Insurance Group: 15
MPG: 61.4
CO2: 105
0-62 Mph: 12.5 secs
BHP: 87 BHP
Range: 540 miles
PROS: Congestion charge exempt, good looking, practical
CONS: No more efficient than some diesels, harsh ride
The Insight's hybrid powertrain develops 87bhp and 89lb-ft of torque thanks to a 1.3-litre petrol engine. 0-62mph takes 12.5 seconds which is pretty mediocre and a top speed of 113mph is perfectly adequate for a car like this.
The ride is a bit harsh and the steering is accurate and precise but the Insight isn't the most competent handling car in the world thanks to its low-rolling resistance tyres.
The Insight is quite a good looking car for a hatchback Honda and the interior has a quality feel.
You also get a decent amount of standard equipment including alloys, climate control, electric windows, electric mirrors and a CD player with MP3 connectivity. Bluetooth is unavailable as are leather seats.
The Insight provides a decent amount of interior space and the boot is more than adequate with 408 litres on offer when the rear seats are upright, and 584 litres available when the seats are folded flat.
The Insight should also be a safe car thanks to driver, passenger and side airbags and scored the full five star rating in the Euro NCAP safety tests.
Hondas are very reliable and the Insight should run for years without issue. Honda also provide a 3 year/90,000 mile warranty.
At £18,645, the Insight 1.3 IMA ES Hybrid is one of the cheapesy hybrid-powered cars on sale.
The fuel efficiency isn't particularly spectacular at 61.4mpg on the combined cycle - some diesels can do better than this. CO2 emissions of 105g/km put the Insight in VED band B so you're not even entitled to free road tax. However, if you drive into London regularly, you could save up to £2,600 a year as the Insight is congestion charge exempt.
The Honda Insight is a great choice if you regularly drive into London. Otherwise you're better off with a conventional diesel. The Insight's not a bad car, just a little pointless.
You might want to read reviews for other Medium Family cars that you can then compare to the Honda Insight. Here are some popular Honda Insight alternatives:
