Davids 2010 Honda Insight Review

[Neon8787]

That was a really cool review. My boss got one of these recently but the engine didn't turn off while the car was stationary. had me wondering whether they actually had an EV-only mode. :)

[Latinlabel]

Excellent review! Thanks.

[SPARTAN085B]

Prius is gay.

And they screwed up the Insight, when they changed the body. It looks like all the other Bug looking cars. Stupid.

[DirkME1022]

Hi there, are you still driving the Honda Insight and are you happy with it? thanks for sharing ;-) maybe you can do a video with tips and tricks you learned (in case you still have it) Thanks

[adric22]

@DirkME1022 - No, I drive a Nissan Leaf now. But the Insight was a good car.

[DirkME1022]

@adric22 Wow, I envy you in the best way possible ;-) I live in Canada in the prairies and when I drive to the City it is 130 Kilometre one-way. I hope to move house next year into a better area but we have no charging stations here whatsoever, a Hybrid is still the only option and the Insight seems to be quite a good choice. Thanks for sharing and lots of fun with your Nissan Leaf (any videos to come?)

[petitoiseau1]

@adric22 How happy are you with your Leaf?

[Lucasius19]

only 40 mpg ? it says 60 mpg on the website

[adric22]

@Lucasius19 - Not sure what website you are looking at. Honda's website says 43 mpg.

[Lucasius19]

@adric22 autotrader uk, performance and economy tab

[adric22]

@Lucasius19 - Miles per gallon is measured differently in the U.K and the USA.

[trumpet205]

@Lucasius19

There are US gallon and Imperial gallon. UK is using Imperial gallon.

[gabbogabbo]

I like the honda better but when driven properly the prius kicks the shit of insight in mileage.

[846286425]

Honda FTW

[846286425]

I want a insight or a cr-z when I get a car they look so cool

[lotussheath]

@846286425 cr-z is basically a 2 person car... there really isnt any room in the back seats unless your about 5 years old... and then itll still be a squeeze

[846286425]

@lotussheath in but ive been in one and they are kinda cozy but i like it or i wana get a civic

[12gloom]

Thanks for the unbiased review. I'm so tired of uneducated idiots saying the Insight can't switch to electric-only mode. Prius may be more hi-tech but I dont like the new design. The Insight looks better to me and it's cheaper.

[lotussheath]

@12gloom i think they say it cant switch to full electric mode since the EMA system is constantly connected to the normal engine so the engine would also have to drive the rpm on the engine too

[asoundofgoodness]

Just bought a brand new 2010 insight and I must say I LOVE IT! Traded in my mazda6 sport sedan and have absolutely ZERO regrets. Fun to drive and fuel efficiency is better than advertised.

[Kidcar16]

88hp o,o pretty low, must be a light/small car? my xb gets 35mpg and it doesnt have all this fancy stuff :o

[Roushfan5]

@Kidcar16 Remeber, its a hybrid. Combine that 88HP with that of the electric motor. The two engines combined often means that some hybirds are more powerful then their gasoline counterparts, even if they have a dinky underpowered engine.

In the long run however you will receive very little returns on your investment. Hybrids are a scam, and more often then not the people that buy them know every little about cars.

[Uttelito]

Drove this here in sweden on a driving class, loved the car, its a bit "slow" and the interior does feel rather cheep imo, but its an awsome car and i think it will be even better in a few years.

[TheWTFers]

how is road noise, I herd that its a bit loud.

[GoMetricToday]

I will often use the down paddle shifter whilst slowing down. That way I am not using the breaks so much and allowing the car to regen more efficiently.

[thedoctor42209]

not sure when I was working my ex-boss sat in the back of my insight and he is close to 5"11 or 6'1 he was comfortable. that was around April

[ionut5663]

want something better and cheaper...? go and buy a 2003 audi a4 1.9TDI 4.5l/100km :P

this honda is way to ugly... and not so cheap chhh

[jason44ish]

Thank You

[Joke9972]

I don't like hybrid, I now have a low mileage petrol, but I would like to go fully electric by 2016. If I had (Europe, hasn't) to choose between the Toyo and the Insight, I would go straight for the insight, so much better looking and practical. In Europe, we take driving too serious. Now I have a Corolla TSport, 7.4 litres per 100 kms.

[nervusboy]

Great info...Thanks! What is the background music called??? I love it! Kevin in New Castle, PA

[duckjock]

Fantastic review - thanks!

