2010 Honda Insight - America's lowest-priced hybrid (1)

When Honda introduced the Insight hybrid model for 2000, it was easy, 2-seat car with a small daily utility. First-generation Toyota Prius (2001-2003) had four doors, but it was the subcompact, which do not offer much space, either. Toyota Hit the jackpot when he submitted more second-generation Prius in 2004. Suddenly, American families could buy a hybrid without sacrificing too much. Now, Honda should be the example, the revival Insight, a large, four-door car. A Honda representative said that the least expensive hybrid in the U.S., to boot.

Model lineup

Honda Insight 2010 is offered in two TMK, LX and EX. Standard LX features include cloth upholstery, automatic climate control, remote keyless entry, power windows and door locks, 160 W AM / FM / CD stereo with four speakers, multi-information display, and P175/65R15 tires on steel wheels with wheel covers.

Notable additions include the EX trim side mirrors with turn signal indicators, cruise control, steering wheel shift paddles, USB audio interface, two additional speakers and light alloy wheels. Another version EX comes with a navigation system and Bluetooth hands-free mobile phone, IPod interface and additional steering wheel control.

Discuss: The Honda Insight hybrid Toyota Prius competitor for supremacy?

Dual front airbags, front side airbags, curtain side airbags, active front seat head restraints, tire pressure monitoring and anti-lock brakes with electronic brake force distribution are standard for all Insight TMK. Traction control and electronic stability control are standard on the EX TMK.

Under the hood

2010 Honda Insight functions of the next-generation Honda Integrated Motor Assist (IMA) hybrid system. Honda says it has improved and strengthened its production methods to reduce the cost of a hybrid system. IMA system uses the electric motor and continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT) with the help of the motor and turn the 1.3-liter I-VTEC 4-cylinder engine from at stoplights. In some situations, sustained cruising, about 40 miles / h, the engine can move the car for a short period of time without power. Engine 88 horsepower and 88 pound-feet of torque. The combined output of 98 horsepower electric motor and 123 pound-feet of torque.

Customers will be most interested in the Environmental Protection Agency fuel economy ratings, which are 40/43 MPG (city / highway). This is less than 2 MPG on the road than the Civic Hybrid and Toyota Prius trails 8 MPG in the city and 2 MPG on the highway. Insight is classified as Advanced Technology Partial Zero Emissions Vehicle (AT-PZEV).

The interior of the

It argues Honda Insight hybrid is the cheapest on the market, it is not surprising that the interior reflects this fact. There is some evidence that the Insight is built on price, with a lot of hard plastic, cheap carpeting and few amenities. LX TRIMs absence of the center console, and the EX has a small console bin is a little more than elbow. Before the center console has a number of valuable space to put things. It can be transformed into a line and separate the various trinkets, but it is not a rubber mat to keep things from sliding around.