2010 Honda Insight EX: Realistic Expectations

I think you should expand on why you like the Insight compared to the Fit, which is universally and unendingly praised by the IL staff.

Why do you "like it a lot more" over the Fit?

I haven't seen a direct comparsion but the Fit seems to get much better comments, is roomier and is more fun to drive. Add in cheaper and almost as good mileage and it looks like an easy win for the Fit.

Unless you must get that extra couple mpg, why do you choose the Insight?

firstwagon: "almost as good mileage"

While I'm also curious to hear Albert's explanation as to why he prefers it to the Fit, the Fit does not get almost as good mileage as the Insight. The Insight's combined rating is 41mpg, while the Fit's combined rating is 29-31mpg (depending on model).

brn

I understand mileage will vary but I've read a lot of tests of Fits and Insights and Fits normally beat the ratings while Insights fall short.

The long term Insight is averaging 38.5 mpg which is right in line with what most Fit owners I know seem to get.

I suspect in the real world, the difference will only be a few mpgs, certainly not enough to cover the $9000 difference in base prices (Canadian prices, your price may vary).

Two points:

1. Allow me to add mine to the growing chorus of voices calling for an explanation of why you like the Insight better than the Fit. Most of the automotive writers who have driven both appear to disagree with you, and I'd like to hear your side.

2. MSRP of the base Insight LX is $19,995, plus destination. Are dealers in SoCal (or anywhere) actually discounting hybrids?

From the most recent IL mileage update...

Car/Best/Worst/Average
2010 / Honda Insight EX / 43.9 / 27.9 / 38.5
2009 Honda Fit Sport / 39.0 / 24.9 / 31.0

Interesting how the best and worst were only ~10% different while the average is ~25% different.

While I guess those figures are somewhat significant, once you get above 30 mpg, the difference in gallons consumed (and therefore $ spent on gas) become pretty small even for 25% differences.

The "under $20K" Insight actually starts at $20,510.

And the LX stripper at that price is missing basic new car necessities like cruise control and stability control. If you want those that's the EX trim and you're past $22k. With the usual Honda incentives or lack thereof.

That's Mazda 3 hatch, Kia Forte, Elantra Touring, Golf, Impreza, Civic SI money. With a couple grand to spare on most of them.

firstwagon,

One area where you and I differ is that I tend to have more faith in EPA ratings when comparing two vehicles than I do in anecdotal evidence. I don't mean to dismiss well intended independent tests, but I don't believe they've as much thought put into them as the EPA does. The exception being EVs, where the EPA tests are clearly abused.

As such, I firmly believe the Insight will generally have substantially better mileage than the Fit.

As for making up for the price differential, that's another story. Let's just say, I'd personally choose the Fit over the Insight if I was forced to chose between the two.

I compared the Insight and Fit before I bought an Insight in May. Each has its virtues, and ultimately I bought the Insight.

The Fit Sport does not have a center console or height adjustable seats. While neither interior is luxurious, the Insight did have a better finished look, and better materials. The Fit's dash and door panels looked like they were made out of recycled pop bottles, with a crude finish. The Fit's seats were especially cheap (think Scion XB) and just didn't feel right. The armrests in the Fit were a joke, and the driver and the passenger rub shoulders in the Fit. Not so in the Insight.

The Fit does have the "magic" back seat and much more cargo room. It does have inexplicably good press, despite having very similar performance to the Insight. While I appreciated the Fit's many virtues, its lower quality interior, lower fuel economy, and "first car" look turned me off. I admittedly paid a premium for slight improvements in all areas. I still ended up with a reliable, affordable hybrid commuter car.

I certainly could have spent more on a Level 3 Prius to get greater improvements in economy, comfort and utility. But given that this is a second car (primarily used for solo commutes and errand running) there was no ROI in that. Why spend $28-30k when $23k will suffice?

The Fit's "inexplicably good press" probably comes from its favorable response to having the hoohaa driven out of it. With a manual transmission, it's actually entertaining to drive, despite being only two seconds faster 0-60 than the Insight.

With the drivetrain being so sippy, I can see how it's one of the most economical in it's price range. But with a stripped down Prius being slightly more expensive, I don't see how the Insight has any real leverage over a thirstier Mazda 3, Soul, Golf or the Prius.

Now that IL is getting a Fusion Hybrid, the comparisons will be really interesting. I am betting the Fusion will be well worth the extra money.

The Fit doesn't get just as good fuel economy as the Insight. Of course if you compare the fuel economy on the highway of the Fit and the fuel economy in city-driving of the Insight (driven by lead-footed car journalists), you might think there's no difference, but that's an apples-to-oranges comparison. It's like comparing what a Cobalt does in stop-and-go traffic and what a Suburban gets driving at a constant 55 mph on the highway and saying therefore that all GMs get the same bad fuel economy whether it's a compact or a large SUV, it's ridiculous. And given that there is also a Fit in IL's lineup to which the IL's Insight can be compared, that comparison is not even the most evident one.

As to the comment regarding the fact that the best and worst tanks of the IL's Insight were closer to those of the Fit than the average, that's easily explainable. The hybrid system's main advantage is its ability to regenerate the battery when braking to propulse the car when accelerating, re-using the energy a typical car would waste in the form of heat with the brakes. When you're steady on the highway (best tank), that system doesn't help much, though it can assist a bit by providing some extra acceleration when needed and allows the car to have a smaller engine. When you're on a racetrack or driving the car very aggressively (worst tank), the hybrid system can't keep up and then the engine does all the work, the hybrid system basically becomes a dead weight.

Hybrids are made to work well in everyday conditions and that's where they get great results, they're not made to do much better in extreme conditions.

In terms of the Prius comparisons, one can read what Car and Driver has to say:

http://buyersguide.caranddriver.com/honda/insight/2010/honda-insight

In terms of fuel mileage, I have a few thousand on the Insight and with the combo of freeway and city (and without even having Econ button on) the average is 45-46 MPG.