I absolute love this car. I already have 49.000 miles on it (bought it in Nov 2019) and the average MPG is 48.8 ( Fuelly data- trunk is full of stuff most of the times) . Winter times I get 50-53MPG per tank. During the summer 45- 48MPG. Los Angeles weather . Yes, it is a bit noisy up hill, but the interior is very ergonomic, handling is great. Things I don’t like : no spare tire; also, when I drive in an area with high winds, I can see the hood waiving, shaking ( very thin materials?). Alex, your reviews are spot on!
I have the exact number, 144 highway miles as of yesterday. I live in suburbs of Chicago and it is around 18 miles of highway to downtown exit, I have had 4 trips to downtown since and a trip is 36 miles of highway driving and all of these are late night trips(10-11pm or later) so speeds are more or less >60mph for most part :) . I do drive the car in eco mode . I sometimes feel I should have splurged and bought the Accord Hybrid but it might just be buyer's remorse! I do wish the EX had power driver seat and the car in general had a sport back design vs the traditional sedan .
@Alex on Autos, if ONLY this style was the Honda Accord instead of that ugly crab claw rear, I mean they would've sold MORE! The rear design on this insight I love!
My father-in-law purchased an Insight, the 3rd one the dealer sold, on August 29th and he managed to get his car up to 65.1mpg on his 47 mile country road drive back home from the dealership with a brand new car. He was totally amazed, of course. I am impressed with how quiet and smooth it is. I don't know how you got such low fuel economy. He hypermiles, he always has, he is ecstatic with this car. I am seriously considering purchasing one as my new daily driver.
As Alex explained, if you're highway driving is limited to about 65 mph, this Insight will achieve about 50 mpg, but if you're highway driving is more 70-80 mph, then you won't achieve the best mileage because the fixed-ratio transmission is not tuned for that higher speed. In the city, this designs acts much more like a pure EV or Chevy Volt.
@RickReviews that's a diesel, apples vs oranges. That is a totally different story. And a pre-dieselgate engine to boot. For a gasoline powered car using a fuel that has less power density per unit of fuel, for the new Honda to get this efficiency is an achievement. Way back in history I had a Honda CRX Hf. Much lighter car, 2 seats, and a paltry 60-ish hp and without any hypermiling tricks I managed to average 61mpg. So, for a much heavier sedan to achieve over 60mpg is amazing in my father in laws book.
I bought mine, the first the dealer had sold, in mid-July. Been on two decently long road trips and use it on my 30 mile round trip commute. It's one of the best vehicles I've ever owned in my 46 years. I average 48-49 mpg.
I love my 2019. Three years later and it’s been a fantastic, reliable vehicle for our needs. This was what helped me to get mine. Thanks for your great videos!
I got my 2019 in July 2020 as a left over. A few thousand off the sticker and that made it a superb deal. I am in sales in New England, so I drive a lot. Now that I've had it 7 months and 20k miles, I can say it is a great car. Here's the important info. In the summer and fall with the tires that came with it, I was getting around 48 mpg in my EX trim. When winter set in and I put winter tires on it and the climate control has to run a lot, I'm around 40 mpg. I drive a fair mix of both highway and back roads. I pretty much keep the car in normal mode. I don't use Eco or Sport much. I just drive it like its a non-hybrid. Overall, I'm very satisfied with the car and my experience with Honda. I like this car and I would recommend it for anyone looking to save on gas if you drive a lot.
It took me 2 years to learn my old Civic hybrid and at the end I was able to match your fuel economy for the Insight of around 45mpg in the life cycle of my car. It really gets into your system slowly. Please note that I am residing in Europe and we are talking about a 2007 build Civic Hybrid (the same as the Japanese Spec).
We've had a 2019 Insight EX for about 6 months now and absolutely love it. You get used to the engine drone and with music on it's barely noticeable. Excellent fuel economy, plush ride, and really high quality interior.
I bought a 2020 insight ex 3 years back thanks to this video, and my only regret is that I didn't get the Touring trim :) This review is a really great overview of all the insight's features
It took me close to 15k to finally start regularly getting the 47/48 mpg in my Accord hybrid. Possible the Insight is the same. Mileage decreases greatly in the winter too if you're in a cold part if the country.
The cold weather penalty is typical in all electric/hybrid vehicles. My 2nd Gen 2005 Prius drops from 47-52 mpg down to around 40-44 in the winter and it I live in the middle of the country where typical winter temps are in the 30s to the 40s. On the flip side cold weather driving is better for battery life. Heat is the enemy of battery lifespan.
@@JHuffPhoto yea, this past winter was my first winter with the Accord and I was getting like 32 mpg during our coldest periods. Interested to see how it does this winter now that the engine is broken in.
I suspect that your MPGs will still be well below your summer averages. It really is just a matter of physics as the battery is unable to supply as much power in cold weather. It has nothing to do with the engine being broken in. However I have been wrong before.
Excellent in every possible aspect! I keep on repeating that I bought my Ioniq exactly after I watched your review. And you've got exactly to the point in that review! Thanks Alex!
Excellent explanation. We are going to take our first long trip. Bought new last week and only have 150 miles on the car and ceramic coated the paint before allowing it to hit weather!
