tax because of their low CO2 emissions (2000 registered cars would be taxed on the lower rate of the old system based on engine size). As a Hybrid the Insight also qualifies for an exemption from the London Congestion Charge.
Replacement battery pack
As of June 2008 in the U.S., according to Honda, there are fewer than 200 battery failures beyond warranty coverage out of more than 100,000 hybrids sold.As of October 2009, as part of a class-action suit settlement, Honda had extended the warranty of these batteries on cars with up to 157000 miles (252,666.4 km) of use, or 10 years, for cars registered in certain warm states only. As of 1 June 2008, the replacement battery costs US$
United States dollar
The United States dollar , also referred to as the American dollar, is the official currency of the United States of America. It is divided into 100 smaller units called cents or pennies....
1,968 and installation is around US$
United States dollar
The United States dollar , also referred to as the American dollar, is the official currency of the United States of America. It is divided into 100 smaller units called cents or pennies....
900.
As of 2008, independent mechanics have been known to replace Insight batteries with either Prius sub-packs or Civic Hybrid subpacks. A US$
United States dollar
The United States dollar , also referred to as the American dollar, is the official currency of the United States of America. It is divided into 100 smaller units called cents or pennies....
300 used NiMH battery from another more mass produced HEV can be used to build a replacement Insight battery pack. Other independent mechanics have been reconditioning their old Insight battery packs to correct wear and tear issues. Reconditioning allows correction of some issues at lower cost than rebuilding a replacement pack from other used packs.
Recalls
On July 26, 2002 Honda recalled 375 2002 Insights due to improperly welded air bag modules.Second generation (2009–)
Honda CR-Z
The Honda CR-Z is a compact hybrid electric automobile manufactured by Honda and marketed as a "sport hybrid coupe." The CR-Z combines a hybrid gasoline-electric powertrain with traditional sports car elements...
. The concept version of the Insight hatchback
Hatchback
A Hatchback is a car body style incorporating a shared passenger and cargo volume, with rearmost accessibility via a rear third or fifth door, typically a top-hinged liftgate—and features such as fold-down rear seats to enable flexibility within the shared passenger/cargo volume. As a two-box...
hybrid electric vehicle
Hybrid electric vehicle
A hybrid electric vehicle is a type of hybrid vehicle and electric vehicle which combines a conventional internal combustion engine propulsion system with an electric propulsion system. The presence of the electric powertrain is intended to achieve either better fuel economy than a conventional...
had made its public debut at the 2008 Paris Motor Show
2008 Paris Motor Show
The 2008 Paris Motor Show took place from 4 October to 19 October 2008, in Paris Expo, Porte de Versailles.This edition of the Paris Motor Show featured a high number of hybrid and electric vehicles , a tectonic shift that led a New York Times blogger to ask, "Who killed the non-electric cars?".-...
. and its North American debut at the Los Angeles Auto Show. In the US, the new Insight is classified as a compact car
Compact car
A compact car , or small family car , is a classification of cars which are larger than a supermini but smaller than or equal to a mid-size car...
based on its interior volume.
Fuel efficiency
Fuel efficiency rating according to the U.S. EPA testing methodology is: City 40 mpgU.S. (17 km/L), Highway 43 mpgU.S. (18.3 km/L), Combined 41 mpgU.S. (17.4 km/L). The 2012 model yearModel year
The model year of a product is a number used worldwide, but with a high level of prominence in North America, to describe approximately when a product was produced, and indicates the coinciding base specification of that product....
U.S. version has minor improvements and its updated EPA fuel economy rating is: City 41 mpgU.S. (17.4 km/L), Highway 44 mpgU.S. (18.7 km/L), Combined 42 mpgU.S. (17.9 km/L).
Honda UK state that the official UK fuel efficiency data for the Insight SE is: Urban 61.4 mpgimp, Extra urban 67.3 mpgimp, Combined 64.2 mpgimp and the CO2 emissions rating is: 101 g/km, putting it in the second lowest UK road tax band.
