Honda Insight on a Freeway

[MrBry329]

if this car was runing on full electric why is the rpm gauge a 2k or does it do that even if you ride in electric mode

[unsignedint]

@MrBry329 I think the RPM as shown on tacho is product of gas and power, as Insight has a motor built into the powertrain inline.

[MrBry329]

can you even dim the dash would that help the situation does the insight come with electric steering cause if it did that would take the battery as well

[unsignedint]

@MrBry329 I don't think it's electric steering in terms of "drive by wire" type of meaning. Gas pedal and (in certain extent) brake is drive by wire.

[subsoniq101]

put some gass nikka lol

[thedoctor42209]

This coming saturday March 27, due to pick up an insight I had ordered last week got the car with nav and satalite radio.

[DaRealDannyD]

Not bad, I saw a white insight the other day with nice rims and a body kit. Made me desire one. I've never thought a hybrid could look so good.

[NitroExplosion88]

@DaRealDannyD comparing an insight to a prius ill take the honda insight anyday, my opinion the insight looks and perform better then a prius, i saw a blue one in fresh meadows queens and i loved it!!!!

[sparklerbombg]

0-60=?

[z28com]

1 or 2 seconds slower than a smart fortwo.

[bluelake07]

Car and Driver magazine timed the 2010 Insight at 10.3 seconds 0-60. Edmunds review of the 2009 Smart Fortwo shows a leisurely 14.1 seconds.

[wrccorsa]

At 3:09 - 3:12 3:48 - 3:51 4:12 - 4:22

The car is moving on pure electric power.

Also the guy who drives the car is a great hypermiller!!

[minorot]

@wrccorsa Have to call BS on the "pure electric" claim. Unless the tach drops to "0", the the engine is running.

[unsignedint]

No, that's not necessary the case. Tachometer on this car is somewhat "simulated." It's actually one of the big new feature when they moved from 1st generation IMA to 2nd generation, is that they can stop engine for cruising.

[TheSolaraficionado]

@unsignedint, not true, I have an HCHII and on pure electric my tach is at 1100 or so. The IMA is connected to the drive shaft and the cylinders heads close allowing the engine to cycle in a vacuum state.

I do it all the time, the instantaneous MPG falls to 0 and the electric mode is engaged.

[melito74]

I have an 2010 Insight with 24,000 miles now. The engine always turns, but switches to a lobeless cam so the valeves don't open when running on pure electric. The electric motor is attached to the crankshaft, so the engine is allways turning, but not necessarily "running".

[Vap3]

hm i my 40 sec quote was referring to like just radio, and no climate control you should test out even with no music and see how long it lasts.

I heard the civic hybrid corners better due to it having a independent suspension in the rear unlike the insight which uses a torsion beam for the rear.

[unsignedint]

It'd still last more than 1:30; really depending on things like outside temperature.

As for cornering, I've heard same claim from reviews on some magazines. Which also mentioned EX's VSA helps and they should have it standard on lower trim.

[zannabbyx123]

I think I read on another one of your videos that you drove the Civic before this? Do you feel it rides smoother or just about the same as the Civic? That's what I ride now, and I really would like to get the Insight when my lease expires.

[unsignedint]

Yes, I have been driving Civic Hybrid 2006 before this one. Looks like you are in the exact same situation as I were. (lease expiring)

I do feel Insight little bit more responsive than Civic; could be due to lower car height. I think it'd worth trying test drive.

Also consider it is hatchback, and you get more storage space than Civic, too. (Civic Hybrid has battery behind the back seat, there's no trunk access from inside the car.)

[zannabbyx123]

That's one of the biggest reasons I'm liking this Insight. I really wanted a CRV when my lease expired - my father owns one - but I'm going into college and the CRV sucks up a little bit more gas. So considering this is a car, with space in the back it's a plus. And that was actually going to be my next question. It's a little higher than the Civic? I'm only 5'1" but it's still a pain trying to get out of the Civic because it's so low.

[Vap3]

i heard autostop only lasts for 40 seconds or so, and then the engine restarts even if your still waiting for the light to turn green... comment?

[unsignedint]

Depends on the situation. If you have AC on in hot day, I can see that happening. It's really depending on how much power your are consuming at the stop.

[praetorian2150]

i hear the insight has alota road noise, wat do u think?

[unsignedint]

Having quieter engine noise probably make you hear road noise bit more, I suppose.

Doesn't annoy me too much, though.

[praetorian2150]

ok thats wat i thought nothing bad then, check

[Prizm2356]

I love the style of the car i think it looks more sporty and youthful than the Prius. I do plan on maybe buying one but it will have to wait until the chaos dies down a bit or maybe after its been on the market for a year or so but then the price may go up..oh well thanks for the video

[unsignedint]

Yeah, I agree. You might want to check with a dealer to find out. Chances are it's not that chaotic...

[Prizm2356]

I dont think I would like that speedometer set up

[unsignedint]

Most of Honda's new car are using that setting, and it actually works better than traditional settings. It minimizes your eye movement between road and meter, and generally makes it much easier and safer to drive.

[555clueless555]

That color changing speedometer must get annoying...

[unsignedint]

Well, that the point. If you are driving well, it'll stay green.

If it is changing color, you are not driving efficiently.

It's not something too bothering, though.

[mister270]

the insight is amazing. i just got one and i love it. seriously, don't believe the haters.

[unsignedint]

Likewise, I'm having fun everytime I drive.

[shortii12341]

My dads thinking about getting one of these. I want to drive it. :)

[unsignedint]

It's pretty fun to drive!

EX and higher got paddle shifter to play around with, too.

[rynprov]

In the video, I noticed the fuel gauge, and according to the fuel gauge, it's preety low.

[unsignedint]

Yeah, but I think I'd still have around 40 miles with that. It goes over 400 between refuel!

[singhsc430]

How is the wind noise @ 65 mph ??

[unsignedint]

It's not that you want hear it, but imho, is not bad enough to annoy me.

[SimpleHeroo]

Hello thanks for these videos.

Could you make a video about GPS nav., to show the functionality and specs.

Thank you

[unsignedint]

I will take a video on that somehow, I need extra hand to do that as it's bit dangerous for me to take a picture of a nav while driving :-)

[HeartInSanFrancisco]

Very nicely done video. I have a MINI Cooper convertible that gets about 30 MPG combined. It's a great car and great looker.

But if gas shoots up to $3 to $4 (we are heading to $3) I am looking at getting one of these (or the Prius).

I need to get from point A to point B and back again. If I can do it at half the cost of what I am paying now, that makes more sense than paying through the nose to look snazzy.

Plus, it's good to be doing our part on conservation.

[musthavejava]

Does the car have more than adequate power for freeway merging? And, how does it drive? I like the looks of the Insight a lot.

[unsignedint]

I haven't had problem so far. There's some mind barrier for putting out more power out to do that however, because the indicator would turn blue warning the driver that you are consuming more gas!!

[musthavejava]

Thanks!

[misterscary999]

I see that you're in ECON mode- if you're diligent and keeping things in the green, what's your gas mileage like? I've heard of guys getting nearly 70 mpg- just wondering if those numbers are really possible.

[unsignedint]

40 for sure, and 60 is not hard. I can imagine it going closer to 70, but I'd say, that would be very optimal driving condition (like no AC, relatively small change in speed, and perhaps long run.)

[lawnmowerdude]

Nice car, might be my next car.

[freakout247]

The road noise seems kind of loud in the cabin, is it that loud in person on the freeway?

[unsignedint]

Part of reason is that the wind from the AC was blowing right on the microphone when I took this video, and that's certainly raising noise floor in this video.