I would say cabin noise is either A or D depending on what you're doing. Puttering around in the city it's very quiet. Sometimes silent. Climbing a mountain road it's downright raucous, and not in a good way. Once again an online reviewer manages to get impossibly bad mileage out of the Insight. I drive Uber and Lyft, which ends up being a random mix of urban, suburban and some high speed highway blasts. I leave it in "Eco" mode all the time, since there is no reason not to. I've never got below 49 MPG, and I routinely beat the EPA's "City" number. They claim 51 for the Touring. I'm getting 51 to 54, easily. How you can get 40 is beyond me, unless you only drive uphill. Spot-on about regen/engine braking and "consistency." Battery full vs. battery empty the only difference in engine braking is the noise the engine makes when it's being spun up by the generator. I had worried about that, but besides engine noise there is no difference in the feel and operation of this car no matter what the state of charge. There is also no noticeable transition in pedal feel between electric, mixed and friction braking. I have no idea how they pull it off, but it's impressive. Handling is best described as "planted." I also have a 2015 Passat SEL that I've had from new. Rolling around the same ramps and sweepers at the same elevated speeds the Honda exhibits absolutely ZERO drama. Like it's on rails. The VW begins to squirm. The Honda also rides better, which seems unfair. (What happened, VW?)
I got an Insight specifically for ride-share driving. My VW TDI diesel is no slouch in the fuel economy category. In fact it absolutely destroys the Insight on the highway. Nothing is better to drive behind on a long road trip than a turbodiesel. The ability to grunt up any mountain road in top gear is definitely a bonus too. Where the Insight would be getting in the low 40s at 80 mph the diesel is getting 50. But in my Uber driving cycle it's no contest. The diesel was getting 36. The Insight over 50, and uses fuel that averages 30 to 40 cents cheaper. So my "payback time" will be very quick indeed. Coupled with a diesel's HUGE maintenance costs and my lease payments are almost 100 covered. Free car.
To put into perspective, the 1999 Accord 2.3L 4cyl made 150hp and 152lb.-ft torque. It took 20 years to have much better fuel economy but marginally better performance. Just goes to show how great that 2.3L was back then.
I live in mountainous east Tennessee and don't understand your mileage claim of 40 something. My Insight EX constantly gets 60 in town and when traveling at 70 mph going up mountain roads I consistently get 51 mph. Your mileage is based on how you drive. I do agree with everything else you said about this amazing hybrid.
I own a 2019 Insight EX and live in east Tennessee which has many, many mountainous roads and I don't have any trouble getting 52.9 mpg on the highway and 58 mpg in town. I don't understand why reviewer s don't get the maximum mpg's? I love my Insight, each time I fill up I have to laugh, 400 miles on 7 gallons, WOW!
I had to purchase the Insight Touring, it just looks more elegant than the Hyundai. After taking the Hyundai for a test drive I thought the Insight was more comfortable and drove better.
He did. For hyoermiling (driving slow) the 1.5 liter in the Insight is better than the 2.0 liter in the Accord..... smaller engines have less Moving mass and smaller cylinders (therefore can run with less fuel) .
Really looking forward to serial hybrids making their way into some of the bigger Honda lines. My regular is a 5G Legend ("Sport Hybrid"), and as it ages I find myself a little more irritated at the momentary delay it takes for the ICE to come online and the car to switch to sport mode. Serial hybrids eliminate this, and stronger electric motors, better batteries and an ICE that works only to charge the batteries (except extreme situations) would eliminate this minor complaint while probably also providing substantially better fuel economy. If we have to delay going to all electric, I think serial hybrids are the way ahead. :-)
I’m getting a real world 36 mpg in my new Honda Civic 1.5 turbo. It’s actually over 40 mpg on longer highway trips but the average is a pretty consistent 36. So if you’re only getting a real world 40 mpg in the Insight then the difference in gas savings is around $100 a year and the payback period would be 30 years! Add the fact that as you stated the Civic’s turbo engine is a lot quicker, 0-60 in 6.6 seconds vs 7.9 seconds and I’m not sure you can make a case for buying the Insight over the Civic.
Plus hybrid batteries typically last 5-10 years (8 years usually for a Prius). So you factor in the cost of a new hybrid battery if you are keeping it longer than that. Also there have been reports of Honda turbo leaking oil or something like that...
You def do the best and most thorough reviews. Really enjoyed this one. Ended up buying a Civic EX-L but thinking about giving it to my wife and buying and insight for. Drive 60 miles a week round trip so it would be good for that.
Knock off marketing and discuss some useful features: rear view camera, blind spot monitor, front and rear cross traffic monitoring, drivers information screen content and need for a heads up display.
Alex I totally agree with your verdict I will pick the Ioniq for sure if I were to buy a hybrid compact, main concern being cargo capacity, fuel economy and lumber support. The Insight looks a bit better though.
Thank you Alex, for your thorough and well laid out video. Honda needs to be paying you commission, because you just helped me choose my next lease......
I own a 2018 Civic ExT Coupe in pearl white and I think its an amazing value and fits all my needs, but daaang is this car a nice design! Also this insight has a lot of power for being a hybrid and of course would buy this over many of the hybrids out there, this and the honda accord hybrid are pretty awesome! :)
Did some research and I´m still on the fence with this car. Many owner are not getting the claimed 50-55 mpg. Reports show 37-46 mpg and that is very , very disappointing. A real shame considering that the Insight has been the best looking Honda in years.
I'd get a Civic and save money. Just wished the Civic looked like the insight. That said, I would get the Insight all day over the hideous Prius and eh Ionic. I like that the Insight still has some pep in its step
Good looking but the 5k premium over the civic will take 200k miles to recoup and break even (assuming $3/gallon fuel prices) so until the prices come down the premium for these hybrid vehicles just don’t make sense (if your justification is financially driven)
Thanks for this video. Based on your explanation on the very different design of the insight's hybrid, do you see the disadvantage (or advantage) vs. Toyota's hybrid implementation?
Thanks for a comprehensive and insightful review; the best that this '19 Insight (T) (5th Honda) owner has found. Two previous Civic Hybrids ('08 & '14) - the Insight is a quite well-done bump-up! Take care.
