Honda was the first auto manufacturer to build and sell a gasoline/electric hybrid vehicle in the United States. That car was the Insight, a teardrop-shaped two-seater with limited cargo space and a stunning 61 mpg city and 70 mpg EPA fuel economy rating that sold for less than $20,000. A decade after that aluminum-bodied, ground-breaking original went on sale Honda has a redesigned 2010 Insight in showrooms. The new model resolves the two major hurdles to the first car’s success: it’s got five-passenger capacity thanks to a rear seat accessible through rear doors, and it’s got a large 15.9 cubic-foot trunk expandable to 31.5 cubic feet with the rear seats folded down. Fuel economy is not as impressive as that first Insight, in part thanks to revisions the EPA has made to its estimates since that version debuted, but today’s car is still among the best of all models on the market at 40 mpg city and 43 mpg highway. Best of all, the base price is still about twenty grand.

Highlights of the 2010 Honda Insight include:

• LX and EX trim levels
• EPA fuel economy rating of 40 mpg in the city and 43 mpg on the highway
• Five-passenger hatchback with 15.9 cubic foot trunk, expandable to 31.5 cubic feet
• Standard Ecological Drive Assist System (Eco Assist) with electronic “coach” to help drivers get best gas mileage
• Standard driver-selected Economy mode allows frugal folks to eke maximum fuel economy out of the Insight
• Standard projector beam headlights and LED brake lights
• Standard auxiliary audio input jack
• Standard automatic climate control
• Available USB port
• Available XM satellite radio
• Available Bluetooth
• Available navigation system
• Available stability and traction control
• Available cruise control

Model Lineup

The 2010 Honda Insight is available in LX and EX trim levels. The LX model, the lowest-priced hybrid on the market, includes projector beam headlights, LED taillights, power mirrors, power windows, power door locks with remote, automatic climate control, a tilt and telescopic steering wheel, a manual driver’s seat height adjuster, a 60/40 split-folding rear seat, a 160-watt audio system with a CD player, an auxiliary audio input jack, a comprehensive Multi-Information Display, and an Ecological Drive Assist System (Eco Assist).

Selecting the Insight EX adds alloy wheels, stability and traction control, heated outside mirrors with integrated turn signal lights, cruise control, variable speed wipers, shift paddles to modify transmission behavior, a center console storage bin with an armrest, seatback pockets, visor vanity mirrors, a USB interface, and two additional stereo speakers. A navigation system is optional on the Insight EX, and includes Bluetooth hands-free communication.

Under the Hood

The 2010 Honda Insight is equipped with a gasoline-fueled, electric hybrid powertrain. Its 1.3-liter, 88-horsepower four-cylinder engine is equipped with Honda’s Integrated Motor Assist (IMA) system, which is a compact permanent magnet electric motor powered by a nickel metal hydride battery pack that generates 13 horsepower for a combined rating of 98 horsepower at 5,800 rpm. Maximum combined torque is 123 lb.-ft. delivered between 1,000 and 1,500 rpm. A continuously variable transmission delivers power to the Insight’s front wheels.

The IMA system is designed to shut the gasoline engine off when coming to a stop or when idling, and can even power the Insight at low to mid-range speeds under specific conditions. As a result, EPA fuel economy ratings are 40 mpg in the city and 43 mpg on the highway. Our review vehicle averaged 38.2 mpg in mixed driving. Combined with the Insight’s standard 10.6-gallon fuel tank, this actual fuel economy figure results in an approximate 400-mile range between fill-ups of regular unleaded.

We should note that the Insight’s Eco Assist mode, activated using a large, green ECON button on the dashboard, was engaged only during highway travel and not during around-town driving. In Eco Assist mode, the Insight’s idle-stop function (the feature that shuts the engine off when coming to a stop and when idling) and deceleration cylinder-deactivation feature are expanded for reduced fuel consumption, the heating and air conditioning functions are limited, throttle response is reduced, and the regenerative braking effect is increased to capture more energy when coasting and stopping. Eco Assist also provides feedback to the driver about how their driving is affecting fuel economy. There’s instantaneous fuel consumption information, trip summary data, and a graduated long-term reward icon displaying different levels of achievement.

Safety Features

Standard safety equipment on the 2010 Honda Insight includes dual front airbags, side impact airbags for the front seat occupants, and side curtain airbags. Front-disc, rear-drum antilock regenerative brakes with electronic brake-force distribution bring the Insight to a halt while capturing kinetic energy to charge the battery pack. A stability and traction control system is standard on the Insight EX, but is unavailable on the Insight LX.

Like all Hondas, the Insight employs what the automaker calls an Advanced Compatibility Engineering body structure, or ACE. Honda says ACE construction helps manage crash energy in a frontal impact, evenly distributing impact forces and reducing those that make their way to the passenger cabin.

The Competition

JDPower.com says the 2010 Honda Insight competes against other compact hatchbacks such as the Chevrolet Aveo5, Dodge Caliber, Kia Rio5, Mazda 3, Nissan Versa, Scion xB, Scion xD, Subaru Impreza, Suzuki SX4, Toyota Matrix, Toyota Yaris, and Volkswagen Golf. It’s most obvious competitor is the Toyota Prius, though that dedicated hybrid model is larger, and more expensive, positioning it more as a midsize model than a compact.

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Note: This review was published on November 25, 2009. It may not reflect data that has become available for this vehicle since that date.