2012 Honda Insight Reviews

We turn the spotlight on the car world's newest and brightest stars as we ask the questions to which you want the answers. But there's only one question that really needs answering - would you buy one?Honda recently upgraded the Insight hybrid hatch as a response to the new Toyota Prius C - a cheaper, more driveable hybrid. The Honda got a new look and more kit but the price stayed the same.The entry level VTi we tested costs $29,990 while the VTi-L costs $33,490Toyota Prius C, VW Golf Bluemotion, just about all Light segment cars.Power comes from a relatively old tech 1.3-litre, single cam four cylinder petrol engine with variable valve timing coupled to a DC brushless electric assist motor - hence the term Integrated Motor Assist IMA. The combined output of both engines is 72kW/167Nm. Drive is to the front wheels via a CVT auto.OK, struggles a bit on uphill runs and there's that awful slurring CVT transmission but you can live with it. Not too much noise, flog it and overtaking is acceptable but fuel consumption rises sharply driven like this.Honda claims 4.2-litres/100km, we got 5.5 combined without really trying. It uses 91 RON petrol and gets an EU5 rating.Yes, low rolling resistance tyres, more aerodynamic, low CO2 output and low fuel consumption equals a five star green rating.Though the nickel metal hydride battery is an environmental worry in terms of manufactureand disposal. Old tech too.Gets a five star rating.Acceptably comfortable despite the sea of hard plastic inside. The seats are a good shape with new upholstery and there's enough kit inside to make you feel better about owning the Insight. Ride is sporty (ish) with adequate allowance for comfort. Kit includes drive assist to help achieve maximum fuel economy, auto stop/start, remote central lock, cruise, trip computer, rear park assist, Bluetooth phone and audio, steering wheel controls climate control.Yeah, take it or leave it. Now that you can access this sort of technology and a superior drive feel for a lot less in the Prius C, Honda Jazz based Insight will be up against it. The exterior has been freshened with a new grille, bumper, lights, alloys and aero add ons, similar story inside.Would take years to claw back the premium you pay for hybrid technology especially with the super economical light and small cars coming onto the market.No.

Nissan's all-electric Leaf, two more Prius models from Toyota and imminent alternative models Holden Volt and Renault Fluence ZE have shaken the hybrid market. In response, Honda has revamped its slow-selling Insight hybrid - only 147 found new homes in the first six months of this year - to trim fuel consumption, clean up the looks and add some features.It lifts the status but it may be a hard act to get Australians stimulated. First up, we're still wary of hybrids - and especially their dull resale values - and then there's the steady flow of rival eco-cars.The price is very good, though the entry-level $29,990 Insight VTi is better value than the $33,490 VTi-L tested here. The extra money buys a reverse camera, auto wipers and lights, Bluetooth streaming, sat-nav with Suna traffic management, fog lights and bigger 16-inch alloys. Competition includes Honda's own Civic Hybrid ($35,990) and the Toyota Prius ($33,990).But the Insight is flexible enough to compete with traditional petrol-fuelled hatchbacks. Even then, it has some neat features and its spacious and versatile seat arrangement will appeal to a wide range of buyers.The profile is an extension of Honda's Clarity fuel-cell car that is still being trialled in the US. It works very well, being slippery for quiet and fuel efficient cruising while having good passenger and cargo access. The 2012 model gets a new grille, bumper and tail lights. Cabin treatment is new-age Honda with a split-level instrument panel - placing the digital speedo high in a style now being copied by others - and clean switchgear.The switches are a bit scattergun, but familiarisation eases the initial confusion. A big, wide and flat boot extends with fold-down split rear seats, while human cargo enjoys a wide rear seat with a near-flat floor.Honda's hybrid melds the petrol engine - in this case, a 1.3-litre which is smaller than sister Civic's 1.5 unit - with an integrated electric motor. Unlike the Prius, the Insight's two power units constantly work together. Brake regeneration, a stop-start system, a more efficient fuel pump and low rolling resistant tyres lower average fuel use to 4.3 L/100km, down from the previous model's 4.5 L/100km. I averaged 6.5 L/100km.The gearbox is a constantly-variable transmission (CVT) which is par for the course, while brakes are an unusual mix of front vented discs and rear drums. Drum brakes are usually reserved for trucks.It's becoming the norm to have a five-star crash rating and here the Insight doesn't disappoint. It also has six airbags, electronic stability and traction control, brake assist and electronic brakeforce distribution. Given the relatively high-tech drivetrain, heaven only knows why it has rear drum brakes. Added safety gear in the VTi-L tested is a rear camera and automatic headlights and wipers. The spare is a space-saver.The Insight doesn't exactly start with a conventional engine crank but with a hum. It's quiet - possibly because at idle it turns off its 1.3-litre petrol engine - though gets audible on acceleration as the CVT demands high revs. At cruising speeds it's quiet with minimal wind noise - a product of its slippery shape - though coarse bitumen annoys the low rolling resistance tyres.Hybrids have a certain vagueness about them thanks to the electric drive of the steering and the unorthodox brakes. But the Insight has predictable steering - in comparison to the vagueness of the Prius - which aids its handling. The dumbed-down 65kW/121Nm engine appears barely capable of powering a can opener but the assistance of the electric motor turns it into something quite enjoyable.Combined output is 72kW/167Nm. Note that the motor is 10kW/78Nm but drive losses and different delivery characteristics mean you can't simply add the two figures together. The Insight is also comfortable, tending towards a supple ride on its long wheelbase. There's a bit of early Citroen here.Non-threatening family car with green credentials to make you smile and a poor resale value to make you sad.

