Reviews July 23, 2009, 2:41PM EST

Review: 2010 Honda Insight

We're glad that Honda brought back the Insight. The world needs more hybrids—but the Prius is still the class of the field

By Thane Peterson

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Editor's Rating:

The Good: Low price, ergonomics, 41 mpg!

The Bad: Dopey rear window, sluggish acceleration, fuel economy and interior space lag the Toyota Prius

The Bottom Line: Nice hybrid, but far from a Prius killer

Reader Reviews

Up Front

The all-new 2010 Honda (HMC) Insight isn't exactly a misfire, but it's no match for Toyota's (TM) new 2010 Prius. The Insight is less spacious, slower, and not as fuel-efficient as the new Prius—and arguably no cheaper if you factor in fuel cost over time somewhat cheaper.

Here are some revealing stats:

—The Insight is rated to average 41 miles-per-gallon (40 in the city and 43 on the highway) , while the Prius is the first mainstream model rated at 50 mpg (51 city/48 highway). That isn't necessarily a deal-breaker, financially speaking. But many shoppers are buying hybrids as a statement that they want to do something about global warming and the nation's dependence on foreign oil, so the Prius has a big symbolic advantage.

—The Insight only has 15.9 cu. ft. of luggage space behind its rear seats, vs. 21.6 cu. ft. for the new Prius. With the rear seats folded down, the Insight has 32 cu. ft of cargo space, eight cu. ft. less than the Prius

—The Prius' rear seat is roomier, with a full 36 in. of rear-seat legroom, 2.5 in. more than in the Insight. The Prius also has nearly two inches more headspace in back than the Insight.

The main reason to consider the Insight is price. The Insight's average selling price so far is $21,868, according to the Power Information Network (PIN), more than four grand less than the Prius' average price of $26,145. However, entry-level versions of the Prius aren't all that much more expensive than the Insight, considering their superior roominess and fuel economy.

The Insight starts at $20,510 for an LX, which comes standard with full power accessories, a four-CD sound system, tilting and telescoping steering wheel, and an adjustable driver's seat. The fancier Insight EX starts at $22,010 and adds stability and cruise control, alloy wheels, steering-wheel-mounted paddle shifters, and a six-speaker sound system with a USB port and fully integrated iPod hookup. The lone option is a navigation system that also adds Bluetooth capability and voice controls ($1,800 extra and only available on the EX).

The Prius I, the cheapest version of the Toyota, starts at $21,750 ($1,240 more than the Insight LX), but isn't available until September. For now, the Toyota's price starts at $22,750 for a Prius II, which is similarly equipped to the Insight EX and costs $740 more.

If fancy upgrades are your priority, the Prius has the edge. The top-of-the-line Prius V starts at $28,050 and comes packed with everything from leather upholstery to 17-in. alloy wheels, heated front seats, and a fancy sound system.

To be fair, Honda is positioning the Civic Hybrid as the upscale alternative to the Insight. It's available with amenities such as leather upholstery, satellite radio, and heated seats that aren't available as factory-installed options on the Insight. But high-end Priuses have all sorts of add-ons you can't get as factory options on the Insight or the Civic Hybrid, including a sunroof, lane departure warning system, and Lexus-style parallel-parking assist.

When it comes to safety, the Insight earned four- and five-star ratings in government crash tests while the new Prius hasn't yet been rated. Both the Insight and Prius come standard with four-wheel antilock brakes, seatbelt pre-tensioners, and a full complement of airbags.

The Insight is off to a decent start but has a long way to go bto catch up with its more established rival. Honda sold 2,079 Insights in June and has sold 7,524 since the new model came out this spring. Prius sales rose 6% in June, to 12,998. For the first half of 2009, Prius sales were 55,751, down 38.6%.

Behind the Wheel

In some respects, the Insight is more fun to drive than the Prius. Both have continuously variable transmissions, which tend to be boring because they never shift gears.