Doesn't the Prius also have an independent rear suspension? I'm actually glad to hear gas milage falls a little short in the Insight. Honda in the past abused the battery to try to get competitive gas milage and that thankfully seems to no longer be the case. The quoted numbers seemed unrealistic for a serial hybrid. This is the touring trim so the base trim should do better. Also I imagine it's better if you don't have hills. I think the Accord and Camry hybrids also compete with this car. I do wish Honda had made it a hatch of some kind, they picked a dying segment for this generation Insight.
I just don't know if I can live with an 8 second 0-60. And the Accord Hybrid is huge + expensive. But I would love a hybrid. I drive 22K miles a year, 50/50 city/highway. One of these would save me thousands of dollars a year. Definitely prefer these looks to the Civic too.
In your review of 2014 Honda Accord hybrid you averaged 46 mpg, l assume it was on the same roads. This looks strange because the insight supposed to have a better mpg.
Also I’ve found sedans are 1000 dollars cheaper than hatches (within the same model). Similarly manual trans are 1000 cheaper than automatics, if the option is available .
It is nice to see them do away with the CVT as that has always been a weak point for all Honda's that use them. I only know one person that has had a Honda Hybrid and they had to have the transmission replaced/overhauled twice in the life of the vehicle. To be fair that lifespan was around 250K but my daughter is still driving my 2005 Prius with over 325K on it. Hope that the Honda sells well because it seems like a nice car
Hybrids Vader we have had one hybrid battery replacement at around 275K. Replaced tie rods around 250K. Otherwise only scheduled maintenance. Oh and I replaced the 12 volt battery at around 6 and 12 year mark. It does burn a fair amount of oil but oil is cheap. I’m sure it is getting tired and will need replaced at some point.
However performance wise, Honda has in my opinion the best cvt for fake shifts. No droning. We don't know long term reliability on newer model 2014 to current.
Do the modes have any significant impact on the vehicle's MPG? Meaning for an average 20 miles commute partial city and partial hwy would it really matter if I choose ECO over NORMAL or SPORT fuel efficiency speaking?
Alex have you done analysis on number of trips that can be skipped due to fuel efficiency? Where I’m at a trip to the gas station takes 10 minutes at the gas station alone and if I can make the weekly trip to be once a month that would be a pretty big factor for me. Thanks for your detailed reviews as always.
This was one of my top three choices for my new car. The dealership only had one and it was on the showroom floor so I couldn't test drive it. They also said they wouldn't have any more in stock for months. Almost bought an Ioniq. Went with a Jetta SE.
VOLJSWAGEN has the lowest engine reliability scores of any company. The quality is pretty poor too (stuff falls off or breaks inside the car). You made a shit choice and should have waited a few more months to make a purchase .
I'm torn between the Hyundai Ioniq SEL 2019 vs the Honda Insight EX 2019. Ioniq has 2 mpg more for city but a whopping 10 mpg more for hwy. It also has a HUGE trunk space. The Insight looks better, handles better, & I like the ergonomic interior design & layout better. I'd feel more comfortable in the Insight, but the Ioniq seems more practical for $2k less.
Uchiha Ikoy prices are so similar I would go with the insight. I drove both and the insight is more comfortable and does not look “quirky”. I want a normal looking car that is reliable and economical, not so I look like an eco head.
I find that the Prius is lethargic with delayed acceleration and would rather bite the bullet to get an Insight than trade one evil for another with the also meh speed of an Ioniq. That plus the issue of Hyundai automatic transmission systems being known to be the weakness of their cars with it being the point of failure when it becomes scrap.
We need to see Alex's full, week-long review of the current Accord Hybrid before pronouncing a conclusion. The Insight absolutely can get 50+ MPG if you know how to drive efficiently and spend most of your miles on city driving. Alex's driving cycle just happens to be incompatible with the technology itself in terms of efficiency. The same is true for me. I drive most miles at 75 MPH, so for me the Ioniq is the clear pick.
I've had my new Insight Touring for 10 months now and routinely get 55 mpg in 80/20 city/highway mix. Alex was in hilly terrain with no stop & go ...... the re-generative brakes go a long way in me getting 55 mpg
Pikminiman Yes at 75 MPH the Insight isn't for you, your mileage would be horrible. I've had my Insight for 10 months & it's rarely seen over 65 MPH. Most of my driving is in stop & go city driving where the Insight shines best.
Not bad at all, but the trunk should be liftback and the *Infotainment display MUST be higher* It is not safe to put the display down there and expect people not to look at the gps/screen.
I always disagree with the 'large range of motion' of the telescopic steering! As a tall person, I always find it missing at least 1/2ft of travel, making it uncomfortable for me to drive, as either the gas pedal is poking out too far, or my seat is scooted back too much. Modern cars aren't made for +6' people! (that includes a Ford Fusion). I was more comfortable in my Chevy Cruze than in my Ford Fusion though. Heck, many sub-compact cars like the Fiesta, won't even allow me to see thorough the rear view mirror, unless I click it into night mode (the reverse of day/night time, on how you should set the mirror). Mazda is probably the worst offender, and Dodge is probably one of the best ones for tall people. But please, don't say 'large range of motion', on the telescopic steering, it clearly is abysmal!