[Vampyre777]

Great video thanks

[SuperiorIrony]

Hondas are not the best cars on paper but in the real world after many years of use, you realize you bought the right car. Some new cars that had all of the numbers and editor recommendations you use for about 2 years and then the components start to feel old and lose. Hondas are very durable and they tend to feel new right up to the point you trash it not because it won't run anymore but because new models are appealing enough.

[albo2006]

very helpful review, considering purchasing a 2010 Insight.

[thedoctor42209]

I showed my insight to my boss on monday and he is around 6'3 according to him he was very comfortable.

[thedoctor42209]

the volt is due to on limited sale by november of this year, but for the rest of the country next year.

[TCB1468]

Do u think a person whos 6,5 could fit ok?

[adric22]

@TCB1468 - Not sure. I'm only 5'8 and I don't personally know anyone taller than me that has ridden inside of it.

[TCB1468]

@adric22

Oh ok

it kinda sucks because almost all the real good hybrids have not alot of head room

[myjizzureye]

@adric22 Holy crap dude you're a migit.

[thedoctor42209]

@TCB1468 depends do you mean as driver or as rear passenager?

[TCB1468]

@thedoctor42209

As a driver.

[MrJackanthony]

@TCB1468 Yep. Of course as long as they don't try bouncing about.

[beetlebomb1]

@TCB1468

Hey, I just got in one and drove around in it for a while at a car dealership. I'm 6'8" and I fit fine in it, so you shouldn't have any problems.

I was very surprised to find out that there was actually more leg room in the Insight than all the 2010 prius models I got into.

It was overall a very good experience.

[TCB1468]

@beetlebomb1

Ok thanks alot

[viper19861986]

@TCB1468 im 6'1" and it was and I was fine in the front.

Didn't adjust the seat so i don't know if it was low or high.

[GoMetricToday]

@TCB1468 I am 191 cm tall and I fit just fine in the front. Though if I had to sit in the back for any length of time I would have to sit sideways.

[PowerHeal]

@TCB1468 I'm 6-4' and I could NOT fit. Hope this helps.

[CrispNightmareCrew]

@TCB1468 Yes, in the front seat.

[thedoctor42209]

Just placed an order for an insight with nav unit should be getting it toward the end of next week. totally pumped.

[checkersq]

Evidently there is a huge need for U. S automakers now..The other companies seem to have been too far corrupted to offer any truly "green cars./ And it should be obvious that GM sold out by charging 40, 000 U. S dollars for the Volt.. Whut a joke,m, fucking niggers..

[adric22]

You seem misinformed. First of all, the price of the Volt has not yet been released.  It is now expected to be closer to $30,000. Secondly, there are many "green" cars out there, of which this is one of them.

[checkersq]

i havent seen anything about 30, 000. All of the advertisements have been showing 40, 000..ok, if its 30, 000 then GM is making a smart move..thanks adric for the update then..

[Batmanshack]

@adric22 This looks like a great car and the Volt is a pile of GM crap.. The interior is plain butt ugly. I've been reading on the Nissan Leaf and going ALL electric seems more practical then these gas cars.

[auxili160]

@Batmanshack leaf is only for city driving. there's a limit on how far you can drive, and then you gotta recharge... and to recharge, you gotta be at home in your installed charger unit. Not good for people who live in apartments (works against the leaf being for city driving).

Ever run out of battery charge on your cellphone? That can happen to your leaf.

Basically, when youve got a leaf, you can't drive to occasions that are far away, family gettogethers a state away, or drive to the beach.

[Zinizzle]

@checkersq You're correct. The Volt's MSRP is roughly 40k. And then you get a nice little incentive back from Government Motors. Just like an income tax return HA! Still almost 32-35k For a new vehicle launch made by GM with their reputation just is crazy. I can go get a Prius for crying out loud, save more money, have the comfort knowing that it's reliable, proven to be a great car, and still get 54mpg. And better yet i don't have to give more of my hard earned money to GM.

[thedoctor42209]

this weekend I am about to put a down payment on a insight with nav unit.

[gabbogabbo]

I always loved the gen 2 prius, but im liking these more and more. I love the dash and I love hondas IMA system. I maybe in the market for one of these.

[XxM4RKoZxX]

haha my sister bought one of these

it looks like a soccers mom's car XD

i rather stick to mah 09' mustang GT X]

[adric22]

What are you talking about, Soccer Moms drive minivans.

[XxM4RKoZxX]

it kinda looks like a minivan

but you know

its whatevr

[thedoctor42209]

From the events of the recent days-looks like the prius has a Lot of Problems these that go all the way to the top.

[disturbedcg]

wow.. Great vid. Comparing it to an older model Prius. :/

[adric22]

As I've said many times now.. when I made this video the 2010 Prius was not released yet.

