Earlier this week, Honda announced that it began building the third-generation Insight hybrid at its factory in Indiana. A concept version of the Insight was showcased at the Detroit Auto Show earlier this year, and the production version was unveiled in New York in March. The Honda Insight is making a return after five years, and the company hopes for it to succeed. Is third time the charm for the Insight? Let’s find out.

What’s new this time?

The 2019 Honda Insight is built on the same platform as the Civic. The Insight will come with a 1.5-liter, four-cylinder, Atkinson-cycle engine paired with a generator motor and propulsion motor. The car will produce 151 horses and 197 pound-feet of torque. According to Honda, the Insight will operate solely on electric power in most situations, with the engine acting as a generator when necessary, and is expected to deliver 55 miles per gallon in the city. This is on par with the Toyota Prius, its main competitor. On the safety front, the Insight comes standard with Honda's Sensing suite of safety technologies.

Honda has not had a good run with any of its electric cars to date. Despite that, the automaker is aiming for two-thirds of its global sales from electrified vehicles by 2030. Looks like Honda is aware of the fact and looks to sort this out with the Insight. Natalie Kumaratne, Honda spokeswoman told Autoblog, "Products like the Insight, Accord Hybrid and Clarity Plug-in Hybrid are critical building blocks in Honda's plan to mainstream electrified vehicles, advancing us toward a future when hybrids and plug-ins are more the norm than the exception. Both the Insight and Accord continue Honda's approach to bring electrified vehicles into the mainstream by focusing on creating fun, sophisticated and engaging vehicles with no compromise to performance, packaging or utility."

A little ‘insight’ into the car

The Insight was initially launched in 1999 as a two-seater car. It had a ‘not-so-decent’ run for seven years, before making a comeback in 2009 for another six years. The second-generation was the least expensive back then, but that couldn’t help it go on for long. The Insight saw its best run in 2010, where it sold 21,000 copies worldwide. Now, post a five-year hiatus, the Insight is back with its third iteration, hoping to claim its space, and getting the respect it deserves for being the first hybrid to hit the U.S. market in the last millennium.

The Insight directly competes with the Toyota Prius. The Prius is a more accomplished car with neutral driving dynamics and a much larger cargo space when compared to the Insight. Honda will look to overcome these cons with the 2019 model. The Insight is expected to be priced around $21,000; which slots it right between the Civic and the Accord.

Our Take

Honda has spent $61.5 million to prepare plants in Ohio and Indiana for more electrified vehicles. Given how all automakers are responding to the upcoming electrification era, it was a wise move from Honda to revive the car that was, perhaps, ahead of its time. On the other hand, the Insight is more of a sedan than a compact car, and we don’t need to mention the fate of sedans these days. For Honda to achieve its ambitious plans, the Insight plays a significant role. Can it make a mark this time and connect with the customers, or will go back into wilderness again? Let us know what you think about the 2019 Honda Insight in the comments section below.

References

Read our full review on the 2019 Honda Insight.

Read our full review on the 2000-2006 Honda Insight.

Read our full review on the 2010 Honda Insight.

Read more Honda news.