2010 Prius or Insight II?

If money is a priority concern, the insight is a good car and a substantial deal at $10k less.

 

The Prius is clearly the superior car and it outsells in the US something like 6:1, but it's also only a little more expensive, maybe 23k vs 21k for example. If the price difference really is 40k vs 30k then I'd get the insight.

 

Get the one your parents like to drive!!!!!!!!

 

I considered both vehicles, in fact I was tempted for the Honda as I liked the styling better and it was cheaper, but having compared and driven the two, the Prius is the better car overall and is less of a compromise - it ticks more boxes.

So I'd say if money is no object, then the Prius is the better car. If your budget is tight then the Honda is still a good car, though a little more compromised. Best thing is to test drive them both and maybe try and arrange a full day or weekend test drive if your dealer is happy with this.

 

WOW, I hope that cost difference is between a loaded Prius and a stripped down version of the Insight.
I bought my 2010 Prius III about 14 months ago. It was my first chance to buy a new car in about 30 years (don't like car payments).
I had my heart set on a Civic Hybrid, then saw the difference in fuel mileage and found out I couldn't fold the rear seat due to the battery placement (storage for camping, kayaking). The Insight was my next thought due to money and the increased storage. Then I discovered the mpg hit I'd take with either Honda. Went and looked at the Prius and found it was cheaper than the Civic with more equipment and got better mileage and emitted less into the environment (important to me) than either Honda. By driving sensibly, not hypermiling, I can get about 70 city and 52 hiway in the summer. I get about 52 city and 47 hiway in the winter. I'm in the northern US so winters get pretty darned cold. A plus I discovered in the Prius is that in ECO mode it can go through some pretty sloppy, heavy snow, starting on the electric motor is linear and the wheels don't spin.
I'm really not sure about your temps but we range from about -20F winter to nearly 100F summer. I think that's about -29C to 38C for absolutely everyone outside the US.
Just my thoughts,
Good Luck

 

We compared a Prius III w/Nav to an Insight EX w/Nav, and there was only about a $500 difference between the two due to the incentives Toyota had on the Prius.

After test driving both, there was no comparison in the feel and ride, the Prius clearly felt more solid, got better gas mileage, and had more interior room. The day we test drove them was very hot, over 98 degrees out, and when we stopped for a rather lengthy traffic light, the Insight was blowing warm air after a couple minutes... That's when we learned the Prius has an electric A/C Compressor and no rubber fan belts! This equates to cool air blowing at long traffic lights and less maintenance!

Granted, the difference for us was only about $500 not $10K, so it was pretty much a no-brainer for us to choose the Prius!

 

Big price difference in Aus but big difference in the cars.

If you have long legs rear seat legroom will be restricted in the Insight.

I viewed the Fit (Jazz) as a more interesting option than the Insight. If the new hybrid version is coming to Aus, I would look at that too.

 

It is a matter of personal preferences -

The dashboard set up in the Insight is closer to what most people are used to.
Some people are attracted to the modernistic dashboard of the Prius.

The Insight is cheaper.
The Prius is larger.

The Insight has nicer handling.
The Prius has more horsepower.

There is no single over-riding reason to select one or the other. It boils down to a matter of personal preferences.

 

In the US the base Prius II comes with a lot more stuff than the LX Insight including:

Rear seat armrest
Rear seat cupholder
Rear cargo cover
Lighted vanity mirror on the passenger visor
Keyless start
Keyless entry (one touch locking)
Auto up/down all windows
Cruise control
Real rear seat legroom...

Oh and the AC does not cut out at stoplights in econ mode...try that on a hot Aussie summer.

 

I would opt for the 6spd CRZ over the Prius if you're looking for something that's "sporty". CRZ is only rated at 35/39 so its not much over a conventional car. If you're looking for a 2 seater hybrid, it would be a good choice though.

 

Well im young and even after owning a lot of sport car ( focus SVT, Chevy colbat SS/SC, Saturn Sky Redline and then a mitsu Evo X ) i still went for the Prius. I love the 4 doors on the Evo and the driving style but for long distance driving like im doing now it was just not the right choice!

Also the Prius looks like nothing else on the road except the Insight where Honda copy them.......

 

It was the Insight II that triggered me to consider buying a hybrid. I test drove the Insight first because they advertised $4000 cut in price, didn't like it cus it sits too low and made me lean back too much like I was in a lazyboy chair. It also felt cheap in material and the rear seat leg room was unacceptable.

Then Toyota also annouced the same $4000 cut in price for the Prius and the rest is history. The Prius with tech package + leather looks and feels (also priced) like a Lexus to me.

 

I've driven both the 6 Speed and CVT CR-Z, both were a blast to dive, but I actually preferred the CVT. It felt more responsive to throttle inputs and was rated at a higher mpg. I still want one really bad, but I'm saving up to pay cash, so it will probably be a year from now before I do. Hopefully by then Honda will have discounted the CR-Z like they're currently discounting the Insight!

When I got an insurance quote, for a CR-Z to replace my 2007 Fit, my 6 Month Premium only increased $10.00... It went up $56.00 for 6 Months when I replaced my 2007 GMC Sierra with the Prius!

 

After driving the Gen 3 Prius I had to test an Insight before making a decision. I couldnt believe the difference in the two vehicles. I was left with a feeling that the Prius was designed by Lexus engineers where the Insight was designed by High School students. No comparison.

The Insight felt small, cheap, crude and unrefined. Clearly built to be a cheap car in every sense.

Craig

 

Here in Canada the difference is big as well [$5000or so] Maybe look at a used Prius of a couple years old with low mileage and that way the dollar factor comes into line. Honda is also having problems with the Battery packs in hot climates so be aware of this! With the CR-Z this is a two seater auto. The CVT transmission model is actually quicker in the quarter mile or 0-60 or 0-100 kilometer run. I would go Prius because of the pack problem with Honda. My 2006 Civic Hybrid is a great car, but then here in Canada we have much cooler temperature in most places.Good luck, H

 

Actually, Honda didn't copy them. The Insight came first with that body style in 2000 (or technically even earlier with the CR-X) and Toyota copied it for the 2004 Prius. But because the Prius is so much more well known, people assume it was the other way around.