Honda Insight Review

2006 Honda Insight 2dr Hatchback w/Air Conditioning

When the Honda Insight first arrived on American shores, very few people knew what to make of it. This tiny, two-door hatchback was dwarfed by the day's massive SUVs, and its oddball styling made it look as if it came off the set of a futuristic movie. But here's the truly odd part -- it really was the car of the future.

Launched in 1999 as a 2000 model, the Honda Insight was the first gasoline/electric hybrid car sold in America. (The Toyota Prius was introduced in Japan two years earlier, but didn't reach the U.S. until 2001.) The two-door Insight combined a very small economical gas engine with an ultrathin electric motor, which Honda engineers dubbed Integrated Motor Assist (IMA). This powertrain, along with the car's lightweight aluminum construction and wind-cheating shape, allowed the car to get close to 70 mpg on the highway.

The Honda Insight fulfilled its pioneering role well. But as a daily driver, it wasn't very practical. The funky-looking hybrid hatchback came with only two seats, a small cargo area and a paltry 365-pound payload capacity. Its batteries drained easily and it wasn't very quick. Over the years, more functional and higher-performing hybrids overshadowed the Insight, and Honda discontinued it at the end of 2006.

Given the car's niche status, we suspect that most people interested in buying a used Insight will know what they're getting into. Based on our own experience and anecdotal evidence, reliability should be similar to that of other Honda products. And since the Insight didn't change much over the years, shoppers can likely pay more attention to actual condition or mileage rather than model year.

Most Recent Honda Insight

The Honda Insight came only as a small two-door hatchback. It was powered by a 1.0-liter inline three-cylinder engine, which put out 67 horsepower. A lightweight electric motor (the IMA) supported the gas engine with low-end torque and provided extra power under acceleration. Combined, the gas-electric hybrid system was rated at 73 hp and 91 pound-feet of torque when coupled to the five-speed manual transmission. When equipped with the optional continuously variable transmission (CVT), these figures dropped a bit, though CVT models had a better tailpipe emissions rating, earning Super Ultra Low Emissions Vehicle (SULEV) status rather than ULEV. Insight CVTs registered in California may carry High-Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) lane stickers, enabling them to be driven in carpool lanes with only one occupant aboard -- a potential consideration for commuters.

Unlike the electric cars that preceded it, the Insight never needed to be plugged in for recharging. Through what was at the time a ground-breaking process, the electric motor was able to recharge the battery pack while the car was braking and coasting, recapturing kinetic energy that would normally be lost as heat. This is known as regenerative braking, and all production hybrids make use of it today.

Inside the Insight, drivers could monitor the operation of the electric motor, as well as gas consumption, in real time through a quasi-futuristic dashboard. A digital bar showed when (and how much) the motor was assisting the gas engine; another showed when it was recharging. Available in just one trim, the Insight also came well-equipped with power accessories, a CD player and a rear window defroster and wiper. Automatic climate control (with air-conditioning) was optional, and many Insights will have a dealer-installed CD changer in the hatch area. Cruise control wasn't available.

In reviews, we found the Honda Insight was generally able to match other conventional small cars of the time in terms of drivability. It accelerated well off the line, but had below-average speed in other situations. Passing maneuvers required planning, especially on uphill grades.

Handling was an equally mixed bag. The electric-assisted steering was fairly quick and the car's turning radius was just over 31 feet. However, the Insight's tiny dimensions and lightweight construction meant it was highly susceptible to crosswinds. Its suspension -- a special lightweight design -- wasn't very forgiving over rougher pavement. Road vibrations tended to invade the cabin, and the ride was often jarring, particularly when the car was weighted down with two adults and their luggage.

One of our major criticisms was with the IMA in manual-shift Insights. The battery charge drained quickly when drivers held a high gear for too long under heavy IMA use. The system worked much better with CVT-equipped Insights because the balance of gas and electric power was managed automatically. Even so, enthusiast-oriented drivers will enjoy the greater challenge and involvement that comes with piloting a manual Insight.

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* Edmunds.com maintains vehicle data as far back as 1990.