Preview: 2010 Honda Insight

[Per]

True, but I can get 60+ MPG if I work at it too. The EPA tests should be a fairly equal testing ground for comparison.

[Tideland Prius]

Yeah but the Insight starts at a lower official EPA and uses a mild hybrid system. These are regular folks getting 60mpg. I got 60mpg once but I had to work at it.

[JSH]

Originally Posted by Per

I'm surprised the Insight has lower EPA estimates than the HCH. Smaller car with less power should equal better MPG.

The Insight is 2 seconds faster than a Civic Hybrid 0-60. My guess that the Insight has lower gearing. That would explain lower mileage and quicker acceleration even though the Insight has slightly less power than the Civic.

[KMO]

Originally Posted by Tideland Prius

I believe the Civic IMA is 1.3 litres.

1.339, apparently. But Honda UK call it 1.4.

[drees]

Originally Posted by Tideland Prius

Yeah but the Insight starts at a lower official EPA and uses a mild hybrid system. These are regular folks getting 60mpg. I got 60mpg once but I had to work at it.

Yeah, no kidding. The only time I've seen more than 55mpg on the Prius is when going downhill. Otherwise it's mid-high 40s.

Originally Posted by jhinton

The Insight is 2 seconds faster than a Civic Hybrid 0-60. My guess that the Insight has lower gearing. That would explain lower mileage and quicker acceleration even though the Insight has slightly less power than the Civic.

The Insight is also a couple hundred pounds lighter that the HCH, isn't it?

I'm also surprised at the EPA ratings of the Insight II given that under "normal" driving the early test drivers were getting mid-40s...

[JSH]

Originally Posted by drees

The Insight is also a couple hundred pounds lighter that the HCH, isn't it?

Almost, 180 lbs.

--------------------- Insight --------- Civic Hybrid
0-60 ----------------- 10.9 -------------- 13.5
Curb Weights ------- 2736 -------------- 2896
Horsepower ---------- 98 ---------------- 110
Torque --------------- 123 --------------- 123
Drive Ratio ------- 4.20 : 1 ------------- 4.94 : 1
CVT Ratio:
---- High --------- 0.53 : 1 -------------- 0.42 : 1
---- Low ---------- 3.17: 1 -------------- 2.53 : 1

(Specs from edmunds.com)

[Mike Dimmick]

Originally Posted by Tideland Prius

Yeah but the Insight starts at a lower official EPA and uses a mild hybrid system. These are regular folks getting 60mpg. I got 60mpg once but I had to work at it.

They were doing a Honda-selected course, with presumably a warmed-up car rotated among the journalists.

I seem to recall reading an article about this press day and the creator of CleanMPG was interviewed. He got over 95mpg on the same course in his Prius.

Article.

[Tideland Prius]

Originally Posted by Mike Dimmick

They were doing a Honda-selected course, with presumably a warmed-up car rotated among the journalists.

I seem to recall reading an article about this press day and the creator of CleanMPG was interviewed. He got over 95mpg on the same course in his Prius.

Article.

Ok but they can barely get 50mpg if they tried out of the Prius

Originally Posted by KMO

1.339, apparently. But Honda UK call it 1.4.

Riight... so compete with other 1.4 litre cars?

[SageBrush]

The 60+ mpg reports are from journalists who agreed to drive a specially laid out course for fuel economy. Can we please stop this apple-to-oranges Prius to Insight comparision Jhinton and others ?

I am not an Insight critic at all, but this spin surrounding Insight mpg is not productive.

[JSH]

Originally Posted by SageBrush

The 60+ mpg reports are from journalists who agreed to drive a specially laid out course for fuel economy. Can we please stop this apple-to-oranges Prius to Insight comparision Jhinton and others ?

I am not an Insight critic at all, but this spin surrounding Insight mpg is making me cranky.

In this thread I have talked about CVT transaxles and compared the Honda Insight to the Honda Civic Hybrid. I suggest you actually read the thread before commenting.

The Insight will be compared to the Prius whether you like it or not.


Now for people that are interested: "Comparison Test: 2010 Honda Insight vs 2009 Toyota Prius" Strategies for Smart Car Buyers . Edmunds drove the two vehicles together over a 197 mile test loop.

2010 Insight = 51.5 mpg
2009 Prius = 54.4 mpg