This car seems rare as hell in my area...and I'm actually in one of the '14 green cars state'. Prii are everywhere around me and I can easily get one for cheap, but I have to go at least 50 miles to find a decent Insight for sale. This probably shouldn't be surprising as the video itself notes that the Prius is the best selling hybrid around, but damn, even the Civic Hybrid is easier to find.
The auto shut off does work with the A/C on but you have to be in ECON mode, but the A/C also shuts off. It's up to you if you want to get a little warmer, or sit at the light with your car idling. I am averaging 49 MPG in my 2011 Insight.
It amazes me that people will even mention 'sport' on a hybrid review. Don't get me wrong. I understand what hybrid is all about, and I respect it. But how much does it take to understand that a hybrid is all about fuel economy? As Jeff Glucker said in his review on the Toyota Prius: "If you buy this car, you can't even spell horsepower." If someone is buying a hybrid, they are looking for a different kind of excitement. (Valid and legitimate) While it's different, there can be something exciting about seeing how far you're going, and how little fuel you're using up. Different, but still legitimate.
@blondemax Your missing something very important though, American gallons and imperial gallons are different! A US gallon is 3.78 Litres whereas an imperial gallon is 4.54, that's why this review says the Insight is rated at 43 mpg highway whereas in the UK they are rated at 67mpg highway. The insight costs £16,620 and has 67mpg, the focus costs £16,600 and has 57mpg but costs 5-7p a litre more to fuel, I think the extra £20 for the Insight will be paid back well within a year of ownership...
blondemax. Could you tell me where I could get a cheap diesel car? I am not being smart alec, I am serious. The only one I know about is the VW TDI and it is far from cheap.
there is no cheap diesel, the vw tdi is quite expensive even after Tax Break! all the good diesel cars on the markets are being made by the Germans, and they are far from cheap. Good Cars though!
TheTrainMan It actually acts as if you are in second gear (i.e. high revs & strong engine braking). My first-generation Insight also has "Low" which is equivalent to 1st gear, and meant to be used for going down mountains .
That's true for planetary automatic cars (which is what most automatic cars have). But hybrids have an automatic transmission called a CVT. They don't use gears, the transmission holds a ratio until your engine is at a certain RPM (depending on how much gas you are giving it). Then once it reaches that RPM, it is able to shift smoothly through a wide range of gear ratios while the engine RPM remains constant. In sport mode it holds a lower gear ratio for a bit longer to help you accelerate a little faster. It essential does the same thing as 2 on a regular automatic.
Unless you get the Honda CR-V hybrid. My neighbor bought a new one and it only gets 26 mpg on the highway, but is rated for 41 in town. She regrets buying a hybrid for her 35 mile long highway commutes to work.
So the 2010 Honda Insight with an expensive Hybrid battery to replace every few years and no power on the highway gets 41 mpg, but you can buy the Honda Fit/Jazz that is a normal gas engine and no hybrid battery to replace that gets 39 mpg and has more power than an Insight and can haul more more than a Honda CRV. This seems like a no brainer to the public. In my area you can buy a 2010 Honda Insight for only $1800. That shows how unliked they were.
I love my 2010 Honda Insight EX! I bought it brand new in late 2009. With regular maintenance, it now has over 165K on it. A great vehicle!
My facelift version of the Insight is 3 years old and I'm getting a 20km/L + (47-50 mpg) average, love it :]
This car seems rare as hell in my area...and I'm actually in one of the '14 green cars state'. Prii are everywhere around me and I can easily get one for cheap, but I have to go at least 50 miles to find a decent Insight for sale.
This probably shouldn't be surprising as the video itself notes that the Prius is the best selling hybrid around, but damn, even the Civic Hybrid is easier to find.
In my state they have a 2010 Insight for only $1800 and it still hasn't sold.
The auto shut off does work with the A/C on but you have to be in ECON mode, but the A/C also shuts off. It's up to you if you want to get a little warmer, or sit at the light with your car idling. I am averaging 49 MPG in my 2011 Insight.