[gotem807]

i was just wondering, in other vids on the Insight 2010, the drivers were talking about how it makes this distinct loud sound when you're driving fast... have you come across this? they said without the Econ mode and going full throttle driving above 65mph the Insight makes this loud sound.

[adric22]

Not really, unless they are talking about the engine itself. It gets kind of loud when you are full-throttle and the RPMS are revved up to max.

[thedoctor42209]

there are a few videos out there on you tube if you search for them.

[talktal]

unless youre driving up a steep hill and in 3rd gear, the engine is quit average sounding @gotem807

[raykrislianggi]

Honda for life!

[markirish37]

Exellent review, a lot better than the so called pro motor journalists out there, very to the point, yet you give an exellent rundown of the car in both audio and visually.

Only thing about the care itself is that their are diesal engine cars offering better or same fuel economy as this and the Prius which suprised me, I expected this to be much more fuel efficiant compared to the most efficiant of diesal engines which are now hugely popular. Whats the BHP of this? well done again.

[adric22]

It really isn't fair to compare to diesel because diesel fuel contains more energy per gallon than gasoline, so naturally you will get better mileage with diesel. But that is reflected in the higher cost of diesel. Also diesel is more polluting.

[donaircooleone]

@adric22 How is it more polluting bit weird?

[blondemax]

Is diesel more expensive in America than petrol?

I know in the UK it IS but on contintal Europe and everywhere else diesel is *significantly* cheaper.

Regarding the "energy content" of disel- yes the energy content per litre is the same; but per weight it is the same as petrol. The reason we see much better milage in diesel engines is their higher compression ratios (of >20:1) result in better thermodynamic efficiency.

Polluting: Please use this word with caution. NiMH is VERY toxic

[adric22]

No it is not, NiMh is one of the safest battery chemistries out there.

[blondemax]

But the metal extraction is VERY toxic

[Ge0vone]

Whaaa!

This car has a better AUX port, meaning that it displays songs and info along with scrolling on the dash.

My 2008 Si sedan doesn't. I have to use my Zune

[Diamob]

I feel bad for the poor saps that bought these things trying to be "green". The economic footprint due to the transportation of the materials for those batteries outweighs almost any gas guzzler on the road.

[adric22]

That is an urban legend that keeps spreading around on the internet. Do a google search and you'll find that this has been proven wrong over and over and over again, yet for some reason that bad information keeps getting spread around.

[nick76dune]

not true - gas transportation is more expesnive -

I strongly disagree with your ill informed comment

[riderADV]

how is the title of song in this video guys...!

perfect...!!

...and perfect car...!!!

...there is Japanese and there is HONDA...!!

[ElectroGhandi]

These cars have pretty cool interiors. Too bad they only come in automatic.

[1g023]

bout to buy a insight

[Eurotripdude09]

great vid ,i love my new Insight!!

[MisTaHTaKi]

wow very futuristic

[Wimpyslimpy]

Very interesting review. I've been comparing these 2 cars myself and given the lower price of the Insight and the (I think) better looks, I would prefer the Insight. Thanx for the video. Grz.from Holland.

[ChueHang17]

Another great car and another great review.

Thank you for sharing this. Looking forward to one of these Insight some day.

Brand new 2010 EX with navigation system starting at $23,000, you just can't beat that..

[thedoctor42209]

@ChueHang17

actually you can beat that price if you belong to a costco's or a bj's for example there auto buying program you can get the car for less then $23k :)

[ChueHang17]

I was just referring to the MSRP price. : - )

[njdoughboy]

Good review, any chance we could coax you into posting some footage of the driving experience? Maybe some urban driving, then some highway, with no music, so we can get a sense of the way the car sounds and moves?

Thanks,

[oseano10]

Well, 22.000$ - 19.800$ = 2.400$

[eqhorse]

Not to be a dick, but the voiceover on this video is absolutely terrible - I could barely hear the narrator.

Wonderful and very informative review, though

[selim622]

Thanks for the vid. You definitely showed aspects a dealer won't show

[ColmenTse]

at first i thought the spare tire was a sub woofer i was like dammmmnn that HUGE!!

[TheSmartdude11]

haha same

[thedoctor42209]

for those who are looking to buy a insight or even the prius-if you belong to a buy's club, a bj's sam's club or whatever these clubs an auto buying program, with a little research i think i can get a loaded insight with nav unit for under $27k-the unit i looked at has lo jack, and including an remote start to.

[sergiogon]

This is a very nice review!

Can you describe a bit better how the paddles work?