I read recently where someone had completed a loop of Tasmania driving one of these cars. They managed it on a single tank, travelling 821km and using an average of 4.82 litres/100km. To put this in perspective the Insight is officially rated at 4.6 litres/100km. We haven't been getting anything like this sort of economy, but at the same time the little Honda hybrid doesn't use much fuel. According to the trip computer, which provides an extensive range of information - we've been getting 5.7 litres/100km but that's in ordinary day to day driving. DESIGNLooking for all the world like a smaller version of Toyota's Prius, the Honda Insight is a remarkably likeable car. Although the design is completely new, it does in fact sit on the same platform as the Jazz and its sedan counterpart the City. In fact, from the front, it bears more than a passing resemblance to the City. The five-door liftback offers seating for five people, with a large glass topped liftback that covers a reasonably sized luggage area and space saver spare.It seats four in comfort but is a little squeezy with five and rear headroom could be an issue for taller people.VALUEThe good news is that this hybrid is not going to cost you an arm and a leg. At a starting price of $29,990, or $33,490 for the upmarket better equipped VTi-L, it's a very affordable alternative to a traditional hatch or even fuel efficient diesel.TECHNOLOGYInsight is powered by a 1.3-litre petrol engine together with an electric motor that provides assistance during acceleration. The combined output of the 65kW petrol engine and 10kW electric motor is 72kW. The electric motor contributes up to 10kW at 1500 revs and 78Nm of torque at 1000 revs, assisting in acceleration and cruising at low-to-mid vehicle speeds. Maximum torque of 167Nm is delivered at a very low 1000 revs thanks to the instant-on power delivery of the electric motor, giving the car good off the mark acceleration.DRIVINGWith a 40-litre tank, all important fuel consumption is rated at just 4.6 litres/100km, giving the car a theoretical range of about 870km. The hybrid powertrain is teamed with a CVT style, continuously variable automatic transmission, designed to optimise power and economy. With no discernible gear changes it has a zoom like quality, but there's a sport setting for better performance and greater engine braking on downhill runs. The VTi-L model comes with a fully featured satnav/entertainment system with full iPod integration.You can trawl by title, album or artist and it also recognises playlists. Insight comes comes with a five-star safety rating and full complement of safety equipment including six airbags. Standard equipment in the VTi-L includes satellite navigation and a reversing camera as well as Bluetooth for mobile phones.Honda Insight VTi-LPrice: from $33,490Warranty: 3 years/ 100,000kmResale: N/AService Interval: 10,000km/6 monthsSafety: Vehicle Stability Assist, ABS, EBD, 6 Airbags, Active Head Rests.Engine: Inline 4 Cylinder SOHC i-VTEC and integrated Motor Assist.Body: 5-door HatchbackWeight: 1215kgTransmission: Automatic, CVi with Grade Logic Control.Thirst: 4.6L/100km, 91 RON, CO2 109g/km