The Bottom Line
All the highs (and lows) of pricier Honda Insight models in a less-expensive package.
Pros
- Least-expensive hybrid on the market
- Drives the same as pricier Insight models
Cons
- Still not as fuel-efficient as the Toyota Prius, especially around town
- Cheap interior fittings
- No cruise control
Description
- Insight Base is the new entry-level model of Honda's Insight hybrid.
- Price: $18,950
- Powertrain: 1.3 liter 4-cylinder/98 hp + DC brushless motor/13 hp, continuously-variable automatic, front-wheel-drive
- EPA fuel economy estimates: 40 MPG city/43 MPG highway
- Observed fuel economy: 40.9 MPG
- Best rivals: Toyota Prius, Ford Fiesta, Nissan Versa
Guide Review - 2011 Honda Insight Hybrid Review
When Honda introduced their Insight hybrid in 2010, one of the chief complaints was the price: At $20,470 (including destination), the cheapest Insight was just too expensive for what you got. Honda has responded with a new base-model Insight for 2011, priced at $18,950.
In order to bring the price down, the Insight gets cheaper seat fabric, no floor mats, and a simple 2-speaker AM/FM/CD stereo with an auxiliary input jack -- which means that apart from the sound system, it's not much different from last year's entry-level Insight LX. Meanwhile, the LX -- now priced at $20,670 -- gains cruise control, floor mats, a center armrest, and an audio USB port. And as of 2011, all Insights, including the new base model, get electronic stability control as standard.
To be honest, the $19k Insight didn't feel all that much different from the $23,770 Insight EX Navi that was the subject of my twelve-month long-term test drive. The base model's powertrain and suspension are identical to pricier Insights, as is the driving experience: Leisurely acceleration and light, nimble handling. The two-speaker stereo worked well enough, and the auxiliary input jack meant I could still listen to my MP3 player. And I certainly didn't lament the absence of the navigation system; a cheap Garmin or TomTom works better than Honda's factory navigation unit.
The only thing I really missed was cruise control, which can really help boost fuel economy on long trips -- and that's too bad, because the Insight delivers its best gas mileage on the open road. Stop-and-go driving is still the Insight's weak spot, though; I averaged around 35 miles per gallon in town, while the Toyota Prius will easily do 45+ under similar conditions. Mixing in a little freeway driving helps matters greatly, though. By the end of my test week, the base-model Insight was averaging 40.9, a bit shy of the 43.3 we averaged over 30,000 miles in our cruise-control-equipped long-term Insight EX, which spent a higher percentage of its time on the freeway.
Should you buy a base-model Honda Insight? $18,950 is a pretty good deal for a hybrid, but it's still a pretty serious chunk of change; non-hybrid cars at this price level tend to be nicer and better equipped. If most of your driving is at low speeds, you might want to consider a small fuel-efficient car like the Ford Fiesta or the new-for-2012 Nissan Versa. Both can be had nicely equipped for around $15,000, and driven gently they'll average 30-35 MPG in town and up to 40 MPG on the freeway. If you want to minimize your fuel use, the Toyota Prius uses much less gas in the city than the Insight, though the cheapest retail model, the Prius II, starts at $24,280. Even with the Prius' superior fuel economy, it'd take years to make up the cost difference.
If your driving is a mix of in-town and freeway, than the Insight Base makes a lot more sense. You'll be paying more for the car and less for your fuel, and while your overall out-of-pocket expenses may not be any less than a conventional car, you will be consuming less petroleum and producing less pollution. And isn't that why people buy hybrids in the first place? -- Aaron Gold
