Prius-killer alert: The new Honda Insight could be thousands less

The hybrid scene has suddenly become hotter. This is Honda’s much-talked-about "Prius fighter," the Insight. Ten years on from the first vehicle to bear the name (that odd little two-seater), this is a proper five-door, five-seater model — just like the car it’s going up against.

The car pictured here is still officially a concept vehicle and will be unveiled at the Paris Motor Show next month. But with production happening so soon, the streetable model shouldn’t differ that much, if at all.

Honda now realizes that people like their hybrids to look like hybrids, so the 2009 Insight has a distinct design (does that make it ego-friendly?), although the styling does echo the company’s flagship ‘green’ car, the FCX Clarity fuel cell vehicle. The Insight is said to be a tad smaller than the current Civic, but thanks to reductions in the size and weight of Honda’s Integrated Motor Assist (IMA) system — the high-tech part of the hybrid equation — the package still offers plenty of room.

There’s also another benefit to the IMA makeover. It’s cheaper. So Honda is promising that the Insight will cost no more than equivalent conventional models when it goes on sale next spring — effectively undercutting the Toyota Prius. The Prius currently starts at $22,000 and figures in the region of $18,500 have been bandied about for the Insight. If that’s the case, it would be the cheapest hybrid on the market. Honda is looking to sell 200,000 Insights a year, with the United States buying half that number.

—Colin Ryan

Photo: Honda

Comments

[muD]

Is it still legal to report 'Starts at' numbers? Honda and Toyota are not exactly making a lot of true base models in their hybrids. If you almost never make the base model you quote to the press, then the press should provide the numbers on the cheapest model that is regularly available. Because in the end I'm more concerned about cost per mile.

[DR]

Those interested in how a Hydrogen economy would work, and the technical challenges of getting there, should check out the Sept. 2006 issue of Scientific American, which was all about these issues. They probably have back issues available on their website or you can just go the library.

[Juanito]

The Prius looks like the original Insight, what a shame that they could not produce an original design. Give credit where it is due, the original insight was the originator of that shape not the Toyota. A Prius and now the Insight scream look at me? Show the cars to a person who knows nothing about cars to see if they look special in any way. Probably no reaction! Now show them a Ferrari F450, even an untrained eye knows there is something special about that car. The Prius is iconic now and Toyota did a marvelous job of marketing a cheap econobox with a very complex hybrid powertrain as the ultimate technology for fuel economy savings. What sheep we are!

[DJB]

Good for you Honda, the more hybrids on the road the better. The more affordable they are the better. We need to get to plug-in hybrids (powered by wind or solar) but mainstreaming regular hybrids is important too.

[Hybrid Owner Who Likes That His Car Looks Like A Car]

I too disagree wtih the assumption that "people like their hybrids to look like hybrids." While I admire its performance and applaud their owners for going green, I think the Prius -- like the old Insight and the EV1 that preceded it -- is hideous, and this new Insight appears to be its twin brother. I bought a Civic Hybrid (in which I'm averaging 52 mpg) in large part because it looked like a real car, not a gimmick.

I'm shocked that most carmakers still don't offer attractive hybrids and are instead focused on rolling out more ghastly SUVs like the new Cadillac Escalade hybrid, which gets all of 20 mpg. If Volkswagen introduced a hybrid Beetle convertible or BMW offered hybrid Mini Coopers, they'd be the fastest-selling cars of all time.

[bobstinson]

My wife and I own a Prius. We are a one car family. We love the car - we average about 51.5 MPG (she gets better mileage than I do, since I have a bit of a lead foot). It's quiet, comfortable, and is roomy enough to accomodate my 6'2" height without making be duck. The MPG number is based on measurements - I keep track of how many gallons I buy and what the mileage was when I fill up. A lot of Prius drivers are informally competing to see who can get the best mileage.

We love that the cars shuts off the engine when stopped. This is nice when stuck in traffic - much quieter and more relaxing.

[Gerbear]

Does anyone know how much the electric bill would be for a person who has a plug in car? How does a person really know the true cost of owning one of those electric plug in cars that a few folks have mentioned in the entries above mine. Will the monthly electric bill run as much as an average person's monthly gasoline budget. If the way an electric bill spikes during the summer months when the AC is on is any indication, those cars can't be all that inexpensive to maintain - - right?

[NILLA]

The Prius is a rip-off of the original 2-seater Honda Insight. The original Prius looked more like it's no-style cousin, the Echo. The reason why it outsold the Insight is because it sits 5 people.

[Lesley Smith]

I love that my Prius looks different - like a hybrid. I especially like to park next to Hummers. I guess it does make me feel that I'm much more ecologically responsible. I care that my children have a chance to live in a world that's in better shape than it is now, and I'm not afriad to show my concern through the choice of car I drive.

By the way, I live in Boulder which as of last year had 1% of the Prius market worldwide, and we are a city of 100,000. Do the math - they are everywhere!

[ferenc]

ill keep my MINI, a joy to drive and mileage is not so bad, ill smoke your prius on the curves too.

[DJB]

Gerbear: it is difficult to predict in advance with precision what the cost of the electricity for a plug-in hybrid would be. Doubtless this would depend on supply and demand and vary from place to place.

In the long run though, gasoline will inevitably get more expensive as oil runs out.

Let's not loose sight of the most important thing about plug-ins: they provide a way to power cars largely with clean energy (if that's where people's electricity comes from, which it should be), something that regular hybrids can't do. This means a solution to global warming, and conventional air pollution. We have to factor in these social benefits when doing a cost-benefit analysis of plug-in hybrids.

For the present though, it's good to see more hybrids on the road.

[Phil Salisbury]

When the Honda Hybrid finally shows up, all the dealers will be adding at least $2,000 to the sticker price. The Honda factory will say that they cannot control what the dealers charge for the cars. How about if no one bought the car for over sticker price? Would that finally stop dealer price gouging?

I notice that Toyota told their Palo Alto dealer not to accept deposits on the new hybrid ("Toyota pulls plug on plug-in hybrid deposits" LA Times 9/2/08).

[chris]

In 1984 I purchased a Honda CRX (manual transmission, 1300cc). The car was supposed to get 67 mpg. My mileage was 55 mpg. This car was a gas only engine. Now Honda is putting larger engines in their vehicles - WHY?

The CRX was really cool looking too. I don't really like the looks of the prius, there is not enough headroom for taller people either.

It's too bad Honda is making another Prius, I wish the insight would be designed differently. But I do want a car with good gas mileage, that is why I would buy an insight or any hybrid. I also like the idea of plug-in vehicles, possibly I'll wait for a couple of years.

[wants the old insight design]

Why don't they do a slight redesign of the original Insight? It originally got something in the range of 65-70 mpg and took up much less room on the road. (smoking the Prius) if you dont need a 5 seater...single folks like myself could roll in the 2 seater with great glee. Easier to find parking too..and not as dangerous driving as driving a Smartcar.

[scorebaby]

Yes it looks like the Prius, which leads me to believe that Honda is pre-occupied with the idea that everyone who is interested in having a hybrid wants it to look like a hybrid. And the sales numbers support that decision. Are they playing it safe? Undoubtedly. Is that a savvy move? Only time will tell.

[Esteban]

"If you sold an auto to buy a Toyota Pious you have accomplished zip for the environment and have actually caused more stress...... Some schmuck is driving around in your old car."

Yeah down here in Mexico.

[Newo]

If the battery dies. Will the car still drive & what will the fuel economy be like?