It feels just like a manual gearbox?

[adric22]

The paddles are stupid.. I can't find any use for them at all.

[JoeGoldsteinPR]

I am not an owner but have read a LOT about this car. Some owners have said that the paddle shifters are useful to produce engine braking on steep descents and thus produce less stress on the brakes....can also produce greater rate of battery regen, I have read....and lastly, there is a counterintuitive way of shifting somewhat aggressively from a stop that induces much more aggressive use of the IMA and thus better MPGs than simply relying on the CVT.

[Designs4Times]

You should compare to a 2010 Prius. How can you compare a 2010 Insight to an older Prius? New Prius blows the insight away on fuel economy and a much better looking exterior design, plus the interior is much nicer!

[adric22]

If you would have read the description.... I had this 2010 Insight several months before the 2010 Prius was released on the market. So how could I compare them?

[thedoctor42209]

your review was fine, in fact thats what pretty much sold me to pick up a insight at the end of the year.

[Prizm2356]

Ill stick to my trusty 1997 Geo Metro It still gets 50 to 55mpg with 125,000 miles.

[adric22]

Well, it will break eventually.

[Prizm2356]

True everything wears out sooner or later

[thedoctor42209]

thanks, for those who posted about there insights pretty much made up my mine to invest in one later this year

[kagolko]

honda even handles better. no joke. And you can do the same economy like with toyota. Honda all the way!!

[Jxff]

Just picked up one tonight, the LX base version. The ride is more than firm on bumpy city roads, but I like the price better than the Toyota Prius. Stereo is very nice but no center console in the base model to put your MP3 player.

[datnvan]

just picked up mine 07/25. absolutely love this car. came from acura RDX and modded evo 8 b4 that. am very used to firm, sporty cars. very pleased with the insight performance and ride. it's very quiet and the only real noise is road feel. it is not rough or jarring. like other honda products its sporty but never harsh. this is a driver's car, as much as a hybrid can be. prius is kinda sloppy albeit smooth. hate the prius center dash. prius is for hippies, insight for cheapies who like driving.

[thedoctor42209]

if everything goes well for me should be getting an insight in december.

[thedoctor42209]

Nice video good job

[khukuridal]

prius leads the way ....honda definitely a second choice

[carlife11]

I love Honda.

I think better than prius's design.

But Prius have a high-technology.

The orders of 200,000 every two months or more entered from the sale in Japan.

It is now, and the delivery date is waiting in Japan when buying it for eight months.

[FieldsAvenueInfo]

Thanks for the video review. We need more comprehensive private reviews like this.

[nngelx]

Thank you for posting. This video is by far the best of ALL. I love the engine cut off and the USB port you point out. Nice job.

[melchior00625]

The best criticisms of the Insight are probably the rear seat space and emergency handling at high-speed (for which Consumer Reports heavily dinged this car). I think the CR reviewer protested too much when he mentioned the climate control positioning (I never had a problem with this) and the road noise (Honda's cars are generally geared toward those who actually want to hear/feel the road).

Someone online ought to investigate when the Insight goes into full EV mode...

[ConcertShutterbug]

Insight will not accelerate from a stop in EV but once cruising on a flat road will go to EV mode at "school zone" speeds, thereabouts. P.S. I am skeptical as to Ford's claim that the Fusion will stay in EV mode to 47 MPH.

[melchior00625]

The pros actually mount their uber-expensive stabilized cameras to the vehicle for a jitter-free shot, so unless you have a clamp mount for your camera...

That said, the jitter was not that bad-- I think you had a pretty good grip on the camera.

[GoMetricToday]

Just got my Insight on July 2nd. and I LOVE IT!!! I am glad a chose it over the Prius.

[ConcertShutterbug]

Hey good luck to you...many high MPG miles to you, enjoy it in good health. Come back here in a few weeks and report back more, including your MPG experiences.

[GoMetricToday]

Will do. I just did an initial review of mine. Not a test drive one though. I am going on a trip the last week in August. I will keep a video library of my trip and how many litres per 100 km I get. So far around town I am very impressed with what I am averaging now.

[ConcertShutterbug]

I test drove an LX today to make sense for myself the conflicting reviews on this car - I had a BALL driving this car, I was quite impressed and I will buy an EX after my Pontiac comes off lease this Fall - perhaps there will be rebates by then.

I found all of the major criticisms of this car to be w/o merit: plenty enough oomph, especially in "S"; as quiet as most cars in this price class; and not a harsh ride. I got 45.5 MPG in 5 miles of purely local driving with the AC blasting; a FUN car!

