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Honda Insight, under $20K?
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$20K buys a 50 MPG hatchback. Wow.
The new Honda Insight may not have the most original look (Looking much like a Prius or the Chevy Volt), but it does have something anyone shopping for a new car will like. A low price tag. Once again, I wish this was a test drive review, but hopefully one of those will be forthcoming.
A friend of mine was asking me for advice on what models they should look at when they go car shopping. They gave me a price range, and a few parameters, so I started looking for them. I was surprised at the Insight. $19,780 for the base model, which was very nicely equipped; I didn’t add a single item from any of the options for a vehicle that’s EPA 40 City, 43 Highway, 41 Combined on the new EPA test cycles. Real users are reporting the gambit, but high enders have been in the 50’s, including a “high score” that I’ve seen of 57.3 MPG. On a first tank, that’s one heck of a number. Combined with a very low price tag, and a heavy advertising route, I can see the new Insight being a hit. I’ve already seen two (2!) here on the roads of the Motor City.
The aspect that continues to floor me is the price. Under $20K. This makes it the most reasonably priced hybrid on the market, and even if it can’t deliver the 100+MPG’s it’s ancestor can, it’s still got a lot going for it. Against a similarly equipped Prius, there’s a more then six (6) thousand dollar difference in the Insights favor, almost regardless if you’re comparing just base model to base model or loaded with voice navi to loaded with voice navi. This is actually greater then the difference between most hybrid to non-hybrid counterparts (Ex. Ford Escape Hybrid is $4K more then a standard Ford Escape) With gas prices stable at $2 a gallon, if you have an overperforming Insight and a just at EPA Prius, you’ll always be ahead with the Insight. That’s hardly the fairest comparison, but still, it’s there.
Now, what’s bad about the Insight? Well, from reports it doesn’t seem all that peppy. However, it’s also IMA – Integrated Motor Assist, which means it’s the type of hybrid that is a gasoline car with a electric help. This means it’s not particularly well suited for city driving, while the ICE (Internal Combustion Engine) will cut off during a stop, you get no electric drive at low speeds. However, you do get far better highway performance with it, as when you need to accelerate at highway speeds without taxing the engine too heavily, as it instead uses the electric motor to assist, as well as at other times as well. Don’t think of it as being poorly suited for City as much as being well suited to Highway/higher speed/cruising speeds style driving.
I’m looking forward to test driving one. Hopefully it won’t be that long.
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