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http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/2/Japanese_Flag_30x22.jpg The bottom line -- EV Evelyn says buy this car -- despite what Consumer Reports says. (http://www.examiner.com/x-1995-Green-Car-Examiner~y2009m6d30-Road-Test-2010-Honda-Insight-hybrid-is-a-winner)

http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/501/2010_Honda_Insight-II_EX2.jpgEvelyn Kanter - EXAMINER (http://www.examiner.com) - June 30, 2009

Finally a positive review in the midst of a fire storm of hybrid bashing! --Ed.

I’ve just spent a week with the 2010 Honda Insight, and I’m in love. Not just with the 38mpg fuel economy – okay, it was 37.9 – but with its visibility, handling and a bunch of creature features you don’t expect in a car at this price.

High fuel economy and low price are a one-two punch that is the biggest selling point for the Honda Insight and a good reason why it is out-selling the Prius in Europe and Japan. Okay, the Toyota Prius gets better fuel economy than the Honda Insight, but the Prius also costs more.

The Insight is the least expensive hybrid on the planet. That’s a compelling argument in what some automotive writers are calling ‘the battle of the hybrids’. There are two Insight models. Prices start with the LX at $19,800, substantially less than the Honda Civic Hybrid at $24,320. The upgraded EX model, with a navigation system, cruise control and stability control, starts at $21,300. That’s the one I drove.

How does that compare with the Prius? The 2010 Toyota Prius is $22,750. Toyota has a stripped-down version that’s closer to the Insight price, but that model is primarily for government and corporate fleets and all but impossible for you to buy

In a week of normal driving around Los Angeles, where I was visiting, the Insight was flawless on highways, with ample acceleration for zooming onto the 405 and the 101. And when traffic allowed, there was plenty of power to cruise at 70mph. It has a super-tight turning radius that allowed me to... http://www.examiner.com/x-1995-Green-Car-Examiner~y2009m6d30-Road-Test-2010-Honda-Insight-hybrid-is-a-winner

Toyota has a stripped-down version that’s closer to the Insight price, but that model is primarily for government and corporate fleets and all but impossible for you to buy...

And when will we be able to buy "stripped-down" models of all the hybrids?!?

It is nice to see a good review but... 37.9 MPG with the Econ button on???

It is nice to see a good review but... 37.9 MPG with the Econ button on???

Yeah... one of us needs to give her a clinic. For an explanation, take a gander at her highway speeds! :eek:

Yeah... one of us needs to give her a clinic. For an explanation, take a gander at her highway speeds! :eek:

Well... I don't know about her local speed limits, but I know of a few that have a psl of 80. I won't travel them, but I wouldn't get onto anyone for going 70 on it.

Oh, she may or may not have been speeding... but the Insight II simply doesn't have much to offer in the way of efficiency at those speeds.

Checking over my original fuel logs, in my pre-hypermiling days, high 60's to low 70s was my usual highway speed, yet FE in the Fit was 39-41. She must have really been beating on it.

Checking over my original fuel logs, in my pre-hypermiling days, high 60's to low 70s was my usual highway speed, yet FE in the Fit was 39-41. She must have really been beating on it.

Probably true, but she's a good example of how most Americans will drive it, so the 38MPG number is still significant. My leadfooted girlfriend gets about 22MPG out of her EPA rated 27MPG from her Hyundai Sonata. We can infer from this that my girlfriend would nearly double her milage driving the Insight with little to no change in driving habits. That is significant! :)

I always get a laugh whenever one of these auto journalists considers something like 38mph to be good mileage. You don't need a hybrid to get this level of mileage. There are plenty of non-hybrids around that will do better than 38mpg, With just normal driving in my 92 Civic CX before I modified it, the only time I was able to get the mileage down to 38mpg was on a winter trip driving through 4" of wet snow.

You don't need a hybrid to get this level of mileage...

I didn't think about it, but you are very right about that.

Heck, I'm almost there with a Ranger pickup.

Hi All:

___This Examiner sounds like a group of non-journalists or ones currently without a job who are selling their reviews and articles to Examiner.com similar to the NY Times About.com.

___In any case, the 38 mpg from an Insight means it was hammered to no end or driving in a downtown super city from light to light for an entire tank. They all need help big time!

___The individual writer from Chicago that was doing the Hypermiling expose' contacted me this morning for a clinic and I will try and arrange for him to come up on the same day I have another journalist from Consumer Guide here for the same.

___Yet another opportunity...

___Good Luck

___Wayne