Like always Alex, I appreciate the detail you provide in your reviews, which REALLY help a buyer make an informed choice. However, I believe you missed a Critical Negative for this vehicle, which also plagues the Civic and their new CR-V. For my wife and I, who are totally different statures, we are always adjusting the Seats and the Tilt/Telescoping Steering Wheel. At 4:44 you mentioned that the Insight has a "Large Range of Motion". While that is true, I found it convenient that you had unlocked the mechanism prior to filming, presumably to avoid the embarrassment of smashing your face into the steering wheel whilst crunching over and reaching for the firewall trying to find the release lever. This design detail, for all three of these Honda vehicles is just plain stupid! Listen up Honda. Place the steering column adjustment release lever where it is convenient for the driver to reach whilst settled in their seat, buckled up and ready to go. Furthermore, at least provide some kind of manual lumbar support adjustment if you're too cheap to offer a powered version of such mechanism. The Insight is an interesting vehicle but these oversights are complete deal breakers for ANY of the 3 Honda vehicles mentioned above, at least for me and my wife. Instead, we purchased a fully loaded Kia Niro Hybrid Touring. Great space/utility and super easy entry/exit. Not only are the seats fully adjustable, they also have memory which is great for us and the steering wheel can be adjusted easily, EVEN WHILE DRIVING. Try that on an Insight and you'll probably crash! The Kia's 6 speed DCT transmission mated with the electric motor combination is a match made in heaven, providing seamless Stop/Start functionality and a "Creep Mode" without any fear of damaging clutches within the DCT. I keep ALL gasoline receipts in a spreadsheet and our Niro has delivered 43 mpg U.S. overall since purchase and that includes a brutally cold winter with use of snow tires. In the summer, we averaged 50.8 mpg U.S (way above it's EPA overall rating). On an occasion similar to yours where we were plodding along in stop and go traffic for over 2 hours, our Kia delivered an amazing 62.2 mpg U.S. Initially I had doubted the record run those Hyper Milers did in a Niro Hybrid but not anymore. And ours is the "Least Efficient" Niro because of it's 18" wheels and wider tires (summer only). We ARE running narrower 16" wheels and tires for winter. Tech wise, the Niro is absolutely fully loaded including Perforated Leather Heated/Cooled front seats, heated rear seats, heated steering wheel, power folding and tilting exterior mirrors, 115 Volt outlet, wireless cell phone charging, Harmon Kardon audio system with subwoofer, etc. etc. Incidentally, we purchased our Niro Hybrid after watching your review. Thanks so much Alex.
I absolute love this car. I already have 49.000 miles on it (bought it in Nov 2019) and the average MPG is 48.8 ( Fuelly data- trunk is full of stuff most of the times) . Winter times I get 50-53MPG per tank. During the summer 45- 48MPG. Los Angeles weather . Yes, it is a bit noisy up hill, but the interior is very ergonomic, handling is great. Things I don’t like : no spare tire; also, when I drive in an area with high winds, I can see the hood waiving, shaking ( very thin materials?). Alex, your reviews are spot on!
The center console is one of the best out there right now
Nope
Bought one on 2nd September. 529 miles on it, average MPG of 57.2 on the EX trim. Really happy with it!
I'm curious, if you had to estimate, what percentage of those miles would you say was traveled at above 55 MPH?
I have the exact number, 144 highway miles as of yesterday. I live in suburbs of Chicago and it is around 18 miles of highway to downtown exit, I have had 4 trips to downtown since and a trip is 36 miles of highway driving and all of these are late night trips(10-11pm or later) so speeds are more or less >60mph for most part :) . I do drive the car in eco mode . I sometimes feel I should have splurged and bought the Accord Hybrid but it might just be buyer's remorse!
I do wish the EX had power driver seat and the car in general had a sport back design vs the traditional sedan .
@Alex on Autos, if ONLY this style was the Honda Accord instead of that ugly crab claw rear, I mean they would've sold MORE! The rear design on this insight I love!
What kind of fuel economy does your Batmobile get, Bruce?
whats the approx mile you get on a full tank?
My father-in-law purchased an Insight, the 3rd one the dealer sold, on August 29th and he managed to get his car up to 65.1mpg on his 47 mile country road drive back home from the dealership with a brand new car. He was totally amazed, of course. I am impressed with how quiet and smooth it is. I don't know how you got such low fuel economy. He hypermiles, he always has, he is ecstatic with this car.
I am seriously considering purchasing one as my new daily driver.
As Alex explained, if you're highway driving is limited to about 65 mph, this Insight will achieve about 50 mpg, but if you're highway driving is more 70-80 mph, then you won't achieve the best mileage because the fixed-ratio transmission is not tuned for that higher speed. In the city, this designs acts much more like a pure EV or Chevy Volt.
Curious what trim did he get?
Hyper-miling at its finest
The LX
@RickReviews that's a diesel, apples vs oranges. That is a totally different story. And a pre-dieselgate engine to boot. For a gasoline powered car using a fuel that has less power density per unit of fuel, for the new Honda to get this efficiency is an achievement.
Way back in history I had a Honda CRX Hf. Much lighter car, 2 seats, and a paltry 60-ish hp and without any hypermiling tricks I managed to average 61mpg. So, for a much heavier sedan to achieve over 60mpg is amazing in my father in laws book.
I bought mine, the first the dealer had sold, in mid-July. Been on two decently long road trips and use it on my 30 mile round trip commute. It's one of the best vehicles I've ever owned in my 46 years. I average 48-49 mpg.
Thanks Alex for theses cars videos, you are the most professional car reviewer i've ever seen on youtube keep up the good work!
I agree!
I love my 2019. Three years later and it’s been a fantastic, reliable vehicle for our needs. This was what helped me to get mine. Thanks for your great videos!
