The Honda Insight (From Bournemouth Echo)

The Honda Insight

5:10pm Monday 20th July 2009

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WHEN thinking of buying an eco friendly car the obvious choice was the Toyota Prius, however there is now a new car on the block, the latest Honda Insight.

At first glance the Insight does look similar to the Prius. Honda has designed it in such a way that it doesn't stand out as an eco-warrior machine.

But the first thing to consider when buying this type of car is unlikely to be what it looks like and more about miles per gallon, emissions and the overall savings.

Honda has launched the Insight at a very affordable price and it does undercut its main rival by some margin. The Insight will deliver a 64.2mpg on a combined cycle and produces just 101g/km of CO2 in basic spec, making it just £15 per year for the road fund license.

The figures here speak for themselves. The engine produces just 87bhp giving a zero to 60mph time of 12.5 seconds and with a maximum speed of 112mph. Like most petrol-electric models, the Insight is only available with a CVT (Continuously Variable Transmission) gearbox and as usual this one doesn't lend itself to spirited driving.

But Honda have made the hybrid parts lighter and smaller, helping to improve handling and performance.

Just in case you were wondering there is no need to plug the Insight into the mains electric supply the petrol engine powers the battery and the battery is used to help with pulling away and speeds of up to 30mph.

The switch between electric and petrol is almost seamless. When coming to a complete standstill it feels like the engine has stalled, however the Insight has shut down to electric mode to ensure no waste of fuel or emissions. Simply accelerate and the engine comes back to life. The Eco Assist button to the right of the steering wheel helps people with a heavy right foot to drive more economically. Press the button and the car will run with less performance and will even cut out the air conditioning while waiting at traffic lights, all helping to reduce emissions and improve economy.

The on board computer even gives you an option to watch how economically you are driving. There is a setting where you can watch flowers appear from one to five, five being the best possible driving style for the environment.

Although this does sound a little gimmicky, I found myself driving more considerately to ensure I kept my four to five flowers at all times.

The interior is light and airy with room for five adults although headroom can be a little tight for tall individuals in the back. There is 408 litres of boot space with the rear seats up increasing to 584 litres with the rear seats down.

Standard equipment includes climate control, power steering, four electric windows, multi function steering wheel, cruise control, central locking, security alarm, stereo CD tuner with MP3 compatibility, USB socket, multi function driver’s computer, paddle shift gear selector and 16 inch alloy wheels.

The Insight is a safe place to be with ABS, EBD (Electronic Brake Distribution), VSA (Vehicle Stability Assist), dual front airbags, side curtain airbags and seat side air bags, front seat belt pre-tensioners and side impact beams. For your piece of mind Honda has also included an eight year warranty on all hybrid parts including the battery.

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