Preview: 2010 Honda Insight

[Tideland Prius]

Phoenix, Ariz. - I hope Honda is right about this. Its entire premise for the new Insight is that the demographic most interested in driving green - 20-to-35-year-old Gen X/Yers - are the least likely to be able to afford the hybrid-powered vehicles that promote clean driving.


Honda's challenge, then, is to deliver the first hybrid that is not only frugal on fuel but also cheap to buy.

The specific question the Insight will answer - and this is one hybrid naysayers have been asking for for almost a decade - is whether a gasoline/electric car can be affordable enough to compete with conventional cars on a simple value-for-the-dollar basis.

Preview: 2010 Honda Insight hybrid


It's a two-part article with the first two pages written by David Booth and the second half written by Graeme Fletcher.


Officially, it's rated at 4.8/4.5 which is worse than the HCH's rating of 4.7/4.3. Why? I don't know. However, Graeme managed to get an average of 3.83L/100km!! (That's 61.5mpg)

[bedrock8x]

The name of the game is low entry cost even the FE is lower.
"You pay for fuel economy" IOW, you pay more for life time ownership for higher FE.
Does it make sense?

[Tideland Prius]

I know the purpose was to provide a very affordable hybrid but why would it be less than the HCH if it's the same system on a (supposedly) lighter vehicle?

[bedrock8x]

It is a matter of trade offs. There are many parameters and devices to improve FE, but they cost money. It order to lower the manufacturing cost, some of these devices will be thrown out.

For example, in the G2 Prius there is the thermal bottle and the exhaust heat recycler for G3, they cost big dollars. I have no idea what Honda threw out from the HCH. Only thing I know, the Insight has a smaller battery/motor and it will require the ICE to run harder and longer at high rpm.

We know that the G3 will cost more for a 10% increase in FE. There is no free lunch as I stated before.

Originally Posted by Tideland Prius

I know the purpose was to provide a very affordable hybrid but why would it be less than the HCH if it's the same system on a (supposedly) lighter vehicle?

[Tideland Prius]

I guess it'll also give people incentive to move up to the HCH.

[bedrock8x]

If I want to go up to the HCH, the G2 Prius is a better buy for better FE and more bang for the buck. That's why it is not selling well.
The IMA will never match the FE of the HSD, but much cheaper to make.

Originally Posted by Tideland Prius

I guess it'll also give people incentive to move up to the HCH.

[icebird144]

Just an interesting (yet maybe a bit off-topic...) thought

In the US the HCH is more expensive than the Prius (base price wise)

However in Canada the HCH is cheaper than the Prius.

So I'm actually very interested in seeing the price of the Insight. I think the American will see a huge "price drop" than HCH, that actually gives some more interest in the HCH than Canadian.

[Tideland Prius]

Honda Canada is looking at a price between $19,000 and $25,000 so we'll see.

[joe1347]

Is it reasonable to assume that there is a reasonably large demographic that strongly prefers Honda (over Toyota) and even though the Insight looks to be somewhat inferior to the Prius, this Honda demographic will still buy an Insight?

[Tideland Prius]

Originally Posted by joe1347

Is it reasonable to assume that there is a reasonably large demographic that strongly prefers Honda (over Toyota) and even though the Insight looks to be somewhat inferior to the Prius, this Honda demographic will still buy an Insight?

Not necessarily. If it handles well, then yes but I think those people would rather have a Civic cause it's a well-known marque.