New Honda Insight Has Better Fuel Economy than Toyota Prius and Chevrolet Volt

TopSpeed

By Ciprian Florea

Published Mar 30, 2018

Looks sportier too

Discontinued in 2014, the Honda Insight returns to the U.S. market for the 2019 model year. Previewed with a pre-production concept car at the 2018 Detroit Auto Show, the Insight made its global debut less than three months later at the New York Auto Show. A significant departure from its predecessor, the new Insight is larger, boasts a more sedan-like design, premium features, and a brand-new drivetrain that has what it takes to give the Toyota Prius and the Hyundai Ioniq a run for their money.

Relatively unchanged compared to the so-called concept from Detroit, the new-generation Insight ditched the odd-looking hatchback design of its predecessors to become a sporty-looking compact sedan with a fastback rear section. Based on the existing design language, the Insight boasts a powerful front fascia with a "flying wing" grille, sleek headlamps, and a three-piece intake layout in the bumper. The beltline is quite muscular for a Honda that doesn't have a "Type R" badge, while the rear section is a mix of curved and straight lines that provide a modern look. The big taillights, the spoiler, and the small wing in the lower bumper add a touch of sportiness.

The interior feels modern and classy, but it also includes premium appointments, including a soft-touch dashboard with stitching, sculpted seats and a seven-inch TFT instrument cluster. Options include heated and leather-trimmed seats and an eight-inch infotainment touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Honda promises best-in-class rear legroom of 37.4 inches and a 15.1-cubic-feet trunk that "rivals gasoline versions of midsize cars."

The new Insight gets its juice from the company's latest two-motor hybrid system, which combines a 1.5-liter Atkinson-cycle engine, an electric motor, and a lithium-ion battery pack with 60 cells. Total system out is rated at 151 horsepower and 197 pound-feet of torque. While the initial announcement included a range of "more than 50 mpg," the production car comes with a revised rating of up to 55 mpg in the city. That's one mpg more than the Toyota Prius and nine mpg above the Chevrolet Volt. The Hyundai Ioniq gets a better rating though at 58 mpg.