It amazes me that people will even mention 'sport' on a hybrid review. Don't get me wrong. I understand what hybrid is all about, and I respect it.
But how much does it take to understand that a hybrid is all about fuel economy? As Jeff Glucker said in his review on the Toyota Prius: "If you buy this car, you can't even spell horsepower."
If someone is buying a hybrid, they are looking for a different kind of excitement. (Valid and legitimate) While it's different, there can be something exciting about seeing how far you're going, and how little fuel you're using up. Different, but still legitimate.
@blondemax Your missing something very important though, American gallons and imperial gallons are different! A US gallon is 3.78 Litres whereas an imperial gallon is 4.54, that's why this review says the Insight is rated at 43 mpg highway whereas in the UK they are rated at 67mpg highway.
The insight costs £16,620 and has 67mpg, the focus costs £16,600 and has 57mpg but costs 5-7p a litre more to fuel, I think the extra £20 for the Insight will be paid back well within a year of ownership...
blondemax. Could you tell me where I could get a cheap diesel car? I am not being smart alec, I am serious. The only one I know about is the VW TDI and it is far from cheap.
Cnet hasnt reviewed the 2010 prius yet, have they? or are review models even shipping yet?
there is no cheap diesel, the vw tdi is quite expensive even after Tax Break! all the good diesel cars on the markets are being made by the Germans, and they are far from cheap. Good Cars though!
There are only cheap diesels in Europe right now but Chevy said they are being a Chevy Cruze Diesel to the U.S. in the near future.
I like your USB thumb drive
my skoda roomster does 50 mpg easy, and usually get me to work at 55+ mpg! with a 1.4 diesel. in Norway the diesel is slightly cheaper than petrol :D
I got one 2010EX and is a lot of fun...
Only that if you turn off the eco system, it does explode but also drinks it...
A reasonably priced car (if u get the reference)
So basically a civic hybrid with EV mode.
@Prostreetcrazy Erm, you realise i'm not American either yeah?
Thanks, I too was not thinking this was a world wide forum.
hondas been back since 2003 with the civic hybrid
I rather have the 2010 prius than this.
my dad has a insight ES
S for sport mode? every automatic car I have ever had the "S" stood for second as in 2nd gear. hmm
TheTrainMan It actually acts as if you are in second gear (i.e. high revs & strong engine braking). My first-generation Insight also has "Low" which is equivalent to 1st gear, and meant to be used for going down mountains
.
That's true for planetary automatic cars (which is what most automatic cars have). But hybrids have an automatic transmission called a CVT. They don't use gears, the transmission holds a ratio until your engine is at a certain RPM (depending on how much gas you are giving it). Then once it reaches that RPM, it is able to shift smoothly through a wide range of gear ratios while the engine RPM remains constant. In sport mode it holds a lower gear ratio for a bit longer to help you accelerate a little faster. It essential does the same thing as 2 on a regular automatic.
Ya, I have a Civic hybrid with S and L. I live in the mountains, and L comes in use a lot when I'm going down a mountain.
Diesels are nice if you do a lot of highway driving... trust me, I know. Hybrids are good for both.
Unless you get the Honda CR-V hybrid. My neighbor bought a new one and it only gets 26 mpg on the highway, but is rated for 41 in town. She regrets buying a hybrid for her 35 mile long highway commutes to work.
not in north america...
@blondemax :D
So the 2010 Honda Insight with an expensive Hybrid battery to replace every few years and no power on the highway gets 41 mpg, but you can buy the Honda Fit/Jazz that is a normal gas engine and no hybrid battery to replace that gets 39 mpg and has more power than an Insight and can haul more more than a Honda CRV. This seems like a no brainer to the public. In my area you can buy a 2010 Honda Insight for only $1800. That shows how unliked they were.
uff that car is ugly.
Looks like a Prius.