[saints8701]

wow that was helpful. my GF is looking at getting an insight and i have already test drove one myself i was actually impressed by this vehicle, previously being a only V6 and V8 person myself

[thecarexpert18]

whats more fuel effecient, honda civic hybrid or the insight

[thecarexpert18]

please tell me they won't ever discontinue the insight!

[adric22]

Sure, I can tell you that if you want..

[thecarexpert18]

lol

[02camry]

You know this comparison(and many others) Are too fair. You should've compared it to the 2010 Prius. And 4 Lexus hybrids (Hs, GS, LS, RX) Are fast.

[adric22]

The 2010 Prius wasn't available at the time I made this review several months ago.

[thomasbklyn]

very good review ! even though i find hybrids very ugly and weak!

[adric22]

gee thanks... I think. But, not all hybrids are weak. The Camry hybrid and highlander are very fast, as are some lexus hybrids.

[MukulB]

Thank you david - very helpful! How is the acceleration compared to Prius?

Thanks!

[adric22]

Almost the same. Now the 2010 prius (when released) may be faster.

[shawtiee1085]

can u make a video on the acceleration?

[durakingdiesel]

yeah good luck fitting in one im 6 foot 1 and i cant even get my leg in the dirver seat way to small plus id rather drive my truck anyways

[DJTEVAdotCOM]

thanks for the great review...I planning to buy a hybrid soon and i think the insight is more affordable and plus i change car once it reaches 100,000 miles...i was wondering if that usb input will tale portable hard drive that can store like 500gig of music??

[DJTEVAdotCOM]

i think this is nicer looking than the prius and affordable

[dirtywork123]

nice video!!

[RexieV]

so when u gotta fuel up ur tank u just add water or gas?

[dirtywork123]

i just piss in it. works great

[RexieV]

lol

[asif7864]

The best review for the car. Unlike other reviews it doesn't just show the basic it goes into more details that every day driver is looking for.

Thanks for the video.

[EVtestDK]

Very informative.

I have read that in ECO mode the car is supposed to give a more power full regenerative breaking.

When I tried it I could not feel any different, can you?

[JoeStyle8]

Great Review! In addition to all the perks by having this car, here in New York City, they DMV are giving out "Clean Pass" Stickers that allow hybrid users to use HOV or POV lanes during rush hour, regardless of how many occupants are in the car.

I'm planning to purchase one by the end of the month.

[xroni]

I'm thinking about buying this car, and have been watching videos about it all evening. Yours is by far the most interesting, thanks!!

[musthavejava]

Very good review. It was great to have a real world perspective on the car versus what you're hearing from the 'pros'.

You said you didn't feather the throttle, yet still received good mileage returns. Does the engine feel strong/torquey? Is it still as fun to drive as non-hybrid models from Honda? Thanks in advance.

[adric22]

The car accellerates well enough to easily blend in with traffic and even pass somebody on country roads or the freeway. However, it really doesn't give the impression of a really fast car. It is very fun to drive, in my opinion. But I have no experience with other Honda cars.

[musthavejava]

I wasn't expecting a neck snapper, but sufficient power for merging and passing when needed was important. Thank-you so much for responding. I'm totally digging your car in the video and it really was nice to have feedback from someone who purchased one.

[BigTymer008]

Great down-to-Earth review! How easy was it for you to purhcase the car? Was there a waitlist or anything like that?

[connectorxp]

Verry cool review , and wihtout the regular "critics" part , in Hungary the Insight cost from 16500 Euro , with all taxes including , some European states have incetives for buying Hybrids .

[freakout247]

I wish the auto stop was a little more refined, I've heard that the engine will come back on, even if you have your foot on the brake at a red light. Have you ever had that happen?

[adric22]

Yes, it will.. especially for the air-conditioner since it is belt-driven.

[freakout247]

I thought if you have econ mode on it turns your AC off at stops... if the AC is turned off at a stop from econ why would it still need to turn back on if you're still on the brakes?

[JohnCBriggs]

Excellent review. The USB audio feature looks cool. One small point the 2010 Prius has 51/48 MPG not the 48/45 listed here. So is the Prius worth the extra $2,200? We we make a few assumptions. 51mpg Prius, 40mpg insight, 100,000mile car life, $2.50/gallon gasoline, We find that we have to spend $1348 more on the Insight than the Prius. So the Prius is not worth the extra money for the gasoline alone.

[joshoua00]

Unless you keep the prius for 200,000 miles like some people then the prius will be cheaper than the insight

[revaholic]

Very well done review, even though the music is a bit corny. I really dig this car.