Honda releases first Insight commercial - "Beach"

Have you look at the options in the loaded Insight EX? It has 2 things a standard 09 Prius doesn't have (Nav and Bluetooh).

09 Prius #2 has two options a loaded Insight doesn't have. That's why they are comparable. A fully loaded 09 Prius has 4 or more options that is not offered in the Insight.

In summary, a fully loaded Insight has limited options while the 09 Prius has a lot more optional features. Therefore, you can not compare loaded to loaded.

 

That's what I'm hoping!

I can't wait til I can start test driving both of them though! < 7 days til the Insight is in stock!

 

Same number of options doesn't make them comparable.
Bluetooth and SKS make things easier, but they don't give more functionality. The NAV and back-up camera do, but they aren't equal. Likely for most small to mid-size car buyers, the camera isn't a make or break feature when it comes to choosing a car. It's nifty, it's cool, but neither one is a full-size SUV with large blindspots.

The NAV, on the otherhand, is more likely to be a make or break option. For those that do, they aren't going to compare the Insight EX w/ NAV to a Prius package 2. They are going to compare it to package 5, which bumps the difference to $2500. If they don't want the NAV, and consider the bluetooth worth the NAV price, then they'll likely at the plain EX and package 2, which is, again, a $2500 price difference.

Yes, the package has more options, and the Prius is bigger and better on gas, but for $2500 more you should be getting more car.

 

You can also look at it this way. You can get Nuvi or TomTom navigation with bluetooth for less than $200. On the other hand, you can NOT add on SKS with the after-market system.

Why would the Insight EX buyer get the NAV package if you can get the same functionality for less than $200?

Anyway, I think we both now agree that it doesn't make sense to compare loaded to loaded because the number of options are not in the same league.

Now that the Iconic Prius will start at the same price as the Insight (in Japan), Prius will cost less overall due to lower fuel cost, not to mention Prius is bigger, faster and more refined powertrain.

 

Be sure to test out it's handling. With 175mm wide tires, I am curious how fast it can stop. The 4th gen 1988 Civic Sedan (22 years older model) had 175mm tires but it was 450 lbs lighter than the 2010 Insight!

 

Car & Driver said the Insight's braking from 70mph was better than average, and it was slightly better than what they got from the Prius II when they tested it.

I am one who would consider the Insight II as my next car, because of what it offers and its price. That's assuming that Honda Canada keeps the prices reasonable. The Canadian Prius is a little beyond what I would want to pay for a new car at this point.

 

Am I the only one not catching this "hybrid for everyone" hype?

This new Insight starts at below $20k. Yes so did the first generation 2000 Insight and the Classic 2001 Prius.

The 2001 Prius and the 2010 Insight has basically the same interior space (including trunk/hatch) -- 100.4 vs. 100.9 cu ft respectively.

Both cars had 175mm wide tires and both got about the same MPG (40-41 combined 2008 EPA MPG). They even weight about the same (2,750 lbs).

We have yet to see the official 0-60mph for the Insight but the 2001 Prius did it in about 12.5 seconds. From the initial numbers we are seeing, the Insight should be faster at around 11 seconds.

What a difference 9 years made! People are catching on the hybrid wagon due to the success of the Iconic Prius.

 

Yea, the 2010 Insight is comparable (size and price) to the Classic Prius with the hatchback functionality of the Iconic Prius. It does have the proven ingredients for success.

However, the Insight has to face the 2010 Prius but the 2001 Prius did not.

 

It would be a toss-up between the Prius and HCH-II for me. Prius is a hatch with folding seats which would be hard for me to do without, but an extra $1000 is also nice to have. The Insight resolves my main concern about owning an HCH-II (the seats and trunk), and the ~$3000 savings over the HCH-II makes a good argument.