Insight gets better MPG than Prius???

The $3000 is well spent. Don't kid yourself....cheaper is not better. Consider resale value? The Prius appeals to a broader audience.

 

Missing cruise control, traction and stability control are pretty big things esp. since you can't add them on as options. From looking at 2010 Honda Insight Hybrid - Specifications - Official Honda Web Site, besides that, compared to the EX, the LX is missing a center console w/armrest (!), Bluetooth support, paddle shifters (useless on a CVT IMHO), map lights, seatback pockets, vanity mirrors, 2 speakers, and USB audio port. It also can't have nav as an option either.

Be sure to test drive the Insight, if you haven't already.

Although in some comparisons vs. the 2010 Prius, the Insight has won, it scored too low to recommend in Consumer Reports and Honda Insight versus Toyota Prius: There's No Comparison | Car News Blog at Motor Trend is an example where the writer says there's no comparison.

As for "many happy Insight owners", FWIW, in the US the Prius is destroying the Insight in sales. See December 2009 Dashboard: Year-End Tally | Hybrid Cars and January 2010 Dashboard: Hybrids Continue to Beat the Overall Market | Hybrid Cars.

 

very much agreed.

Driver skill is always very big factor, but the EPA numbers try to remove that from the picture.

Toyota seems to have done a better job of automating fuel economy, giving great results to average drivers. But in doing so it has slightly hampered the hypermilers, at least on the 2010.

Honda didn't do as well on the automatic fuel economy function, but (like Ford) did a better job on displays to assist the driver than did Toyota. This does not show on the EPA score, but does show in the results of drivers willing to put significant effort into achieving high fuel economy.

 

I find the 60 mpg on a 2010 Insight from that person to be pretty unlikely unless they're quite a hypermiler and had a really ideal commute. I could believe it from a 1st gen Insight if they were somewhat skilled w/an ideal commute.

FWIW, (probably mentioned in this thread already), http://www.edmunds.com/advice/fueleconomy/articles/153866/article.html did a comparison including the 2010 Prius and Insight. The government FINALLY updated the stats at http://avt.inl.gov/hev.shtml. They previously only had numbers until Sept 09 or so... Although it's nowhere near an apples vs. apple test, their Insights have are getting 40.3 mpg right now. Their 2010 Priuses are getting 44.7 mpg.

If you wish to read more about the EPA tests, see http://priuschat.com/forums/other-c...uth-about-epa-city-highway-mpg-estimates.html.

 

Surprise! Most people on PriusChat favor the Prius over the Insight.

Besides listening to the opinions here, reading automotive reviews, and checking out the Insight for yourself, you might want to browse the forums at Insight Central: Honda Insight Forum

Everybody has different needs, wants, and budget. Get the right car for yourself and everything else will take care of itself.

Be sure to let us know how things work out. Best of luck.

 

$3k sounds like a pretty good margin - if you're getting similar configurations. If not, well... Also bear in mind that the Insight is really a large-ish compact, while the Prius is a true midsize.

Also note that the Prius I's are supposed to be out sometime soon - fewer features but noticably cheaper. (yes, Toyota is targeting the Insight with this)

 

That is a great point. Getting less for the money is not saving money. It is simply spending less.

I want to point out that a smaller compact Prius family is coming in a few years to compete with the Insight. Good things come to those wait.

 

The biggest help to me is the HSI basically giving me a modest throttle goal and a rough estimate of the tipping point between elec and gas. What information do the better displays give you?

(please don't say "leaves", those are just goofy)

 

If it's long freeway drives going around 60 - maybe.

 

My wife has been driving her new Insight for a week now, and she loves it. She previously owned stick shift Civics for a long time. She likes the CVT transmission, which is like the Prius.

I've ridden in the Insight, but haven't driven it. It seems quiet, like the Prius. The interior is slightly smaller, but the car is a bit more nimble, and she likes the way it handles better than the Prius. She also likes the dash, which is more like a Civic. Gas mileage? I don't know yet. I get mid 40s mpg on my Prius. She drives a little harder than me, but the eco mode in the Insight is slowing her down some. And then the car has to be broken in a bit. We'll see after a few tankfuls.

