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Honda Insight Hybrid 1.3 (A) Facelift Review

Honda Insight Hybrid 1.3 (A) Review

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This is an old car model that is no longer for sale by the local distributor since Jan 2015.
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Japan 

(launched 2010, facelifted May-2012)

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1.3 (A)

Facelifted on May-2012

- Read facelift article

$111,999 (Dec 2014) spacer
22.7km/L n/a CVT (A)
Specs | Features 
Honda Insight Hybrid
4 stars - based on 5 reviews
Photos & Reviews
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Honda Insight Hybrid 1.3 (A) Review
The Insight is Honda's answer to Toyota's all-conquering Prius. But how does it stack up against its fellow hybrid contender?

The Honda Insight Hybrid was facelifted on Aug 2012.
Read our review of the facelifted version.

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CONSUMER REVIEWS
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4.0
 
5 Consumer Reviews

 
Proud ownder of this (sadly) under-rated car! `
I purchased this car because of it's rebates, relatively low price and and need for a fuel efficient car for daily commuting. Forget about the reviews written by professionals like Txp Gxxr etc. who give this car very poor rating, I suspect they don't know how to drive hybrid cars properly, or totally missed the point of having a hybrid car. If you want to speed and have good acceleration or drive like a racer than this car is not for you. First of all, for a small car there is plenty of room for front passengers. Back room is sufficient for me (6+ feet tall), but taller people might be touching the roof and have inadequte leg room. Boot space is plenty and big enough to fit in prams, golf bags, big luggages etc. For reliability, I've driven this car for regular commuting and long-distance road trips >700km and so far no problem at all. Steering is smooth and easy. Note that when ECON mode is switched on, driver may notice sluggish acceration. However, you have the option of switching it off and activate the car's "S" gear which results in siginificantly improved acceleration response (hard to believe it's only a 1.3 car), and good enough for overtaking on highways. For a relatively low-priced car, it's fitted with cool gadgets that make driving fun like Cruise control (I find this extremely useful), MP3 port, sterring wheel with music player controls / cruise control etc., automatic rain sensors, and automatic headlights. Sadly, Honda seems to have 'under-estimated' it's fuel econmy. In real Singapore roads (I drive about 50% highway, 50% city), overall fuel consumption turns out to be >25 km/L or <4L/100km (about 20 for pure city, >30 for pure highway) which is pretty impressive and saves lots of $ on fuel in the long run. Overall, I'll recommend this car to anyone who is interested in getting a small family hybrid car.
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Clever but pointless. Like teaching your dog to skateboard. `
Space isn't too bad in the Honda Insight and the seats and driving position are fine. The ride's stiff, which is especially annoying because this isn't a sporty car. In town, having a petrol engine liberates you from the rattle that you'd get in a diesel car, and you have the comfortable luxury of complete silence at traffic lights as the engine shuts down, but in eco mode it doesn't run at full chat. If your friends know nothing about cars and laboriously unplug their telly each night instead of leaving it on standby, they'll think you're cool. But do such folk have any real concept of cool? And if they did, would they admit to it? Maybe gadget-fiend mates would be impressed by the flashing lights of the Honda's dash. Assembled with great precision, but doesn't have the gorgeous interior touch-quality of a VW. It will be reliable though. Honda simply doesn't know how to do otherwise. Can be quite fun, mostly because of low roll and quick steering. We suspect you could learn a lot about slidey car control on a wet road, thanks to thin tyres and switchable ESP. But you'd need to use the paddle shifters to hold it in a low ratio. The rest of the time it's benign and capable but hardly an inspiration. Previous Civic hybrids were saloons, but the Insight is a hatch because Europeans demand that sort of practicality. The boot is slightly oddly shaped because of the batteries beneath, but not alarmingly so. This is a useful and user-friendly car.
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A worthy Hybrid Opponent `
It was my first car and I took my first bold step to get a Hybrid. It was a major step to try Honda's IMA technology. Its engine (Petrol) & battery (IMA) are destined & designed together. They accelerate, brake and charge together. Technically, they are bonded for 10 years and beyond. The car body gives that sporty look and definitely made people turn heads. Wondering is it a new PR**S or a new car brand? Its engine is so quiet that I can sneak on anyone from behind without knowing. This car coaches you to drive economically. Its unique green/blue glows make the dashboard looks exciting. The dashboard has a sporty edge as well. It’s not a sporty, powerful, muscle car. But if you get tired of 'D' gear, one can have a go on its "S" Gear. The monitor system also tells you how well you drove, what your consumption rate likes for today and for the past 3 days. Plus, it even has an ECO game to challenge your driving, earning you the creditability of an ECO Driver. All in all, this car is about saving the environment, using less petrol than a normal car. Its car body shape, interior, seats, performance are all about conserving petrol for more distance travelled. I went thru so many car brands, and yes the ranges of cars that I looked were so extensive and broad. And yet I jumped on a hybrid. Because if you need a car that drives you smoothly, comfortably and yet gives you a prominent $ saving on petrol. Not only petrol savings…annual road tax as well. You will be convinced. Plus, many of my mates were astonished that it’s just a mere a 1300cc car. This is a car that is meant to be built as A hybrid.
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Definitely a Two Thumbs Up for this car `
Got my ride with two of my friends in March 2010. Decided to get this car for it's published economical fuel consumption and benefits to the environment. I must say, sometimes, advertisements are not misleading!!
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+ View All 5 Consumer Reviews
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$0 down payment, 100% ownership freedom.
  • Flexible 3 to 36 months
  • Fixed monthly fee
Topic Title Replies Last Action
2019 3rd Generation Honda Insight 28 26-Dec-2018
Honda Insight / Civic Hybrid or Honda Civic 1.8? 60 07-Jun-2013
Honda Insight 2012 24 02-Nov-2012
New Honda Insight 33 16-Nov-2010
Alfa Romeo 149 --- More insight 72 31-Jan-2010
Honda Insight hybrid - 30km/l...would u go for it? 31 01-Dec-2009
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