Performance
Car and Driver magazine performed a comparison between the 2010 Honda Insight and the 2010 Toyota Prius. In this test, the Insight achieved 0–60 mph in 10.3 seconds (Prius, 10.0 seconds), the quarter mile in 17.9 seconds at 78 mph (Prius, 17.6 at 79 mph), and 70–0 mph braking in 181 feet (Prius, 182 feet). The Insight's average fuel economy during a 600-mile controlled evaluation was 38 mpg (Prius, 42 mpg). Overall, Car and Driver selected the Insight as their preferred vehicle due to its "fun-to-drive" qualities including superior handling, steering, braking, and paddle-shifted transmission.History
The 2010 Honda Insight was specifically designed to make hybrid technology more affordable to a wide range of buyers. Departing from the first generation Insight’s two-seater configuration, the 2010 Insight is a 5-passenger, 5-door dedicated hybrid vehicle that includes the fifth generation of Honda’s Integrated Motor Assist (IMA) hybrid powertrain.Design
Honda chose a 5-door hatchback configuration for the latest Insight. The wedge-shaped body assists aerodynamics and reduces drag for improved fuel economy. The 5-passenger accommodations enhance marketability and the overall vehicle shape, as Honda puts it, is “clearly identifiable as a hybrid.”The wedge shape of the second-generation Insight has been criticized by many automotive journalists for its similarities with the more successful and older second-generation Toyota Prius
Toyota Prius (XW20)
The Toyota Prius is a full hybrid electric mid-size car developed and manufactured by the Toyota Motor Corporation. The second generation Prius had been completely redesigned as a midsize hatchback. The XW20 series represented the second generation of the Toyota Prius, replacing its XW10 predecessor...
. This is, however, an unfair comparison as the fastback
Fastback
A fastback is a car body style whose roofline slopes continuously down at the back. The word can also designate the car itself. The style is seen on two-door coupés as well as four-door sedans.-History:...
profile was first seen on the first-generation insight, before the Toyota Prius
Toyota Prius
The Toyota Prius is a full hybrid electric mid-size hatchback, formerly a compact sedan developed and manufactured by the Toyota Motor Corporation...
used such a design.
The Insight's exterior design merges design cues from both the first generation Insight (the tapered tail and triangular taillights) and Honda’s production hydrogen fuel cell vehicle, the FCX Clarity (the low hood, six-point front grille, and wedge-shaped profile).
The interior of the new Insight includes a variation of the two-tier instrument panel first introduced on the 2006 Honda Civic. In this arrangement, a digital speedometer is mounted high on the instrument panel within the driver’s normal line-of-site for ease of visibility. An analog tachometer, fuel gauge, hybrid assist gauge, and Multi-Information Display are housed in the lower tier.
Powertrain
The new Insight includes Honda’s fifth and latest generation of its Integrated Motor Assist (IMA) hybrid system. This system mates an internal combustion engine with an electric motor mounted directly to the engine’s crankshaft between the engine and transmission. Honda states that this configuration is less complex, lower cost, and compact enough to accommodate a wide range of vehicle sizes when compared to competing hybrid powertrains. Honda has used previous generations of this IMA system on all of its production hybrid vehicles including the original Insight, Civic Hybrid, and Accord Hybrid. Advanced development has allowed the Insight’s IMA system to be 19 percent smaller and 28 percent lighter than the previous generation IMA used in the existing Civic Hybrid.The Insight’s IMA includes a high-efficiency, lightweight, low-friction 1.3-liter SOHC i-VTEC 4-cylinder engine and it is rated for 98 hp at 5800 rpm and 123 lbft of torque from 1000–1700 rpm. The high torque at low rpm is made possible by the electric motor which contributes up to 13 hp at 1500 rpm and 58 lbft of torque at 1000 rpm to the powertrain, assisting in acceleration and some steady state cruising situations at low-to-mid vehicle speeds. The motor acts as a generator during braking, steady cruising, gentle deceleration and coasting in order to recharge the IMA battery. The motor also serves as the engine starter, quickly spinning the engine to idle speed after Idle Stop and during normal vehicle starting. The system will automatically switch to a back-up, conventional 12-volt starter to start the engine if the IMA system is disabled or if the car is started at extreme cold temperatures. As an additional safety feature, Honda’s hybrid configuration allows the car to operate like a conventional, gas-engine vehicle even if the IMA hybrid-electric motor system is completely disabled.