Whats your average mpg? I’m looking at buying one myself
I got my 2019 in July 2020 as a left over. A few thousand off the sticker and that made it a superb deal. I am in sales in New England, so I drive a lot. Now that I've had it 7 months and 20k miles, I can say it is a great car. Here's the important info. In the summer and fall with the tires that came with it, I was getting around 48 mpg in my EX trim. When winter set in and I put winter tires on it and the climate control has to run a lot, I'm around 40 mpg. I drive a fair mix of both highway and back roads. I pretty much keep the car in normal mode. I don't use Eco or Sport much. I just drive it like its a non-hybrid. Overall, I'm very satisfied with the car and my experience with Honda. I like this car and I would recommend it for anyone looking to save on gas if you drive a lot.
Car is absolutely beautiful.
Excellent explanation of the impact of speed on this particular "fixed ratio" hybrid design!
It took me 2 years to learn my old Civic hybrid and at the end I was able to match your fuel economy for the Insight of around 45mpg in the life cycle of my car. It really gets into your system slowly.
Please note that I am residing in Europe and we are talking about a 2007 build Civic Hybrid (the same as the Japanese Spec).
I have the Manual shift Civic hybrid and do even better: over 50 MPG typical with 70 mpg when hypermiling (driving slow)
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We've had a 2019 Insight EX for about 6 months now and absolutely love it. You get used to the engine drone and with music on it's barely noticeable. Excellent fuel economy, plush ride, and really high quality interior.
I bought a 2020 insight ex 3 years back thanks to this video, and my only regret is that I didn't get the Touring trim :) This review is a really great overview of all the insight's features
Just bought a lightly used 2020 Insight EX in large part because of this very thorough review. Thank you Alex and keep up the good work.
Getting rid of CVT was smart. My G1 Insight has problems with the belt-driven CVT wearing out early
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Wonder why there aren't too many detailed reviews of the 2022 Honda Insight!! love to see what AA thinks of the 2022 Insight
How many of you watch these videos because you like cars? As opposed to researching for an upcoming purchase. I'm with group #1. Love your vids, Alex!
It took me close to 15k to finally start regularly getting the 47/48 mpg in my Accord hybrid. Possible the Insight is the same. Mileage decreases greatly in the winter too if you're in a cold part if the country.
The cold weather penalty is typical in all electric/hybrid vehicles. My 2nd Gen 2005 Prius drops from 47-52 mpg down to around 40-44 in the winter and it I live in the middle of the country where typical winter temps are in the 30s to the 40s. On the flip side cold weather driving is better for battery life. Heat is the enemy of battery lifespan.
@@JHuffPhoto yea, this past winter was my first winter with the Accord and I was getting like 32 mpg during our coldest periods. Interested to see how it does this winter now that the engine is broken in.
I suspect that your MPGs will still be well below your summer averages. It really is just a matter of physics as the battery is unable to supply as much power in cold weather. It has nothing to do with the engine being broken in. However I have been wrong before.
@@JHuffPhoto oh I'm sure, just wondering if it'll be a bit higher. 15 mpg seems like a lot.
That is one part batteries having to stay warmed up and one part winter gasoline blend having less energy per gallon.
Excellent in every possible aspect! I keep on repeating that I bought my Ioniq exactly after I watched your review. And you've got exactly to the point in that review! Thanks Alex!
Excellent explanation. We are going to take our first long trip. Bought new last week and only have 150 miles on the car and ceramic coated the paint before allowing it to hit weather!
I would say cabin noise is either A or D depending on what you're doing. Puttering around in the city it's very quiet. Sometimes silent. Climbing a mountain road it's downright raucous, and not in a good way.
Once again an online reviewer manages to get impossibly bad mileage out of the Insight. I drive Uber and Lyft, which ends up being a random mix of urban, suburban and some high speed highway blasts. I leave it in "Eco" mode all the time, since there is no reason not to. I've never got below 49 MPG, and I routinely beat the EPA's "City" number. They claim 51 for the Touring. I'm getting 51 to 54, easily. How you can get 40 is beyond me, unless you only drive uphill.
Spot-on about regen/engine braking and "consistency." Battery full vs. battery empty the only difference in engine braking is the noise the engine makes when it's being spun up by the generator. I had worried about that, but besides engine noise there is no difference in the feel and operation of this car no matter what the state of charge. There is also no noticeable transition in pedal feel between electric, mixed and friction braking. I have no idea how they pull it off, but it's impressive.
Handling is best described as "planted." I also have a 2015 Passat SEL that I've had from new. Rolling around the same ramps and sweepers at the same elevated speeds the Honda exhibits absolutely ZERO drama. Like it's on rails. The VW begins to squirm. The Honda also rides better, which seems unfair. (What happened, VW?)
I got an Insight specifically for ride-share driving. My VW TDI diesel is no slouch in the fuel economy category. In fact it absolutely destroys the Insight on the highway. Nothing is better to drive behind on a long road trip than a turbodiesel. The ability to grunt up any mountain road in top gear is definitely a bonus too. Where the Insight would be getting in the low 40s at 80 mph the diesel is getting 50.
But in my Uber driving cycle it's no contest. The diesel was getting 36. The Insight over 50, and uses fuel that averages 30 to 40 cents cheaper. So my "payback time" will be very quick indeed. Coupled with a diesel's HUGE maintenance costs and my lease payments are almost 100 covered. Free car.
It does look like a grown up civic, you're right Alex.
To put into perspective, the 1999 Accord 2.3L 4cyl made 150hp and 152lb.-ft torque. It took 20 years to have much better fuel economy but marginally better performance. Just goes to show how great that 2.3L was back then.
I live in mountainous east Tennessee and don't understand your mileage claim of 40 something. My Insight EX constantly gets 60 in town and when traveling at 70 mph going up mountain roads I consistently get 51 mph. Your mileage is based on how you drive. I do agree with everything else you said about this amazing hybrid.
