HONDA INSIGHT

The Honda Insight is a unique two-passenger hybrid electric vehicle. It is the most fuel-efficient vehicle in Canada with an Energuide rating of 3.9 / 3.3 Litres/100 Km. This was Honda’s first hybrid vehicle and many of the technologies incorporated into the vehicle were subsequently introduced on the Civic Hybridand 2005 Honda Accord Hybrid.

The Insight uses a small 1 Litre three-cylinder engine combined with Honda’s Integrated Motor Assist hybrid system that incorporates a 144 volt nickel metal hydride battery.

A distinguishing feature of the Insight is that the vehicle is one of the very few that has a body made from aluminum alloy. This results in the Insight being about 50% lighter than if it were  made from steel and is a key factor in allowing the vehicle to achieve its impressive fuel performance.

More detailed information about the Insight is available from Honda.

Technology Description
An array of technologies is used in the Insight that impact fuel and emissions performance. These include regenerative braking, idle stop, extra catalytic burner, a small 67 hp engine that weighs only 56 kg, aerodynamic design producing a low drag coefficient of 0.25, electric power steering and many lighter weight materials such as a magnesium oil pan.

The Insight also uses a five speed manual transmission. This means that if the clutch is in, or the car is in neutral when slowing down, the regenerative braking does not work as the Insight has to be in gear to recover energy and send it to the battery.

View a detailed technical overview of the Insight.

View a video about the key engineering features of the Insight.

Performance
Performance issues are usually focused on acceleration vs. cruise. In this regard the Insight is able to match a small engine of only 67 hp with Honda’s motor assist hybrid system to generate enhanced acceleration on demand. The result is a vehicle that can go from 0 – 100 km in about 11 seconds, comparable to many other compact vehicles.

Honda Insight IMA Engine. Source: Honda Canada

Fuel Consumption
The Insight is the most fuel-efficient vehicle in Canada rated at 3.9 / 3.3 Litres/100 Km.

Note: Honda's use of the series hybrid architecture, results in better fuel performance on the highway than it does in the city. This is opposite of the Toyota Prius and the Ford Escape Hybrid which use parallel hybrid systems. Read a detailed explanation of the differences between series and parallel hybrid systems.

Emissions Performance
The Insight is certified as meeting California’s SULEV emission standard.

Warranty
The Hybrid components of the Honda Insight have an 8-year/130,000 km warranty while the non-hybrid components have a 3-year/60,000 km warranty.

Availability
The Insight was introduced to the Canadian market in 2000 and product availability has been limited. For the 2004 model year the product is sold out but some product may be available at individual dealers.