The Insight’s Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT) provides infinite ratios to keep the engine operating within its most efficient range. Forward gear ratios are infinitely variable between 3.172–0.529 and reverse gear ranges from 4.511~1.693. Final drive is 4.20:1. On Insight EX models, paddle shifters mounted behind the steering wheel allow the driver to engage a manual shift mode and select from seven simulated gear ratios for full control over acceleration and engine braking. Since the CVT’s gear ratios are continuously variable the system electronically directs the transmission to up- or downshift into pre-determined ratios when the driver taps the shift paddles. In normal driving, the CVT allows the engine and IMA motor to stay in their most efficient operating range thereby providing superior fuel efficiency to that of a conventional automatic transmission with fixed gear ratios. The CVT’s variable gear ratios allow for both quick, initial acceleration and efficient, low-rpm cruising.
In order to allow the powertrain computer to optimize performance under every driving condition, the Insight’s accelerator pedal is a “drive-by-wire” type that uses an electronic position sensor instead of the conventional metal cable that usually connects the pedal to the engine’s throttle body. In the drive-by-wire system, the engine’s throttle body is controlled by the powertrain computer in response to the gas pedal position—allowing the computer to determine the optimal throttle body, fuel, and CVT settings based on the accelerator pedal position and its rate of travel.
IMA battery
The Insight’s IMA is powered by a flat, nickel metal hydride battery pack located below the cargo floor between the rear wheels. The 84 module battery is manufactured by Sanyo Electric and provides a nominal system voltage of 100.8 volts with a nominal capacity of 5.75 ampere-hourAmpere-hour
An ampere-hour or amp-hour is a unit of electric charge, with sub-units milliampere-hour and milliampere second...
s. The power density of the modules is 30 percent greater than in the current-generation Civic Hybrid. The battery is recharged automatically by scavenging engine power, when needed, and by regenerative braking when the car is decelerating. The power management electronics, battery modules, and cooling system are all self-contained within the IMA battery pack.
Honda ECO ASSIST System
The new Insight is the first Honda hybrid to feature their Ecological Drive Assist System (ECO ASSIST). This system is designed to help the driver develop and maintain a fuel-efficient driving style. The system monitors and displays the positive or negative effect of a driving style on the vehicle’s fuel economy.As a visual aid, the background of the Insight’s digital speedometer glows green when the car is being driven in an efficient manner. Somewhat less-efficient driving makes the meter glow blue-green. Aggressive starts and stops that consume extra fuel make the meter glow blue. By observing the color shift of the speedometer background, the driver receives assistance in developing driving habits that typically enhance fuel economy.
In addition, ECO ASSIST includes a dedicated ECON button that enables the driver to initiate a range of functions that increase the fuel economy of the IMA system via a single button press. In ECON mode, the driver trades off a measure of performance for enhanced fuel economy but gains the following advantages:
- Increases the potential for engaging the Idle Stop feature sooner
- Operates air conditioning more in recirculation mode
- Reduces automatic climate control blower fan speed
- Optimizes throttle angle input and CVT operation
- Limits power and torque by approximately 4 percent (full responsiveness is provided at wide-open-throttle)
Overall, ECO ASSIST is designed to assist the driver in adopting a balanced approach between efficient highway commuting and efficient city driving. However, the EPA found during fuel economy testing that using the ECO ASSIST mode "registered no effect" on its fuel economy rating. "It relaxes throttle response, so the test driver simply compensates with additional throttle to achieve the required speeds."
