2010 Honda Insight Pricing Announced for Canada

[miserman]

All-new 2010 Honda Insight Starts at $23,900; Becomes Canada's Most Affordable Hybrid

Insight targets entry segment as gateway to hybrid technology

TORONTO, April 7 /CNW/ - The all-new 2010 Honda Insight hybrid hatchback goes on sale on Earth Day, April 22, with a manufacturer's suggested retail price (MSRP) of $23,900 for the Insight LX.
The distinctively styled, 5-passenger, 5-door dedicated hybrid vehicle is powered by an Integrated Motor Assist(TM) (IMA(TM)) system comprised of a 1.3-litre i-VTEC(R) gasoline engine and a 10-kilowatt electric motor that together contribute to a Transport Canada fuel economy rating of 4.8 L/100 km (city) and 4.5 L/100 km (highway). The Insight features the Ecological Drive Assist System (Eco Assist(TM)), an innovation that can further enhance efficient vehicle operation while providing feedback related to individual driving styles.
"Honda Insight is designed to bring hybrid technology within closer reach for many new car buyers in Canada with its affordable pricing," said Jerry Chenkin, executive vice president of Honda Canada Inc. "In addition to making sound environmental sense with higher fuel efficiency and lower emissions, hybrid technology is now entering an era where it can also make financial sense for a broader range of customers."
A sleek exterior blends design elements from the original 2000 Insight's highly aerodynamic side profile with a front-end design similar to the hydrogen-powered FCX Clarity, a marquee environmental product for Honda. The interior offers a roomy passenger environment with a configurable rear seating and cargo area that benefits from 60/40 split fold-down seats.
Standard features on the Insight LX include front, front-side and side-curtain airbags; anti-lock braking system; a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT); Eco Assist(TM); automatic climate control; tilt-and-telescopic steering column; cruise control; manual driver's seat height adjustment; power windows; a four-speaker AM/FM audio system with CD player; auxiliary audio input for external digital music players; and much more.
A premium version of the Insight is also available. The Insight EX, with an MSRP of $27,500, adds Honda's Satellite-Linked Navigation System with Bilingual Voice Recognition; Vehicle Stability Assist(TM) (VSA(R)); Bluetooth(R) HandsFreeLink(R); alloy wheels; steering wheel-mounted paddle shifters; an upgraded audio system with six speakers; USB audio interface; a centre console with armrest and storage compartment; heated side mirrors with integrated turn signals; and more.
The navigation system on the Insight EX provides routing and guidance to individual addresses and more than 7 million points of interest in North America. The Bluetooth(R) HandsFreeLink(R) provides hands-free operation of compatible mobile telephones, along with related steering wheel-mounted controls for voice activation of the navigation and hands-free telephone systems.
A 4-cylinder engine with intelligent variable valve timing and a DC brushless electric motor forms the foundation of the IMA(TM) hybrid system.
The electric motor, positioned in-line between the engine and the transmission, adds power during acceleration and in certain cruising situations, and recaptures energy from the vehicle's forward momentum during braking.
The Insight's IMA(TM) system can operate exclusively on electric power in certain low- to mid-speed cruising conditions. It can also provide cylinder deactivation during deceleration and an idle-stop feature when the vehicle is stationary.
The Insight introduces Eco Assist(TM) to help drivers achieve improved real-world fuel economy. Eco Assist(TM) is a feature designed to help drivers optimize fuel efficiency for their given set of driving conditions. Pressing a dash-mounted ECON button can further enhance the efficiency of multiple vehicle systems, including throttle control, CVT operation, idle-stop duration, air conditioning and cruise-control operation.
Eco Assist(TM) also provides feedback about driving style via a 3D-appearing background within the speedometer. The background changes colours from blue to green to reflect how efficiently or inefficiently the driver is accelerating or braking. The driver's results are continuously tracked as fuel economy ratings are shown per drive cycle and on a lifetime basis in the form of plant-leaf graphics that appear in the Multi-Information Display (MID). Up to five leaves can be 'earned' as the driver demonstrates a fuel-efficient driving style. A real-time score is shown in the Eco Guide MID screen.
Standard safety features on all Insights include dual-stage, dual-threshold front airbags; front-side airbags with a passenger-side Occupant Position Detection System (OPDS); side-curtain airbag system; anti-lock brakes with electronic brake distribution (EBD); driver's and front-passenger's active head restraints; and a front body designed to mitigate pedestrian injuries. Insight also features Honda's Advanced Compatibility Engineering (ACE(TM)) body structure, which provides improved frontal-crash compatibility between vehicles of differing size and ride height.

[time space]

Good price, but I was disappointed to find out the Insight doesn't run on electric power only at low speeds. I loved the "silent running" aspect of driving the Prius. With the Insight there'll be no escape from the sound of the combustion engine. :(

[Rehan]

All-new 2010 Honda Insight Starts at $23,900; Becomes Canada's Most Affordable Hybrid The 2009 Prius base model is listed at Cars4u.com for $23000 after discounts ($2000 manufacturer rebate, $2700 dealer discount). It's bigger, gets better mileage, and is a full hybrid.

[johnsa]

the 2009 prius base model is listed at cars4u.com for $23000 after discounts ($2000 manufacturer rebate, $2700 dealer discount). It's bigger, gets better mileage, and is a full hybrid.

+1

[D-3vil]

Good price, but I was disappointed to find out the Insight doesn't run on electric power only at low speeds. I loved the "silent running" aspect of driving the Prius. With the Insight there'll be no escape from the sound of the combustion engine. :(

But it does. Though the engine would still be turning, no gas goes into the combustion chamber.

