Honda's new Insight gets mixed reviews
How are auto writers receiving Honda's Insight hybrid? Here are some snippets from early reviews.
"The Honda's petrol engine is a much-shaved, built-for-economy, low-friction 1.3 that, at full chat, makes a noise worse than someone else's crying baby on an airliner...To get an idea of how awful it is, you'd have to sit a dog on a ham slicer."
-- Jeremy Clarkson, Timesonline.co.uk
"The Insight has two significant warts: Its backseat is considerably tighter than the Toyota's family-sedan-grade rear quarters, and there's plenty of Honda's trademark road noise at higher speeds. On the flip side, though, it has sensible gauges and a superior driving position. Given its impressive talents and attractive price, it's hard to fault the 2010 Honda Insight."
-- Edmunds.com
"It's hard to call 40 mpg disappointing, but in this case it is. The smaller, lighter Insight, using a smaller-displacement gasoline engine, seems to be an underachiever. Honda says that's partly because Insight's tuned for a little more punch, to make driving more fun, at the expense of fuel economy."
-- James R. Healey, USA Today
"Honda's goal in designing the 2010 Insight was to find the value sweet spot, and it looks like they've hit it. The Insight marks the best intersection yet of the plots for price, efficiency and practicality.
"Engineers accomplished this by designing a hybrid system with a priority on cost rather than maximum efficiency, scoring more bang for the buck than glittering technology showcases that no one can afford. They wrapped it in a five-door hatchback body that packs maximum cabin space into minimal physical size."
-- Dan Carney, MSNBC.com
(Source: Automotive News)
I haven't driven a new Insight, though I have to say that from the exterior it seems to be a shameless copy of the Prius II, and I would expect a lot more from Honda than to just do a slavish imitation. Shame.
I have a lot of admiration for Honda and their engineering, and frankly I would rather buy a Honda for their quality and dependability and driving dynamics - but I have to say that their hybrids have seemed kind of half-baked catch-up affairs and that they somehow don't really want to commit to the technology all-out. People fell for the Prius because it's NOT an 'economy car' - it's kind of a miracle that a Prius can get near 50mpg and still be so quiet, roomy, and pleasant. On the other hand, the Insight seems to really be just another economy car: cheaper, tinnier, noisier, slightly cramped, with a tiny engine and excellent but not miraculous mileage.
In fairness though I read the entire Jeremy Clarkson review (British) and it seemed like an exaggerated hatchet job article designed to stoke controversy. Get a second opinion.
http://motormouths.com/car/honda/insight