Chassis, suspension, and steering
The Insight’s compact chassis is derived from components used in the latest Honda Fit. The structure of the engine compartment and front section of the chassis is almost identical to the Fit’s but with additional enhancements to aid crash protection. From the firewall aft the platform is unique to Insight.The most significant difference between the Fit and the Insight platform is the position of the fuel tank. Whereas the Fit locates the fuel tank under the front seats (a move designed to free up space for maximum versatility in the Fit’s rear compartment) the Insight positions the fuel tank under the rear seats. This fuel tank location enables the Insight’s hybrid battery pack to be located in the cargo floor below the spare tire, a move that allows folding rear seats, a lower roofline, and a more aerodynamic body shape to assist fuel economy at high speed.
Front and rear suspension components from the Fit are used including MacPherson struts at the front and an H-shaped torsion beam at the rear to keep the load floor low in order to increase luggage capacity. Front and rear stabilizer bars are also installed. On Insight EX models, the 175/65-15 low rolling resistance tires are mounted on very lightweight aluminum rims. Each tire and wheel together weigh only 34 pounds.
The Insight's electrically-assisted, rack-and-pinion steering does not rely on an engine-driven, hydraulic power steering pump as in conventional non-hybrid vehicles. Electric assist improves fuel efficiency (less parasitic drag on the engine) and allows the Insight to steer normally even when the engine is shut off in Idle Stop mode.
The Insight’s hydraulic braking system includes four-channel ABS (to prevent wheel lockup), Electronic Brake Distribution (to improve braking effectiveness under different vehicle loads), and a Creep Aid System (to prevent the car from rolling on a hill when the driver transitions from the brake pedal to the throttle pedal). Also included are Traction Control and Vehicle Stability Assist (the latter system employing an electronic yaw rate/lateral acceleration sensor to detect excessive understeer or oversteer when cornering). A Brake Booster Pressure Monitoring System continuously monitors boost vacuum when the engine is shut off during Idle Stop mode. The front brakes use a single-piston sliding caliper and a one-piece ventilated rotor. The rear brakes are drum-type.
In July 2010, Honda UK announced an update for the Insight to be released in September. The update comprising suspension changes are a response to feedback of the Insight's ride and handling. There are revisions to the recoil rate of the springs, change of the rear camber angles and alterations to the rear suspension brace and adjusting mounts. As a result, Honda promised better ride, handling and stability. Interior changes were also made: dashboard and seat fabric colours have been revised, as have some of the interior plastics, now higher in quality. The air vents received a chrome surround and a silver garnish now adorns the door sills.
Enhanced efficiency air conditioning system
The air conditioning system on the new Insight has an expanded thermodynamic range compared to conventional systems. Unlike the separate low pressure and high pressure refrigerant pipes used in conventional systems, the Insight has its low pressure cold pipe enclosing the high pressure hot refrigerant pipe that allows the cold refrigerant on its way back to the engine bay to cool the warm refrigerant travelling to the cabin. A unique, spiral groove along the outside of the inner pipe increases the surface area and therefore the efficiency of the heat transfer between the outer and inner tubes. This improves the thermal efficiency of the air-conditioning system and, as a result, less effort is required from the compressor, resulting in improved fuel efficiency.In order to control costs, Honda decided not to include the electric-assist air conditioning compressor used in the Civic Hybrid. The Civic Hybrid's electric-assist allows the air conditioning compressor to continue running (using battery pack power) to maintain cabin temperature when the engine is shut off in Idle Stop mode. Instead, the Insight limits the duration of the Idle Stop mode during air conditioning use and restarts the engine, when needed, to maintain cabin temperature. However, when the Insight's ECON function is engaged, a longer Idle Stop time is invoked for improved fuel efficiency at the expense of rapid cabin cooling.
Multi-information display
The Multi-information display, located in the center of the tachometer, can be toggled through nine different screens of vehicle information including instantaneous fuel economy, hybrid system schematic, trip computer, and ECO Guide. The ECO Guide display includes a real-time graphic that provides a target zone for acceleration and deceleration in order to achieve maximum fuel economy. When the ignition switch is turned off, a summary screen displays a scoring function that encourages drivers to take an interest in developing fuel-efficient driving habits over the long term. In this manner, drivers can earn additional ‘leaves’ on a plant stem when practicing fuel saving strategies. Long-term fuel efficient driving habits ultimately earn the driver a ‘trophy’ graphic.Sales and prices by country
Honda sold 130,445 Insights worldwide in 2009.In an interview in early February 2011, a Honda executive disclosed that Honda produced around 200,000 hybrids a year in Japan.
