NOTE: Pricing based on data collected April 2011. Costs of hybridization and forced features are UCS estimates based on information available on manufacturer websites.
See full Hybrid Scorecard methodology
Vehicle Summary
The Honda Insight is the most economically priced hybrid on the market. While the Insight remains essentially the same vehicle it was in 2010, Honda has introduced a base trim-level model that reduces some of the standard features and lowers the sticker price. Honda originally introduced the Insight as the first production hybrid for sale in the United States in model year 2000. Honda discontinued the two-seater Insight in 2006, but re-introduced it in model year 2010 as a compact car that seats five people and gets a combined EPA estimated fuel economy of 41 miles per gallon (mpg). Since the Insight is a dedicated hybrid, meaning there is no conventional counterpart, the Insight was compared with the closest conventional model available from the automaker, the Honda Fit with a 1.5-liter engine. The Insight is a mild hybrid, offering idle stop/start, power assist, and regenerative braking, but cannot run on electric power alone.
Environmental Improvement Score
The Insight merits a 24 percent reduction in global warming emissions compared with the already thrifty conventional Fit. This amounts to a 10 mpg bump in overall fuel economy. The smog-forming emissions performance of the Insight is typically strong for the Honda brand, earning it an EPA air pollution score of 9. These two factors give the Insight an Environmental Improvement Score of 6.5.
Scorecard Environmental Improvement Score methodology
Hybrid Value
Compared with a similarly featured Fit, we calculate that Honda is charging $4,000 for the hybrid system in the Insight. This is similar to what Ford is charging to go from a similarly equipped Fusion to a Fusion Hybrid ($4,190), and a few hundred dollars more than Toyota is charging to go from a similarly equipped Matrix to a Prius ($3,665). The Insight’s hybrid value rates a “Good,” and it is not surprising that its 2011 sales numbers have increased 25 percent over 2010, as an increase in gas prices plus a sticker price of well under $20,000 makes the Insight an appealing choice on the hybrid market.
Scorecard Hybrid Value methodology
Forced Features
One place where the Insight excels is the fact that Honda focuses on fuel economy as its selling point, keeping forced features to an absolute minimum. This year the Fit actually offers more base features than the Insight, such as: USB audio interface, cruise control, 10 beverage holders, driver’s and passenger's-side vanity mirrors, and a base audio system with more speakers. This, of course, gave the Insight a Forced Features rating of “None,” allowing consumers to choose great fuel economy without having to spend money on the bells and whistles.
Scorecard Forced Features methodology
Hybrid Scorecard Home
Additional Info
Visit the Who’s Got Hybrids section to read comments and stories from actual hybrid owners.
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