I own a 2019 Insight EX and live in east Tennessee which has many, many mountainous roads and I don't have any trouble getting 52.9 mpg on the highway and 58 mpg in town. I don't understand why reviewer s don't get the maximum mpg's? I love my Insight, each time I fill up I have to laugh, 400 miles on 7 gallons, WOW!
Darnit Honda! How can the Insight get a better infotainment than the Clarity!!
I had to purchase the Insight Touring, it just looks more elegant than the Hyundai. After taking the Hyundai for a test drive I thought the Insight was more comfortable and drove better.
Please do video for 2018 Honda accord Hybrid
He did. For hyoermiling (driving slow) the 1.5 liter in the Insight is better than the 2.0 liter in the Accord..... smaller engines have less Moving mass and smaller cylinders (therefore can run with less fuel)
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Your thorough reviews are some of the best I've seen!
Really looking forward to serial hybrids making their way into some of the bigger Honda lines. My regular is a 5G Legend ("Sport Hybrid"), and as it ages I find myself a little more irritated at the momentary delay it takes for the ICE to come online and the car to switch to sport mode.
Serial hybrids eliminate this, and stronger electric motors, better batteries and an ICE that works only to charge the batteries (except extreme situations) would eliminate this minor complaint while probably also providing substantially better fuel economy.
If we have to delay going to all electric, I think serial hybrids are the way ahead. :-)
The Accord Hhbrid has a serial operation below 42.... it’s pretty much the same design as this Insight
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I’m getting a real world 36 mpg in my new Honda Civic 1.5 turbo. It’s actually over 40 mpg on longer highway trips but the average is a pretty consistent 36. So if you’re only getting a real world 40 mpg in the Insight then the difference in gas savings is around $100 a year and the payback period would be 30 years! Add the fact that as you stated the Civic’s turbo engine is a lot quicker, 0-60 in 6.6 seconds vs 7.9 seconds and I’m not sure you can make a case for buying the Insight over the Civic.
Plus hybrid batteries typically last 5-10 years (8 years usually for a Prius). So you factor in the cost of a new hybrid battery if you are keeping it longer than that. Also there have been reports of Honda turbo leaking oil or something like that...
I had a Yaris iA manual that routinely got 49mpg average in mixed driving when driven sensibly. Paid $14,004 after discount.
buildmorefarms100 the 2017 one?
@@mb013962 Yes
@@mb013962 I should have kept it!
You def do the best and most thorough reviews. Really enjoyed this one. Ended up buying a Civic EX-L but thinking about giving it to my wife and buying and insight for. Drive 60 miles a week round trip so it would be good for that.
Another great review. Imo, alex is the best reviewer on line
Knock off marketing and discuss some useful features: rear view camera, blind spot monitor, front and rear cross traffic monitoring, drivers information screen content and need for a heads up display.
Definitely the best in the segment. I wouldn't be suprised to see a hybrid corolla in the future.
It's out & gets incredible mileage
Finally Alex, you made an entire car review video without mentioning the word "Volvo".
Or "mini me"
Everything looked good till it came to designing that rear turn signal area
Alex I totally agree with your verdict I will pick the Ioniq for sure if I were to buy a hybrid compact, main concern being cargo capacity, fuel economy and lumber support. The Insight looks a bit better though.
A google search found no problems. Ioniq is rated Above average across 3 owner review sites
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Hyundai's are well known for unreliable suspension and front end parts. Honda builds them parts to last.
This review made me so happy I bought a Prius Prime..
Thank you Alex, for your thorough and well laid out video. Honda needs to be paying you commission, because you just helped me choose my next lease......
I own a 2018 Civic ExT Coupe in pearl white and I think its an amazing value and fits all my needs, but daaang is this car a nice design! Also this insight has a lot of power for being a hybrid and of course would buy this over many of the hybrids out there, this and the honda accord hybrid are pretty awesome! :)
Absolutely opt for the Insight for the economy, features, and looks. Great coverage though 👍
Wish this car was available in a hatchback configuration!
Did some research and I´m still on the fence with this car. Many owner are not getting the claimed 50-55 mpg. Reports show 37-46 mpg and that is very , very disappointing. A real shame considering that the Insight has been the best looking Honda in years.
In winter time you may get those numbers but in spring/summer 50-60 mpg easy.
It would be great if Honda upgrades the lane watch camera to add a left side camera and display it on the left digital gauge cluster
I'm four years late, But awesome job Alex.
I'd get a Civic and save money. Just wished the Civic looked like the insight. That said, I would get the Insight all day over the hideous Prius and eh Ionic. I like that the Insight still has some pep in its step
This looks so much better than the Accord and Civic. Honda should have used this grille on those models.
Thanks for another well produced and informative video. BTW, love the 4 camera comic book pane layout.
Good looking but the 5k premium over the civic will take 200k miles to recoup and break even (assuming $3/gallon fuel prices) so until the prices come down the premium for these hybrid vehicles just don’t make sense (if your justification is financially driven)
Love my 2019 Insight!
Has it had any problems yet?
Thanks for this video. Based on your explanation on the very different design of the insight's hybrid, do you see the disadvantage (or advantage) vs. Toyota's hybrid implementation?
I'm thinking of buy a used 19' Honda Insight.
Thanks for a comprehensive and insightful review; the best that this '19 Insight (T) (5th Honda) owner has found. Two previous Civic Hybrids ('08 & '14) - the Insight is a quite well-done bump-up! Take care.
Doesn't the Prius also have an independent rear suspension?
I'm actually glad to hear gas milage falls a little short in the Insight. Honda in the past abused the battery to try to get competitive gas milage and that thankfully seems to no longer be the case. The quoted numbers seemed unrealistic for a serial hybrid.
This is the touring trim so the base trim should do better. Also I imagine it's better if you don't have hills.