Reading some of the responses here, I think most agree a $3K price difference is significant. I thought so. I think the resale on any hybrid will hold up much better than an ICE car a few years down the road when the higher mpg standards set in. That's why I recommended she buy a hybrid vs, say, the Fit.

Aside from price, I think buyers who want a smaller, more nimble car than the Prius (like my wife) will be attracted to the Insight. People without kids. Prius can also be a small family car--so it probably has a wider audience.

 

I've driven all the hybrid sedans and hatches, minus the Lexus of course. The Insight was the first one I tested, due to price point. The rest of the pack showed me why it wasn't for me.

Insight was terrible off the line, pulling away from a dead stop jerkily jumping, trying to put what little power it had down to the pavement. It also did not have enough highway power.

The Ford Fusion and Camry Hybrids are very nice indeed. Very quiet, and refined. I actually preferred the Fusion over the Camry for the options and cool dash, but that darn turn signal sound. What the heck is that!!!?? Sorry Ford, but leaves and MS powered Sync was not enough to sway me.

Civic Hybrid - almost there, but I wanted to try a Prius.

Ultimately it won me over. It is a compromise on the quite nature of the sedans, but it had the hatch practicality of my Matrix. SOLD!

In the end, all these units have their niche markets, and will appeal to someone. I think it's great that there is some competition out there to drive the technology forward, and into the hands of more people at more affordable price points. We all win in that regard!

 

The Fit was available at $14.7K base--for the manual. But there were no manuals she preferred available, and an auto (not CVT)would cost $800 more. The cost difference vs the Insight was about $3200. But the Insight also gets a $500 hybrid rebate in PA until March 6. So it's less than $3K. With better gas mileage and resale value down the road, the Insight is probably better value. Assuming it holds up like the Fit has.

Also, the base Insight LX has the keyless entry and 15" wheels, which the base Fit doesn't. The Fit has more room inside, and is a great car. But I thought a resale on a hybrid would be higher in a few years--especially vs a stick shift Fit.

 

We drove the new Insight home last week on rt 95 in a driving rainstorm. I was sitting in the passenger seat. We had the eco mode off and the AC on as a defogger. We were going around 60 or so, and power seemed OK . Pretty quiet, too. Good, stable ride. She had a Civic EX stick shift, and drives pretty hard. So far hasn't complained about pickup, and has been driving in the eco mode. Agree the hatch design of Prius and Insight is the most functional. Beside each other in the garage, the Insight looks more stylish. About the same size. The Prius a little wider and higher.

I think Honda could sell a lot of Insights if the base price was in the low $18K range. But this was a Honda dealer incentive which expired today.

 

In Japan, they are not niche anymore.
Following is some sales data in 2009 for Japanese market.

total Toyota sales: 1,238,137
total Prius sales: 208,876
Prius share: 16.9% (top sales among Toyota passenger vehicles)

total Honda sales: 461,736
total Insight sales: 93,283
Insight share: 20.2% (second sales among Honda passenger vehicles)

Hybrids in Japanese market are now in the mainstream.

Ken@Japan

 

That's one problem - the other was mileage (which, in every apples-to-apples comparison came in lower than the Prius, by about 10%). Then there's the size difference. Then there's the fact that the Prius has dominated this segment.

But all that could have been offset by proper pricing - the real failure is the overall value proposition.

As a result, the only people who bought and profess to love the Insight have been either die-hard Honda lovers or people whose main influences are styling and handling. (and considering the LACK of difference in styling, I'm calling BS on that. The double-wishbone on the Insight probably does corner better though)

 

Consider Plug-In kits, from the cheap (using standard battery) to the higher ups with add'l batteries.

I doubt the 2010 Insight, with such a small battery pack, would benefit at all from Plug-In.

Nor would it benefit much with a larger battery pack, its single electric motor being too weak.