Vehicle: 2010 Honda Insight LX
Price as tested: CDN$23900

Performance: When the original Insight introduced about a decade ago, it was being criticized as overpriced, cramped and too quirky for its own goods. With the introduction of this 2nd generation Insight, Honda promises to be a mainstream hybrid for everyone. Has Honda delivered what they promise? We will find out.

The new Insight is motivated by a set of batteries with 13hp and 58 lb/ft of torque, its called Integrated Motor Assist or IMA. On the other hand, its gasoline engine is a small 1.3 liter 8-valve SOHC with Honda’s well-renowed i-VTEC variable valve timing technology. The gasoline engine has 85hp and 65 lb/ft of torque. Although this engine is engineered for economy instead of performance, they actually deliver plenty of power for all daily driving. The changes are seamless between IMA and gasoline engine. Its also surprisingly quiet with Honda’s usual refinement and smoothness during its work out on gas. As expected, its very quiet during cruising speed with IMA alone. This Insight only comes standard with one gearbox. Its a CVT, which is perfect for mating with hybrid powertrain cause it delivers seamless yet efficient work manners on both D, S and L. What is the most delightful fact about this Insight is it actually delivers fuel economy that is close to the factory rating. We had an average of 5 liters 100km, which is only 0.2 liters behind of what the manufacturer claims. We also have to give Honda credit for giving out realistic figures on both battery and gasoline motor’s real world horses and torque. While many hybrid rival carmakers don’t provide fuel economy anything close to real life experience, Honda certainly isn’t one of them. That really shows Honda is the world’s best engine manufacturer.

Handling: Another delightful fact about this new Insight is its based on Honda’s well-renowed Fit subcompact platform. The Fit platform has been known for providing class-leading handling and ride compromise with wonderful use of interior space. Its a perfect “fit” for this affordable hybrid as a fundamental. That has explained of Insight’s low admission price. Most importantly, this platform is solid-as-a-rock for suspension components to hang its heads. While on our tester, LX, which doesn’t come with VSA, or what Honda dubbed Vehicle Stability Assist. The system we tested in uplevel EX is well worth the pennies. As it is an excellent active safety feature that acts as a helping hand when the driver rears its ugly heads. The electric power steering provides excellent feel and feedback, with precision and responsiveness we all expect from Honda. There are plenty of body rolls and understeer is obvious when pushed hard into corners. What we found most surprising is how much fun the Insight drives. Unlike many of its hybrid peers, Insight is actually a pleasure to drive without getting bored easily. Our only criticism is Insight’s ride quality. We found the suspension has calibrated a bit of overdamping when driven through all the washboard pavements, patholes, expansion joints and railroad tracks. On a smooth surface, the suspension is very capable and certainly up to Honda’s high standards of combining superb ride and handling. On poorly paved roads, this Insight needs to get better damping characteristics for its target audience. Dynamically speaking, this Insight exceeds of all my expectation of being a hybrid.

Brakes: Hybrid’s regenerative braking usually comes with nasty and mushy pedal feel. It isn’t with the Insight. Although the pedal feel still haven’t matched regular gasoline and diesel-powered cars for feedback. This Insight provides better than average pedal feel and modulation. The regenerative braking doesn’t grab driver’s right foot too much during heavy workload. Another bonus is the ABS doesn’t act unnecessarily.

Interior: As we have mentioned earlier, the biggest benefit of consolidate Fit’s platform is the amount of versatility. Insight impresses with its full flat rear floor with 60/40 fold-down rear seats, low loading floor and practical hatchback practicality. For a hybrid, the Insight’s cargo space is as good as it gets. The biggest problem is you really can’t see anything through the rear-view mirror due to its sloppy hatch.

The velour seats are comfortable and well-foamed. Honda has designed a nifty instrument to gauge driver on how to drive the Insight properly. When you pushed the “Eco” button, there are numbers of “trees” glow to tell you whether you drive in IMA or gasoline. On the speedometer, the green light means its running on IMA while blue means on gasoline. While I feel its more of a grimmick at first hand, it works quite nicely as I put more miles on this Insight. It really does encourage the fuel saving driver manner of a hybrid vehicle.

The rest of the interior have been very well layout. The automatic climate control is logical and effective. The A/C is cold without feeling freezed. Everything else from climate control to stereo to trip computer all fall right at hands. There is one major flaw, which has to do some of the plastic materials used in the Insight. It just lacks the tactical and quality feel one expects from a car company of this caliber. It just doesn’t feel as soft and supple as what a Honda should be. The rest of the switchgears feel high-quality and tactical, though.

While we found enough headroom, the legroom is at a premium compares to its rivals.

Conclusion: Except for its name, everything else is radically different in the new Insight. Its finally a mainstream hybrid that is affordable, capable and, most of all economical. In the past, you have to drive a hybrid for a long period of time to compensate for the running costs and premium over its gasoline equivalent. With this new Insight, you finally have a hybrid that will return the all the costs in a short period of time. What really impresses me is the significant price advantage the Insight over its peers.

OVERALL VERDICT FOR 2010 Honda Insight
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Performance: 4/5
Handling and ride/fun-to-drive: 4/5
Interior/ergonomics/user-friendliness: 4/5
Fit-and-finish/build quality: 4/5
Cargo/accessibility/layout: 5/5
Value-for-money: 5/5

Overall rating: 4/5