I think the Accord and Camry hybrids also compete with this car. I do wish Honda had made it a hatch of some kind, they picked a dying segment for this generation Insight.
It would have been great if Honda based the insight on the Civic hatch
I own both a 2011 Prius and 2003 Civic Hybrid..... the Prius used the battery far more often than the Civic (which is almost always topped off)
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I smile every time I get 55 mpg in my new Insight Touring which is most of the time.
I just don't know if I can live with an 8 second 0-60. And the Accord Hybrid is huge + expensive. But I would love a hybrid. I drive 22K miles a year, 50/50 city/highway. One of these would save me thousands of dollars a year. Definitely prefer these looks to the Civic too.
I’ve lived with 11 second 0-60 cars all my life..... haven’t died yet. (The point is to get to work, not race to work.).
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Yes buy Alex merch, Alex REALLY wants that SRT Durango.
Great review! I have a 2008 Prius and looking to purchase a new Hybrid or EV. Really informative comparisons. Thanks!
Would've been a homerun if it were a fast/lift back
Great!, have been expected this episode for long...
In your review of 2014 Honda Accord hybrid you averaged 46 mpg, l assume it was on the same roads. This looks strange because the insight supposed to have a better mpg.
Alex drives too fast (80 is normal in California). Teeny engines like Insight has don’t run efficiently at 3000 rpm
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2018 Accord Hybrid Alex. Thank you
Another excellent review. Thx Alex.
I really wish it will be a hatchbak
Hatches are not secure since everything can be reached by smashing a window. A sedan has a Secure metal lined trunk to stop thieves
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Also I’ve found sedans are 1000 dollars cheaper than hatches (within the same model). Similarly manual trans are 1000 cheaper than automatics, if the option is available
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It is nice to see them do away with the CVT as that has always been a weak point for all Honda's that use them. I only know one person that has had a Honda Hybrid and they had to have the transmission replaced/overhauled twice in the life of the vehicle. To be fair that lifespan was around 250K but my daughter is still driving my 2005 Prius with over 325K on it. Hope that the Honda sells well because it seems like a nice car
Just curious, 325k miles on the original Hybrid battery? Or did she have it work on at one point?
Hybrids Vader we have had one hybrid battery replacement at around 275K. Replaced tie rods around 250K. Otherwise only scheduled maintenance. Oh and I replaced the 12 volt battery at around 6 and 12 year mark. It does burn a fair amount of oil but oil is cheap. I’m sure it is getting tired and will need replaced at some point.
However performance wise, Honda has in my opinion the best cvt for fake shifts. No droning. We don't know long term reliability on newer model 2014 to current.
Excellent objectivity!
Hopefully you'll be able to do a full review of the new Lexus ES in the near future!
Did the infotainment screen look crooked to anyone else?
I see lots of comments about buying a Clarity instead, since it's a better car and the tax credit basically makes it a wash.
If they dropped this hybrid powertrain into the Civic hatchback body, I'd be down at the Honda dealer signing on the line which is dotted.
I wish they would have kept the Civic Hybrid. The current sedan is a beautiful car, especially in red, and I'm not usually a fan of red cars.
man i love that steering wheel
Please do Honda Accord Hybrid 2019 vs Toyota Camry Hybrid 2019
The last generation Insight was also 4 door
Last gen was a lift back like the Prius
Which is still just 4 doors for the passengers to enter/exit from. Alex was implying the previous Insight was a 2 door coupe
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is Tesla Model 3 on your list ?
Do the modes have any significant impact on the vehicle's MPG? Meaning for an average 20 miles commute partial city and partial hwy would it really matter if I choose ECO over NORMAL or SPORT fuel efficiency speaking?
Alex have you done analysis on number of trips that can be skipped due to fuel efficiency? Where I’m at a trip to the gas station takes 10 minutes at the gas station alone and if I can make the weekly trip to be once a month that would be a pretty big factor for me. Thanks for your detailed reviews as always.
This is great, would love to see a review of the new VW Jetta
Nope the Prius wins hands down in every category its sharp looking it offers the most room and it gets the best milage of all
So this is a great car for city driving an not so much country driving! Got it!
Can we get more info about Kona electric . I want to buy ev this year .
This was one of my top three choices for my new car. The dealership only had one and it was on the showroom floor so I couldn't test drive it. They also said they wouldn't have any more in stock for months. Almost bought an Ioniq. Went with a Jetta SE.
Were there any other dealers within the region?
VOLJSWAGEN has the lowest engine reliability scores of any company. The quality is pretty poor too (stuff falls off or breaks inside the car). You made a shit choice and should have waited a few more months to make a purchase
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Oh and forgot VW cheated on EU and US emissions testing (forced to buyback millions of cars). I don’t buy from companies that cheat & lie
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Are you planning on doing a review of the 2018 Honda Accord Hybrid?
Is there going to be a 2020 Honda Insight? Opps, wrong video! I was wondering if there was going to be a 2020 Honda clarity
They need to put this dash and steering wheel in the regular civic.
Amazing how the Civic can be so butt ugly and this can be so good looking.
But it IS a Civic Hybrid (rebadged as insight)
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I'm torn between the Hyundai Ioniq SEL 2019 vs the Honda Insight EX 2019.
Ioniq has 2 mpg more for city but a whopping 10 mpg more for hwy. It also has a HUGE trunk space.
The Insight looks better, handles better, & I like the ergonomic interior design & layout better.
I'd feel more comfortable in the Insight, but the Ioniq seems more practical for $2k less.
Uchiha Ikoy prices are so similar I would go with the insight. I drove both and the insight is more comfortable and does not look “quirky”. I want a normal looking car that is reliable and economical, not so I look like an eco head.
