Right Lane Cruiser
06-22-2009, 08:26 AM
http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/2/Japanese_Flag_30x22.jpg It’s worth noting that careful driving has netted very impressive mileage for the Insight. (http://www.examiner.com/x-1017-DC-Car-Examiner~y2009m6d21-Review-2010-Honda-Insight--it-only-matches-the-Prius-in-its-looks)
http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/501/2010_Honda_Insight-II2.jpgBrady Holt - EXAMINER (http://www.examiner.com) - June 21, 2009
The Insight was never intended to be direct competition for the Prius --- too bad the price draws people into that comparison. --Ed.
The Toyota Prius is the ubiquitous hybrid car. It’s instantly recognizable and it can deliver impressive gas mileage while functioning easily as an acceptable daily-use car.
However, the Prius has been only acceptable in most ways by the standards of today’s economy cars. Most notably, its tires are designed for maximizing gas mileage over all else, hurting ride and handling, and it costs more than any other mainstream compact car, thousands more than a comparable Corolla.
Honda has tried to capitalize on the Prius’s shortcomings with gas-electric hybrid versions of its Civic sedan, as the Civic is more comfortable and more of a driver’s car than the Prius. But unique wheels and a little “hybrid” badge never gave it a distinctive visual appeal. So Honda has tried again.
The first generation Insight, the first hybrid car sold in the U.S., got excellent gas mileage but offered space for only two passengers for its price tag of nearly $20,000. The new 2010 model abandons that model, instead aiming directly at the five-door five-seat Prius. The two cars’ outlines are now nearly identical, each aimed at minimizing air resistance without giving up too much interior space.
With the Insight, Honda now has a hybrid that’s both easily recognizable as a hybrid and has a rear seat. The Insight’s base price of $19,800 undercuts that of the Prius – which starts at $22,000 – and Honda promised it would be a hybrid for people who want to feel more connected the road rather than just their fuel economy, as well as a budget hybrid for those who aren’t going to step up to the extra cost of the Prius or other pricey hybrids.
Unfortunately, the details knock down the Insight as a major threat to the Prius’s dominance in this class.
The first key issue is the hybrid system: the Insight’s just doesn’t work well. The Honda’s electric motor has 13 horsepower to the Prius’s 67, meaning it’s much easier to have the Toyota running gas-free with only the motor moving the car. The Insight is a “mild hybrid” that uses its... http://www.examiner.com/x-1017-DC-Car-Examiner~y2009m6d21-Review-2010-Honda-Insight--it-only-matches-the-Prius-in-its-looks
http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/501/2010_Honda_Insight-II2.jpgBrady Holt - EXAMINER (http://www.examiner.com) - June 21, 2009
The Insight was never intended to be direct competition for the Prius --- too bad the price draws people into that comparison. --Ed.
The Toyota Prius is the ubiquitous hybrid car. It’s instantly recognizable and it can deliver impressive gas mileage while functioning easily as an acceptable daily-use car.
However, the Prius has been only acceptable in most ways by the standards of today’s economy cars. Most notably, its tires are designed for maximizing gas mileage over all else, hurting ride and handling, and it costs more than any other mainstream compact car, thousands more than a comparable Corolla.
Honda has tried to capitalize on the Prius’s shortcomings with gas-electric hybrid versions of its Civic sedan, as the Civic is more comfortable and more of a driver’s car than the Prius. But unique wheels and a little “hybrid” badge never gave it a distinctive visual appeal. So Honda has tried again.
The first generation Insight, the first hybrid car sold in the U.S., got excellent gas mileage but offered space for only two passengers for its price tag of nearly $20,000. The new 2010 model abandons that model, instead aiming directly at the five-door five-seat Prius. The two cars’ outlines are now nearly identical, each aimed at minimizing air resistance without giving up too much interior space.
With the Insight, Honda now has a hybrid that’s both easily recognizable as a hybrid and has a rear seat. The Insight’s base price of $19,800 undercuts that of the Prius – which starts at $22,000 – and Honda promised it would be a hybrid for people who want to feel more connected the road rather than just their fuel economy, as well as a budget hybrid for those who aren’t going to step up to the extra cost of the Prius or other pricey hybrids.
Unfortunately, the details knock down the Insight as a major threat to the Prius’s dominance in this class.
The first key issue is the hybrid system: the Insight’s just doesn’t work well. The Honda’s electric motor has 13 horsepower to the Prius’s 67, meaning it’s much easier to have the Toyota running gas-free with only the motor moving the car. The Insight is a “mild hybrid” that uses its... http://www.examiner.com/x-1017-DC-Car-Examiner~y2009m6d21-Review-2010-Honda-Insight--it-only-matches-the-Prius-in-its-looks