Japan
The new Insight began sales in Japan on February 6, 2009 with prices between and .The reception in Japan is overwhelming and exceeds Honda's original forecast of 5,000 monthly sales. This resulted as less availability to overseas markets and Honda has to start production on a second line at its Suzuka factory in mid-June to increase production from 700 units a day. In April 2009, the Honda Insight became the first gas-electric hybrid to be the best-selling vehicle in Japan for the month.After less than eleven months on sale, Honda sold 93,283 Insight in Japan in 2009, ranking it the fifth best-selling car for the year. In March 2010, Honda announced that the new Insight broke through 100,000 sales in Japanese market in just one year after its introduction.
United States
The car went on sale on March 24, 2009 in the U.S. as a 2010 model with MSRPSuggested retail price
The manufacturer's suggested retail price , list price or recommended retail price of a product is the price which the manufacturer recommends that the retailer sell the product. The intention was to help to standardise prices among locations...
prices between and , making it the least expensive hybrid vehicle available in the United States.
Within less than ten months from its introduction, Insight total sales for 2009 in the U.S. market
were 20,572 units, selling more than the Fusion Hybrid (15,554 units) and the Civic Hybrid (15,119), but behind the Camry Hybrid (22,887 units) and the Toyota Prius
Toyota Prius
The Toyota Prius is a full hybrid electric mid-size hatchback, formerly a compact sedan developed and manufactured by the Toyota Motor Corporation...
(139,682 units).
The sales in the U.S. is below expectation, mainly due to the economic recession in 2008-09, stiff competition and a drop in gasoline prices of over one-third over the past year, eroded demand for fuel-efficient cars.
In December 2010, Honda introduced a less expensive Insight hybrid for the 2011 model year to help boost sales. The new base model Insight will start at a MSRP
Suggested retail price
The manufacturer's suggested retail price , list price or recommended retail price of a product is the price which the manufacturer recommends that the retailer sell the product. The intention was to help to standardise prices among locations...
of , less expensive than the previous lowest trim level, the LX. For the 2011 LX model, center armrest, cruise control, USB connectivity for the audio system and floor mats are newly added. Price increase is limited to . Electronic stability control and brake assist are now standard across all trim levels. All models come with automatic climate control. Honda explained the move "to make (the vehicle) more affordable for those younger customers who couldn't previously get into a hybrid." In 2009, Toyota promised a lower-priced version of the Prius to compete with Insight, but quietly dropped the deal for consumers.
In 2010, 20,962 Insights were sold in the country. The Insight ranked number two in all hybrid vehicle sales after the Toyota Prius, beating out the Toyota Camry Hybrid and the Ford Fusion Hybrid. From January 2011 to August 2011, cumulative sales of the Insight in the U.S. reached 13,106 units, ranking number two among hybrid sales for 2011 and outsold only by the Prius. By September 2011, cumulative sales reached 13,618 units, falling to the third place, surpassed by the Hyundai Sonata.
| Calendar Year | American sales |
|---|---|
| 2009 | 20,572 |
| 2010 | 20,962 |
In October 2009, Consumer Reports
Consumer Reports
Consumer Reports is an American magazine published monthly by Consumers Union since 1936. It publishes reviews and comparisons of consumer products and services based on reporting and results from its in-house testing laboratory. It also publishes cleaning and general buying guides...
named the Honda Insight the most reliable vehicle as it scored the highest of any vehicles in predicted reliability, according to its annual vehicles reliability survey.
