Leaked document reveals Honda Insight mpg & CO2

Problem with that branding theory is most of the comparisons made are bogus. For price comparisons with the Prius folks go downscale trying to put the Prius in a bad light. The key difference with the Prius is that it is truly sized in between and with an honest 5 passenger capacity. So are you gonna compare on external form, or on function?

Another problem is that you have cause and effect backward. "Because they have learned that hybrids sell better if they are harder to compare to a conventional car." A true hybrid (rather than retrofit) will necessarily be a different size and mess up the comparison. It didn't help the Insight because the 2-seater market is not a strong one. It did help the Prius but that's because it targeted a larger market. They didn't design these cars to avoid comparisons as you suggest. These weren't marketing exercises, they were engineering problems.

The key reason for not having a direct comparison is that the vehicle is built from the ground up to be a hybrid, not as some sort of marketing ploy. One result is that you end up with a bigger car internally (mid-size) in a smaller external package (compact.) Various design optimizations for a different drive class and better aero result in a different external package. And this appears to be the case with both Insights as well. The Prius size so far has been "just right" in that going bigger (seating for six) starts to carry efficiency penalties, while going smaller starts to cut into utility.

The silly thing about the Honda Insight is that it was a 2-seater, two door w/hatch, sub-compact that is now completely changing class into a 4-seater, four door w/hatch, compact. It would have been a good time to launch a new name, not Civic, not Insight. If Honda decided later to do a 2-seater or even a 2+2 (two door) then they could have used the Insight name. Instead it looks to me like they've made a marketing mess of it. Rather than differentiating they are inviting unfavorable comparisons with both the Prius and the original Insight.

 

ABG drove Insight:
ABG First Drive: 2010 Honda Insight, 63.4 mpg! - AutoblogGreen

Good impressions... nice drive, good mpg...

- 40/43 targetted EPA rating
- Honda will try to keep in under 20k
- smaller electric engine than Civic Hybrid (13hp)
- 6" smaller wheelbase than Prius
- almost 40% smaller battery capacity than Civic Hybrid

Its kind of very hard for someone with Prius to get excited over watered down hybrid. Not saying it is bad, it is just nothing be excited about.

Jhinton, if you are mechanical guy, and value interior quality, volume, etc, it seems that you would be much better served with new Corolla .

 

For me smaller is better. I don't need a large car. I don't see value in a larger car when it is larger than what I need. The interior materials do look rather poor though the ergonomics should be good.

What I've read so far is positive. Automobile says that it drives like a Honda and they got significantly better mileage than the EPA rating.

I suspect that the Honda Insight will sell quite well.

Not that it really matters to me. I won't be in the market for a vehicle for several years.