Honda Insight Part 3: Performance Review

The performance story of the Honda Insight - like most, if not all hybrids - is a story of economy - economy of fuel as well as economy of price. But unlike some cars with similar priorities, the Insight doesn't forget the driver in its pursuit of thrift.

Typically, such an all-out focus on mileage numbers results in cars about as exciting as a PBS documentary on the history of knitting yarn. And if you were to decide to throw mileage to the wind and drive these cars aggressively, you'd likely find the car as annoying as Ryan Seacrest. Toyota Prius, please step forward. To be fair, that's not what these cars are all about, but is it too much to ask for a little fun with your economy?

Now, don't get me wrong, no one will accuse the Insight of being a great driver's car. It's not fast, it's steering is not particularly communicative and it doesn't give you goose-bumps when you fire it up. But neither is it boring. And in this category, that is quite an achievement.

What makes the Insight stand apart from other mileage-obsessed cars is the same thing that sets a lot of Hondas apart - Honda DNA. The Insight feels light on its feet when cornering - even sporty - encouraging you to actually drive it. This makes it feel less like a transportation appliance and much more like a car. So drivers will not be bored to sleep and the hypermilers who are attracted to cars like this will find even more to love.

Hypermilers are those who overinflate their tires and shut their car's engine off when coasting, all in the name of eeking out a few extra miles per gallon from their cars. Now, don't get me wrong, I'm not criticizing at all - in fact, I think that's great... for them. But as some of you may have realized, we at OnCars aren't exactly the hypermiler types, as we would much rather bury the throttle than feather it.

Unfortunately, when you introduce the Insight's throttle pedal to the carpet the Continuously Variable Transmission - or CVT - will have the engine buzzing near redline, resulting in a racket that will persist until you lift off the gas in search of peace and quite. Maybe that's not such a bad thing when you remember the Insight's mission, but sometimes - as when merging onto the highway - giving it the boot is a practical necessity.

Noisy and leisurely accelerative performance aside, the Insight feels like a normal car most of the time - which is a good thing. Its regenerative brakes don't feel as awkward as similar setups from other manufacturers, and even the CVT - as much as I dislike these types of transmissions - at least offers seven artificial "steps" in its programming in an effort to feel more spirited.

The 2010 Honda Insight is more efficient than nearly anything else on the road. Of equal significance is that it will also give you more driving satisfaction than any other hybrid. If it were available with a manual transmission, it might even inspire you to drive not only from point A to point B, but even when you've got nowhere in particular to go. And making a highly-efficient car that's a little more enjoyable and a lot less like a chore to drive, is quite an achievement.

Watch the video
Read Part 1: Design
Read Part 2: Interior & User Experience

2010 Honda Insight

Performance
- Acceleration: Well... not really - CVT makes the experience feel even slower - just keep in mind patience is a virtue
- Handling: Surprisingly nimble and even... fun - would do significantly better without the all-season, low-resistance tires fitted for maximum mileage
- Braking: Regenerative brakes much more transparent than other similar systems - car's light weight helps keep distances short

Design
- Exterior: Not quite as fun looking as its sibling Honda Fit, but much better than the outgoing Prius model it was targeted against - doesn't try to look like a hybrid, which can be good or bad depending on your point of view
- Interior: Very modern and more successful than the exterior - hybrid touches (glowing speedometer, IMA display) nicely integrated

Utility
- Comfort: Good for the front passengers, less so for those in the back seat - noisy cabin (road, tire and engine noise)
- Space: Aerodynamic fastback also offers a spacious package - hatch is a bit large/tall if you open it in a garage

Safety
- Dynamics: Certainly no sportscar, but compared to the other car in this category, this one has the moves to get you out of trouble
- Technology: As much safety stuff as you hope to not need - quite an achievement at this price when you consider the technology in the drivetrain

Value
- Price: Perhaps its biggest attribute, especially when you consider all of the content in and under the car
- Mileage: Not quite as impressive as the newest Prius, but as a package, this car makes more sense

Emotional Appeal
- Heart thumpin' factor: For the hypermiler? Yeah. For the car guy? Ahh... not exactly
- Fun to spank: Let's just say, "not applicable."

SPECIFICATIONS

Layout: Front engine / Front-wheel drive
Engine: 1.3-liter, Inline-4 + electric motor
Power (SAE): 98 hp @ 5800 rpm
Torque: 123 lb-ft @ 1000-1700 rpm
Gearbox: Constantly Variable (CVT)
Curb Weight: 2734 lbs.
0-60 mph: 10.4 sec.
Top Speed: 115 mph
Mileage: 40 city / 43 highway
Base Price: $19,800
Competitors: Toyota Prius, Honda Fit, Walking in Birkenstocks