United Kingdom
The Honda Insight has been on sale from April 4, 2009 and early reports said it outsold its competitor by 15 percent. The Insight is exempted from the London congestion chargeLondon congestion charge
The London congestion charge is a fee charged for some categories of motor vehicle to travel at certain times within the Congestion Charge Zone , a traffic area in London. The charge aims to reduce congestion, and raise investment funds for London's transport system...
. Starting from autumn 2010, revised suspension should improve ride and handling, parking sensors are added to ES model and above, furthermore, a top of the range EX model is added with standard leather interior and sat-nav priced at £20,215.
Australia
Honda Australia prices (including GST) the entry model VTi from , and the higher model VTI-L from and Insight became the first hybrid car available below . It is the lowest priced hybrid car in Australia. It went on sales from December 6, 2010. It is reported the price of Insight undercuts both Civic Hybrid and Toyota Prius .Its fuel economy is rated 4.6 L/100 km in official Australian testing. Although electric vehicles like i-MiEV from Mitsubishi is available for leasing by fleet customers, plus Nissan Leaf and plug-in hybrid Holden Volt will be released sometime in 2012, Honda Australia believes hybrid vehicles will remain a major alternative-fuel vehicle for some time because of affordability and practicality weaknesses of electric vehicles. It believes electric vehicles will face severe range limitations because of heat and distances in Australia market.
The company plans to launch three more hybrids within the following 18 months, CR-Z
Honda CR-Z
The Honda CR-Z is a compact hybrid electric automobile manufactured by Honda and marketed as a "sport hybrid coupe." The CR-Z combines a hybrid gasoline-electric powertrain with traditional sports car elements...
, Fit hybrid
Honda Fit
The Honda Jazz is a five-door hatchback subcompact manufactured by the Honda Motor Company of Japan, first introduced in June 2001 and is now in its second generation. The Jazz shares Honda's Global Small Car Platform with the City/Fit Aria, Airwave/Partner, Mobilio, Mobilio Spike, Freed and Freed...
and Civic Hybrid
Honda Civic Hybrid
The Civic hybrid, based on the seventh generation Civic, was first introduced to the Japanese market in December 2001. Honda claimed it was the most fuel efficient 5-passenger gasoline-powered production vehicle in the world at the time. It was introduced to the U.S. in spring 2002 as a 2003 model...
.
Honda also questions the green credentials of an electric vehicle when electricity is generated from coal-fired power stations, "For Australia, unless you're tapped into a green power source, the benefits are negligible".
Honda includes an eight-year, unlimited mileage warranty for the car's hybrid powertrain battery.
The Netherlands
As of March 2010, Honda has sold 2,661 units since the introduction of the Insight in April 2009. Of which, 847 were sold in the first 3 months of 2010. As of January 2010, the Honda Insight is exempt of road tax.Reviews have been mostly positive, praising the low cost, fuel economy, good handling and performance in city driving, while being somewhat critical of the car's performance on the highway and its rear visibility. Particularly impressive is the high vehicle safety rating. The EuroNCAP judged the Insight the second safest car of 2009, just behind the Volkswagen Golf but ahead of its main rival, the Toyota Prius.
The sales of the Honda Insight, along with those of the Honda Civic Hybrid
Honda Civic Hybrid
The Civic hybrid, based on the seventh generation Civic, was first introduced to the Japanese market in December 2001. Honda claimed it was the most fuel efficient 5-passenger gasoline-powered production vehicle in the world at the time. It was introduced to the U.S. in spring 2002 as a 2003 model...
, helped Honda achieve their best sales result in the Netherlands since 1989. These good results did not go unnoticed and it has been decided that the official European launch of Honda's next hybrid car, the CR-Z
Honda CR-Z
The Honda CR-Z is a compact hybrid electric automobile manufactured by Honda and marketed as a "sport hybrid coupe." The CR-Z combines a hybrid gasoline-electric powertrain with traditional sports car elements...
, will take place in the Netherlands.