If you do a lot of city driving, the Prius may be a better choice. However, for highway fuel economy, the Honda hybrid system can return better numbers.

[time space]

But it does. Though the engine would still be turning, no gas goes into the combustion chamber.

If you do a lot of city driving, the Prius may be a better choice. However, for highway fuel economy, the Honda hybrid system can return better numbers.
Here's a comparison review (http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/uptospeed/2009/04/back-to-back-hybrid-smack-prius-vs-insight.html) of the two cars.

It claims the Prius gets quite a bit better gas mileage on the highway, though the reviewer prefers the Insight because it's "sportier".

[active]

Hi,

Does anyone have CCC price for Honda Insight? I'm test driving it on Apr 22 and then decide between 09 Civic or Insight.

Thanks

[B0000rt]

TBH, if I were a mpg freak, I'd go for something Diesel.

I personally can't wait for the TDI Rabbit/Golf or a Cooper D

[mau108]

I saw the insight around middlefield and steeles area...it couldn't be a dealer car as it had regular plates on it (not dealer plates)

[Rehan]

TBH, if I were a mpg freak, I'd go for something Diesel. Diesel is good (even better here in Canada than in the US because here it's cheaper than gas), but it depends on your driving habits. I drive in the city 90% of the time, so a hybrid still offers 25-50% better mileage. If you're driving mostly on the highway then you might as well go diesel.

www.greenhuman.net did a (VW-sponsored) cross-country drive in a Prius and in a Jetta TDI and got roughly the same fuel economy for the two cars.

[active]

I saw the insight around middlefield and steeles area...it couldn't be a dealer car as it had regular plates on it (not dealer plates)

It might be from USA, they started selling in US from March 24 2009. Hope i would get to see one on Apr 22.

[new_vr]

Diesel is good (even better here in Canada than in the US because here it's cheaper than gas), but it depends on your driving habits. I drive in the city 90% of the time, so a hybrid still offers 25-50% better mileage. If you're driving mostly on the highway then you might as well go diesel.

www.greenhuman.net did a (VW-sponsored) cross-country drive in a Prius and in a Jetta TDI and got roughly the same fuel economy for the two cars.

The part I like about the diesel is you can drive it like you stole it, and it still returns great numbers. Not so much with the hybrids

[new_vr]

Good price, but I was disappointed to find out the Insight doesn't run on electric power only at low speeds. I loved the "silent running" aspect of driving the Prius. With the Insight there'll be no escape from the sound of the combustion engine. :(
We have a hybrid at work, and I don't like the silent running aspect. People walk out in front of you...it has happened a couple of times. You would think a few thousand pounds of moving metal would be noticeable, but in parking lots it seems people use their ears more then their eyes.

[ES_Revenge]

Diesel is good (even better here in Canada than in the US because here it's cheaper than gas), but it depends on your driving habits. I drive in the city 90% of the time, so a hybrid still offers 25-50% better mileage. If you're driving mostly on the highway then you might as well go diesel.

www.greenhuman.net did a (VW-sponsored) cross-country drive in a Prius and in a Jetta TDI and got roughly the same fuel economy for the two cars.
Yes but at least the hybrids don't stink up the place. :lol: While I'm certainly no fan of hybrids, I'm really not sure which I dislike more--waste-of-time hybrids or stink-up-the-place diesels. They both stink, though only one literally...

[Carzzz]

Good price, but I was disappointed to find out the Insight doesn't run on electric power only at low speeds. I loved the "silent running" aspect of driving the Prius. With the Insight there'll be no escape from the sound of the combustion engine. :(

Running on pure electric is kind of dangerous to pedestrians. Once i almost got hit by a prius.

[time space]

We have a hybrid at work, and I don't like the silent running aspect. People walk out in front of you...it has happened a couple of times. You would think a few thousand pounds of moving metal would be noticeable, but in parking lots it seems people use their ears more then their eyes.
Running on pure electric is kind of dangerous to pedestrians. Once i almost got hit by a prius.


Heh. That's an easy fix - just add a cowbell to warn pedestrians foolish enough to walk around in the modern world with their eyes closed.

(PS: I love how you bolded the word "almost" - very dramatic! ;) )

[time space]

Here's a review of the Honda Insight (http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/driving/jeremy_clarkson/article6294116.ece) by Jeremy Clarkson of Top Gear fame.

I think it's pretty safe to say he doesn't like it:

"It’s terrible. Biblically terrible. Possibly the worst new car money can buy. It’s the first car I’ve ever considered crashing into a tree, on purpose, so I didn’t have to drive it any more."

[BoxsterS]

Running on pure electric is kind of dangerous to pedestrians. Once i almost got hit by a prius.

Sorry, about that. I didn't see you.

[maniacshopper]

Good price, but I was disappointed to find out the Insight doesn't run on electric power only at low speeds. I loved the "silent running" aspect of driving the Prius. With the Insight there'll be no escape from the sound of the combustion engine. :(

same here. hybrids are really useful in slow agonizing city driving, traffic jam.
With IMA, it still has the gas engine running, just assisting in lauching the car up to speed. I think this is where the prius has got the insight beat. Prius can go on only electrics with light throttle applications in city speeds. On hwys hybrid is same as regular car.

curiously, does anyone know about the prius, during cold winters, does the engine still powering the car while driving when cold or is it on electrics only until warm?