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Third-generation, US-only Insight seeks new converts with cutting-edge hybrid drivetrain wrapped in conventional styling

What is it?

The Insight name returned to Honda’s American line-up for 2019 after five years away. This Prius challenger is far more conventional in looks than either of the previous Insights, however, and has creature comforts aplenty rather than a weight-saving, stripped-down interior.

Honda’s goal has been to create a “premium compact saloon”. The Insight Hybrid is being sold in the US, Canada and Japan, but there are no current plans to bring it to Europe. Stateside, it slots into the electrified range below the Accord Hybrid and Clarity Plug-In Hybrid.

The Insight rides on architecture from the Honda Civic, which is the number-one-selling car in Canada and number two in the US, although both are heavily outsold by the most popular SUVs and trucks. It’s fitted with the third generation of Honda’s i-MMD multi-mode hybrid drive system – a very similar set-up to the one that impressed us in the CR-V Hybrid, but paired here with a 1.5-litre Atkinson-cycle four-cylinder rather than the 2.0-litre motor.

3 Honda insight 2019 fd hero rear

What's it like?

The Insight Hybrid consciously avoids polarising eco-car design cues and instead opts for sleek lines that are strongly reminiscent of the current Honda Civic and Accord. When you compare the design with that of the no-compromise Clarity, the benefit is clear.

The theme continues inside, where there’s no Toyota Prius-style, space-age dash layout to immediately give the hybrid game away, just a discreet ‘EV mode’ button on the centre console – one of four available driving modes.

Otherwise the interior is spacious, comfortable and well appointed, especially in the range-topping Touring trim tested here. Honda’s comprehensive suite of driver-assistance systems is standard, including the LaneWatch blindspot cameras. That’s just as well because the regular door mirrors don’t have a wide enough range of adjustment.

The multi-mode drive system manages the transitions between the power sources very well, so much so that the combustion engine’s quietness at part throttle can fool you into thinking that you’re still running in EV mode. You do, however, really know about it when the motor is working hard, because the noise is loud and unpleasant.

The seemingly similar Normal and Eco drive modes are both fine around town but tend to run out of steam at motorway speeds, making Sport handy for a quick burst of acceleration if you pull out to overtake.

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The Insight’s cabin is well isolated from the road surface, which keeps things nice and quiet both in EV mode around town and in the cruise. It rides comfortably, too, achieving a good compromise between body control that settles the car quickly after the humps and dips that are a feature of wide urban roads in North American cities, and a suppleness to suppress smaller inputs from potholes and manhole covers. Well-weighted steering (albeit without much feel) completes the refined, easy-to-drive picture.

7 Honda insight 2019 fd dashboard

Should I buy one?

Here in Canada, the Insight Hybrid is priced at C$33,771 (about £20,000) in Touring trim, which is C$4,400 (£2,600) more than a Civic Touring. We got 51mpg in a week of mostly urban driving, 6mpg below the official combined consumption figure. For comparison, the Honda Civic officially makes 40mpg combined. But with Canadian petrol prices currently as low as 59p per litre, depending on where you live, it could be 124,000 miles before you make your money back…

It’s a familiar problem for electrified vehicles seeking to break through in North America and one that won’t be solved without higher fuel prices or legislative restrictions on combustion-engine vehicles. That said, the Insight Hybrid is a well-rounded machine whose desire to keep things as normal as possible will attract customers outside of the minority of buyers who place environmental credentials at the top of their list.

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Honda Insight Touring specification

Where Calgary, Canada On sale Now Price C$33,771 (about £20,000) – not on sale in UK Engine 4 cyls in line, 1498cc, petrol, plus 129bhp electric motor Power 151bhp at 6000rpm Torque 197lb ft (electric motor) Gearbox CVT Kerb weight 1399kg 0-62mph 8.0sec (est) Top speed na Economy WLTP figures tbc CO2 WLTP figures tbc Rivals Toyota Prius, Hyundai Ioniq Hybrid, Chevrolet Volt

2 Honda insight 2019 fd hero side

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Comments
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Gojohnygo 25 June 2019

BMW has a point.

Yesterday I travelled from Heathrow to Manchester in my BMW 340i, the computer said my mpg was 51.9 at a speed of 59.6, I did drive carefully but the traffic controled my speed, for a six cylinder car that is excellent.

LP in Brighton 25 June 2019

Trip computers

Great, but in my experience trip computers are not always accurate (my own two cars show optimistic readings of around 3 and 5 mpg versus careful brim to brim calculations). Also, I believe that yesterday there was a prevailing breeze from the south, which would make a difference at motorway speeds.

That's not to say your BMW isn't very efficient, but more than 50mpg from a big six cylinder engine does take some explaining!

Lanehogger 25 June 2019

Easier to just produce a Civic hybrid?

So, this new Insight is based on the latest Civic, shares much of its powertrain with the CRV (which is based on a version of the Civic's platform) and yet has its own unique styling that resembles the Civic (and Honda's other current generation saloons). Perhaps it'd have been easier and cheaper to simply place the Insight's powertrain in to the Civic.....

xxxx 25 June 2019

PHEV:-Emmmm

"depending on where you live, it could be 124,000 miles before you make your money back…" and in some ways that's all the Canadian needs to know. Other than a noisy unpleasant CVT sound under hard acceleration that is.