Honda Insight 2010 review

The hybrid car world is about to receive a big wake-up call when Honda's new Insight arrives in November priced from an expected $30,000. It seriously undercuts Toyota's two hybrid offerings, the expensive Prius and the locally made Camry hybrid.

But that's only half the story because Honda's hybrid range going into the latter part of 2011 will include a new hybrid sports coupe called CR-Z. Like the CR-X sports coupe from the early 1990s the CR-Z has striking styling and a truncated, three door body wrapping its petrol/electric powertrain hooked up to the front wheels via a six-speed manual transmission.

But first cab off the rank is the long-awaited Japanese-manufactured Insight, a big hit in Japan to the point where the rest of the world has had to wait its turn to buy one.

Mechanical

Insight runs a relatively simple parallel hybrid powertrain based around a 1.3-litre, petrol, four-cylinder engine with a 10kW electric engine tacked onto the end. Total power and torque outputs are 72kW and 167Nm. It's all electronically controlled with the electric motor basically an engine assist for acceleration or moving heavy passenger loads.

Insight is a five-door hatchback built on a Honda Jazz-based platform with modifications at the rear to accommodate the battery pack and electricals. This was done to control costs and make Insight more affordable. The same applies to the powertrain where Honda has shied away from a more complex hybrid set up like Toyota favouring what it calls the IMA system (Integrated Motor Assist).

Honda has a fairly pragmatic attitude to mainstream automotive engineering rarely lashing out with unnecessary technology. It places more importance on reliability and in Insight's case, economical, low emissions driving -- almost guilt-free driving for want of a better description.

Some regenerative energy capacity is provided  through the brakes and electric motor but there's none of the efficiency optimizing trickery you find on Bluemotion cars from VW for example. That's due next time around.

It does have simple but effective ways to minimise fuel use such as a driver educating function called Eco Assist that prompts drivers to use less throttle and to drive more smoothly. The system challenges drivers to use less fuel "rewarding" them for economical driving by growing a tree icon on the instrument panel. It makes a measurable difference for drivers with a competitive nature.

The CVT (Constantly Variable Transmission) helps reduce fuel use as does the dual ignition system and engine shut down under deceleration.

Honda has determined that it isn't efficient to make your hybrid car move off under electric power and nor is it efficient to lug around a large battery. Insight has engine stop/start to cut fuel use around town and in Econ mode, limits the air conditioner, throttle response and cruise control.

Appearance and fit-out

This is the second Honda Insight with the nameplate first appearing in 1999. That car was an unwieldy thing that offered barely adequate performance, minimal accommodation and a style that attracted the wrong sort of attention. New Insight is a more mainstream effort and is quite an attractive car from some angles. It looks pretty good sharing a family resemblance with other models in the current and forthcoming Honda range.

It's not as big as Prius but clever packaging allows Insight to take five at a squeeze and their luggage in the big boot. In practical terms, Insight is a mixed bag with limited rear seat headroom an issue if adults are going sit there. But the load space is expandable to huge proportions thanks to split folding rear seats. There's even underfloor storage.

We will get Honda's ‘affordable’ hybrid Insight in two spec' levels offering generous equipment even in the base model. Safety equipment provided includes six air bags and stability control along with what Honda refers to as its ACE body structure_code for reinforced passenger cell.

Driving

As a drive experience, the Insight is like your average family small/medium car. It goes OK and has adequate acceleration when you floor the throttle. Ride and handling are much the same too with a relatively supple ride ensuring you arrive in good shape.  But a sporty car it most certainly is not.