It can also fit in 450 litres of cargo with the rear 60/40-split seatback up and 981 litres with it folded. Don't plan on bulky items, though, as the rear hatch (split by an annoying horizontal brace with glass above and below) slopes dramatically. A Civic Hybrid sedan offers only 298 litres of trunk space.
The dash is interesting, a two-level design with digital speedometer up top and analogue gauges in the main display below, climate controls in a panel adjacent to your right hand and the audio controls beside it.
Our blue on the outside Insight was done in dark over light grey inside with cloth upholstery on seats that provide adequate support.
Standard equipment includes automatic climate control with air conditioning, front and front/side airbags, vanity mirrors, cup holders, power windows and locks and remote entry.
It's not fancy, but it doesn't look cheap and it's functional, with reasonable headroom and also quiet enough at speed. Quite livable, in other words, so you don't have to suffer particularly while saving the planet.
The Insight's gasoline engine is a rev-y 1.3-litre, four-cylinder, twin-cam with variable valve control and cylinder deactivation that's combined with an electric motor producing 13 hp, for a total of 98 hp and 123 lb-ft of torque.
This drives the front wheels through a continuously variable transmission. Performance is lively enough and drivability fine, although the motor restart should be smoother - it kind of chugs back into life.
Handling is fine, in fact fairly sporty feeling with nicely weighted and direct steering. Ride is on the hard side, though. Over all, driving the Insight on a day-to-day basis wouldn't be a bad thing.
And one final comparison, price. Honda's Insight wins in terms of the amount of "green" you have to hand over, priced at $23,900 for an LX and $27,500 for the EX. A Civic Hybrid lists at $26,350 and Toyota's Prius at $27,400.
2010 Honda Insight
Type: Compact hybrid hatchback
Price: $23,900
Engine: 1.3-litre, DOHC, inline-four gas engine, with electric motor
Horsepower/torque: 98 hp/ 123 lb-ft
Transmission: CVT
Drive: Front-wheel-drive
Fuel economy (litres/100 km): 4.8 city/4.5 highway; regular gas
Alternatives: Honda Civic Hybrid, Toyota Prius
Like
- Exterior styling is attractive and makes a green statement
- Interior is pleasant if plain
- Performance is adequate and fuel economy terrific
Don't like
- Automatic engine restart is far from seamless
- Horizontally split rear hatch glass