Other Asian countries
The Insight was launched in Korea in October 2010 priced at (approx. ), making it the lowest priced hybrid car offered by import automakers.In Malaysia, Honda launched the Insight on December 2, 2010 at the Kuala Lumpur International Motor Show (KLIMS) 2010. Priced at (about ) on the road, including insurance, the Insight became the first affordable hybrid that is priced below . It is priced only more than the top model Honda City
Honda City
The Honda City is a subcompact car manufactured by the Japanese manufacturer Honda since 1981. Originally made for the Japanese, European and Australasian markets, the City was retired without replacement in 1994...
. It is reported that a few hundred sales orders were received even before its launch.
In Israel, the Insight with the "Comfort" features package, including import taxes, retails for .
Reception
Early reviews praised the Insight's futuristic styling, handling, and price but noted that it was less powerful, less fuel efficient, and less comfortable than other more expensive hybrids. The Insight performed well in comparison tests administered by Motor Trend and Car and Driver. In their comparison test against the 2010 Toyota Prius, Car and Driver stated "...the Insight proved more visceral, connected, and agile than the Prius. The Insight represents a lot of engineering bang for the buck, and the majority of its dynamics are more satisfying than the Prius’s" citing the benefits of the Insight's firm brake feel, accurate steering, and tight suspension (the latter borrowing heavily from the latest Honda Fit). It did not perform as well in EdmundsEdmunds.com
Edmunds.com is a provider of automotive information via Web sites, books, and other media. The company is headquartered in Santa Monica, California and maintains an office outside of Detroit, Michigan...
or Popular Mechanics
Popular Mechanics
Popular Mechanics is an American magazine first published January 11, 1902 by H. H. Windsor, and has been owned since 1958 by the Hearst Corporation...
tests. Despite a high reliability rating in Consumer Reports
Consumer Reports
Consumer Reports is an American magazine published monthly by Consumers Union since 1936. It publishes reviews and comparisons of consumer products and services based on reporting and results from its in-house testing laboratory. It also publishes cleaning and general buying guides...
testing, the Insight was assigned a low score, stating that it fell short in ride quality, handling, interior noise, acceleration, refinement, rear seat access and rear visibility.
Autoblog
Autoblog
Autoblog is a neologism and misnomer used to describe a particular type of website which uses software designed to automatically add content in a blog format. The owner of an autoblog is generally referred to as an autoblogger. Engaging in this practice is called autoblogging.Autoblogging does...
praised it for its fuel economy, tight handling, and good steering feedback, and stated "the Insight is a shockingly fun car to drive in a spirited manner in spite of the comparatively modest thrust available.", but criticized the Insight for its low passenger volume.
Automotive critic Jeremy Clarkson
Jeremy Clarkson
Jeremy Charles Robert Clarkson is an English broadcaster, journalist and writer who specialises in motoring. He is best known for his role on the BBC TV show Top Gear along with co-presenters Richard Hammond and James May...
, known for his disdain for hybrid vehicles, criticized the Insight for its continuously variable transmission, engine noise, and build quality. He recognized that the price was low, but concluded that a Volkswagen Golf
Volkswagen Golf
The Volkswagen Golf is a small family car manufactured by Volkswagen since 1974 and marketed worldwide across six generations, in various body configurations and under various nameplates – as the Volkswagen Rabbit in the United States and Canada , and as the Volkswagen Caribe in Mexico .The...
is a better deal. He remarked that the Insight is "possibly the worst new car money can buy", and awarded it one out of five stars.
Edmunds.com
Edmunds.com
Edmunds.com is a provider of automotive information via Web sites, books, and other media. The company is headquartered in Santa Monica, California and maintains an office outside of Detroit, Michigan...
praised the Insight for improving upon the formula of rival Prius and costing thousands less, but criticized it for excessive road noise, a tight back seat, and buzzy engine under hard acceleration. In addition, they state it "is by far the most enjoyable hybrid hatchback to drive" and praised the ride for being firm, the steering for being relatively responsive, and the seamless integration between the electric and gas motor.
In 2009, Edmunds pitted a Honda Insight against other hybrids like Toyota Prius and Ford Fusion hybrid, a Volkswagen Jetta
Volkswagen Jetta
Although the Golf had reached considerable success, in the North American markets, Volkswagen observed that the hatchback body style lacked some of the appeal to those who preferred the traditional three-box configuration...
