2010 Honda Insight EX Review

In-depth review of the 2010 Honda Insight (EX with Navigation). Includes the use of fuel efficient techniques and comparison notes with the second generation Honda Civic Hybrid.

Category:

Autos & Vehicles

Tags:

• Honda
• Insight
• Civic
• Hybrid
• Electric
• IMA
• hypermiling
• ecodriving
• CleanMPG
• safety
• fuel
• economy
• Prius

[djab2]

Why is the sustained electric only propulsion bad for the fuel economy?

[EcoAccelerometry]

@djab2 Because it is very easy to deplete the pack and always takes far more energy to refill it than what you get out. No exceptions for any of today's hybrid systems. Period.

In other words, look at that charge you want to use as a loan that you must pack back with interest. The more you dip into it, the more you will pay. Stay off of the pack and drive the car wisely, and any hybrid will give you far more than 50% above EPA.

[pietrobass74]

what efficient acceleration??

[EcoAccelerometry]

@pietrobass74: Keeping the EcoAssist gauge in the Green and minimizing the Blue color is one way of accelerating efficiently (AND legally too). The end result is an acceleration rate of 4.2-4.6 L/100km which when blended into the remainder of the driving puts the overall FE at 3.2 L/100km in an urban routine. ;)

[EcoAccelerometry]

If the second generation Civic Hybrid offers any clues, the 2010 Insight should have no problems at all.

Of course, this is assuming that winter tires are used instead of the OEM tires which are often rated as Low Rolling Resistance tires.

[goku1940]

How is the Electric only propulsion bad for your fuel economy? I would assume that it would help fuel economy since the petrol engine will shut off and not pump petrol in to the car but will let solely the electric motor propel the car until the battery depletes. Is is not like the Prius where as you can operate the car primarily on the battery while you drive it under 35 MPH until the battery deletes?

[EcoAccelerometry]

It does not matter which hybrid electric vehicle in existence today we talk about, purposely driving in electric only for periods of time worsens fuel economy instead of making it better. This is not only due to the energy conversion losses but also because the energy in the battery pack was acquired at the expense of a slow down or extra fuel being burned to recharge it.

Again, regardless of hybrid, staying off the battery pack whenever possible is the best policy.

[GoMetricToday]

I have a 2010 Insight and I LOVE IT! On the interstates here in North East Tennessee I tend to average 4.5 L/100 km. That is a lot better than the EPA estimates. I think the EPA is 5.8 L/100 km city and 5.4 L/100 km highway. In my opinion real world driving gives a better view of economy.

[Gipuloe]

Suddenly driving from point A to point B is exciting! I just took a test drive of one of these machines yesterday. I would recommend everyone try it out!

[konic40]

so since the energy is loaned the best part of the hybrid is in stop and go traffic that allows the engine to autostop. The rest of it is really all up to the efficiency of the engine and how you use it.

[FieldsAvenueInfo]

I'm not a speed reader... pause the text longer

[djab2]

@EcoAccelerometry That makes very good sense. We got the car yesterday, and I haven't driven in it yet, but i will take your tip into account :)

Thank you.

[walk2theend]

This is awesome, but compared to the 2001 version the only difference is more buttons to push.