@@Sullywins Thanks for your awesome opinion. I will test drive both myself soon and I have a feeling I will agree with you 100%.
@@ikoyDaPnoy test drive yet?
@@danielmaier6493 Hopefully by the end of April
I’d take the Accord hybrid just to get the adjustable lumbar support lol
I'm not sure If I am comfortable with Hyundai's DCT transmission on the Ioniq Hybrid or Plug-in-Hybrid.
DCT is really a manual transmission (but shifted by computer). Manuals are extremely reliable
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I find that the Prius is lethargic with delayed acceleration and would rather bite the bullet to get an Insight than trade one evil for another with the also meh speed of an Ioniq. That plus the issue of Hyundai automatic transmission systems being known to be the weakness of their cars with it being the point of failure when it becomes scrap.
unbelievable, even accord hybrid can get higher 40s, how can the insight only get 40...
We need to see Alex's full, week-long review of the current Accord Hybrid before pronouncing a conclusion. The Insight absolutely can get 50+ MPG if you know how to drive efficiently and spend most of your miles on city driving. Alex's driving cycle just happens to be incompatible with the technology itself in terms of efficiency. The same is true for me. I drive most miles at 75 MPH, so for me the Ioniq is the clear pick.
I have gotten currently 53.7 mpg with over 1000 miles on current trip. I have the touring version.
Alex’s Accord Hybrid Scores 47 mpg...... maybe Alex just drives too fast (80 is normal in California). Teeny-tiny engines don’t like high speeds
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I've had my new Insight Touring for 10 months now and routinely get 55 mpg in 80/20 city/highway mix. Alex was in hilly terrain with no stop & go ...... the re-generative brakes go a long way in me getting 55 mpg
Pikminiman Yes at 75 MPH the Insight isn't for you, your mileage would be horrible. I've had my Insight for 10 months & it's rarely seen over 65 MPH. Most of my driving is in stop & go city driving where the Insight shines best.
Why was the stop-and-go traffic MPG better?
As someone who commutes in hour long stop and go traffic should I get this car or the Hyundai ioniq
Not bad at all, but the trunk should be liftback and the *Infotainment display MUST be higher*
It is not safe to put the display down there and expect people not to look at the gps/screen.
Alex, when will you cover the Accord Hybrid Touring
A better looking Civic!
I always disagree with the 'large range of motion' of the telescopic steering!
As a tall person, I always find it missing at least 1/2ft of travel, making it uncomfortable for me to drive, as either the gas pedal is poking out too far, or my seat is scooted back too much.
Modern cars aren't made for +6' people! (that includes a Ford Fusion).
I was more comfortable in my Chevy Cruze than in my Ford Fusion though.
Heck, many sub-compact cars like the Fiesta, won't even allow me to see thorough the rear view mirror, unless I click it into night mode (the reverse of day/night time, on how you should set the mirror).
Mazda is probably the worst offender, and Dodge is probably one of the best ones for tall people.
But please, don't say 'large range of motion', on the telescopic steering, it clearly is abysmal!
Is this a good winter car with great winter tires?
Like always Alex, I appreciate the detail you provide in your reviews, which REALLY help a buyer make an informed choice. However, I believe you missed a Critical Negative for this vehicle, which also plagues the Civic and their new CR-V. For my wife and I, who are totally different statures, we are always adjusting the Seats and the Tilt/Telescoping Steering Wheel. At 4:44 you mentioned that the Insight has a "Large Range of Motion". While that is true, I found it convenient that you had unlocked the mechanism prior to filming, presumably to avoid the embarrassment of smashing your face into the steering wheel whilst crunching over and reaching for the firewall trying to find the release lever. This design detail, for all three of these Honda vehicles is just plain stupid! Listen up Honda. Place the steering column adjustment release lever where it is convenient for the driver to reach whilst settled in their seat, buckled up and ready to go. Furthermore, at least provide some kind of manual lumbar support adjustment if you're too cheap to offer a powered version of such mechanism. The Insight is an interesting vehicle but these oversights are complete deal breakers for ANY of the 3 Honda vehicles mentioned above, at least for me and my wife.
Instead, we purchased a fully loaded Kia Niro Hybrid Touring. Great space/utility and super easy entry/exit. Not only are the seats fully adjustable, they also have memory which is great for us and the steering wheel can be adjusted easily, EVEN WHILE DRIVING. Try that on an Insight and you'll probably crash! The Kia's 6 speed DCT transmission mated with the electric motor combination is a match made in heaven, providing seamless Stop/Start functionality and a "Creep Mode" without any fear of damaging clutches within the DCT. I keep ALL gasoline receipts in a spreadsheet and our Niro has delivered 43 mpg U.S. overall since purchase and that includes a brutally cold winter with use of snow tires. In the summer, we averaged 50.8 mpg U.S (way above it's EPA overall rating). On an occasion similar to yours where we were plodding along in stop and go traffic for over 2 hours, our Kia delivered an amazing 62.2 mpg U.S. Initially I had doubted the record run those Hyper Milers did in a Niro Hybrid but not anymore. And ours is the "Least Efficient" Niro because of it's 18" wheels and wider tires (summer only). We ARE running narrower 16" wheels and tires for winter. Tech wise, the Niro is absolutely fully loaded including Perforated Leather Heated/Cooled front seats, heated rear seats, heated steering wheel, power folding and tilting exterior mirrors, 115 Volt outlet, wireless cell phone charging, Harmon Kardon audio system with subwoofer, etc. etc. Incidentally, we purchased our Niro Hybrid after watching your review. Thanks so much Alex.
Why does the Touring trim get less MPG than the EX?