TDI automatic and a MINI Cooper with manual transmission over two days of mixed city and highway driving.
| Driving condition |
2010 Toyota Prius Toyota Prius The Toyota Prius is a full hybrid electric mid-size hatchback, formerly a compact sedan developed and manufactured by the Toyota Motor Corporation... |
2010 Honda Insight |
2009 Volkswagen Jetta TDI A6 Volkswagen Jetta Although the Golf had reached considerable success, in the North American markets, Volkswagen observed that the hatchback body style lacked some of the appeal to those who preferred the traditional three-box configuration... |
2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid Ford Fusion Hybrid The Ford Fusion Hybrid is a gasoline-electric hybrid powered version of the mid-size Ford Fusion sedan developed by the Ford Motor Company, and launched to the U.S. market in March 2009 as a 2010 model, together with its twin the Mercury Milan Hybrid. The Fusion Hybrid is manufactured at Ford's... |
2009 MINI Cooper M6 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Back roads | 47.2 | 44.1 | 41.2 | 39.6 | 38.5 |
| City loop | 48.7 | 43.4 | 31.6 | 35.1 | 30.1 |
| Highway | 47.4 | 38.6 | 40.6 | 36.0 | 33.3 |
| Overall | 47.6 | 42.3 | 38.1 | 37.3 | 34.5 |
| EPA City/Hwy | 51/48 | 40/43 | 29/40 | 41/36 | 28/37 |
Crash test
Insurance Institute for Highway Safety:- Frontal Offset test: Good
- Side Impact test: Good
Europe NCAP:
- Awarded stars
Awards and recognition
- The second generation Insight is awarded 2009 Good Design Award from the Japan Industrial Design Promotion Organization
- The American Automobile AssociationAmerican Automobile AssociationAAA , formerly known as the American Automobile Association, is a federation of 51 independently operated motor clubs throughout North America. AAA is a not-for-profit member service organization with more than 51 million members. AAA provides services to its members such as travel, automotive,...
(AAA) awarded the Honda Insight II the top commuter vehicle in 2010. - Selected among Kelley Blue BookKelley Blue BookKelley Blue Book, headquartered in Irvine, California, is the United States' largest automotive vehicle valuation company. The company's website is a source for new and used vehicle pricing and information...
Top 10 Green Cars for 2010 - The 2010 Insight EX was awarded Top Safety Pick 2009 from Insurance Institute for Highway Safety
- The first generation Insight's engine won the International Engine of the YearInternational Engine of the YearThe International Engine of the Year is an annual competition for automotive industry internal combustion engines, judged by a panel of automobile journalists from around the world. It is organised by the United Kingdom's largest technical motoring, aerospace and traffic management publication...
award for 2000, and continued to hold the "Sub-1 liter" size category for the next six years. - It received the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's 2000 Climate Protection Award.
- It was named the "Greenest Vehicle" of the year for 2000, 2002, 2003 and 2006 by the American Council for an Energy-Efficient EconomyAmerican Council for an Energy-Efficient EconomyThe American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy, or ACEEE, is a nonprofit, 501 organization. Founded in 1980, ACEEE's mission is to advance energy efficiency as a fast, cheap, and effective means of meeting energy challenges...
(ACEEE). - The Insight was nominated for the North American Car of the YearNorth American Car of the YearThe North American Car of the Year is an automobile award voted annually in January at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit. The jury consists of no more than 50 automotive journalists.-Example:-Pre-1994:-1994-1999:-2000-2009:...
award for 2001. - As of 2011 the 2000 Insight ranks as the most efficient EPA certified gasoline-powered vehicle ever, with a highway rating of 61 miles per US gallon (25.9 km/L) and combined city/highway rating of 53 miles per US gallon (22.5 km/L).
External links
- Official Worldwide, U.S., and U.K. sites
- Official first generation Honda Insight Honda Worldwide
- Large user forum Insight Central