2021 Honda Insight Review

　　

2021 Honda Insight Review

byKurt NiebuhrSenior Vehicle Test Editor

　　Kurt Niebuhr has worked in the automotive industry since 2005. A automotive photographer by trade, Kurt is now one of zzdcar' high-performance test drivers. He's driven and photographed hundreds, if not thousands, of vehicles all over the world, so Kurt's library of automotive experiences would certainly make for a good book. When not dreaming about getting his racing license or trying to buy out-of-date film for his cameras, Kurt can usually be found cursing at his 1966 Mustang.

　　If you'd like the fuel efficiency of something like the Toyota Prius but with more traditional styling, the 2021 Honda Insight could be an ideal alternative. Sized between Honda's Civic sedan and the larger Accord, the Insight has a standard hybrid powertrain that gets an EPA-estimated 52 mpg in combined city/highway driving. That's right up there with the most efficient hybrids on the market. The Insight is roomy and enjoyable to drive, too, so you're not really giving up anything to go the hybrid route.

　　

Cost to DriveCost to drive estimates for the 2021 Honda Insight LX 4dr Sedan (1.5L 4cyl gas/electric hybrid CVT) and comparison vehicles are based on 15,000 miles per year (with a mix of 55% city and 45% highway driving) and energy estimates of $3.04 per gallon for regular unleaded in North Dakota.

Monthly estimates based on costs in North Dakota

　　$73/mo  for Insight LX

　　Insight LX

　　LX 4dr Sedan (1.5L 4cyl gas/electric hybrid CVT) - $22,930 MSRPEX 4dr Sedan (1.5L 4cyl gas/electric hybrid CVT) (Most Popular) - $24,810 MSRPTouring 4dr Sedan (1.5L 4cyl gas/electric hybrid CVT) - $28,840 MSRP

　　vs

　　$164/mo

　　Avg. Midsize Car

　　We like the Insight a lot, and you can check out our full evaluation by reading our Expert Rating below. But there are more hybrids out than ever before, so it can be worth your time to shop around a little. Of course, there's the Prius, and Toyota also offers the Corolla Hybrid, which is essentially a Corolla but with Prius innards. You might also research the new Hyundai Elantra Hybrid or even Honda's larger Accord Hybrid or CR-V Hybrid.

　　zzdcar Expert Rating

　　Our VerdictThe zzdcar Vehicle Testing Team evaluates a fresh batch of vehicles every week, pairing objective assessments at our test track with real-world driving on city streets, freeways and winding roads. The data we gather results in our Expert Ratings. They’re based on 30-plus scores that cover every aspect of the automotive experience.

　　Great

　　8.1

　　out of 10

　　zzdcar TESTED

　　Rated for you by America's best test team.

　　

Performance

7.5/10

　　How does the Insight drive? The Insight leans more toward sobriety than spirit, but it's livelier and more refined than a Prius. The electric motor feels torquey around town and makes for seamless and responsive acceleration. It's not fast, but at 8.1 seconds to cover 0-60 mph, it's quick among hybrids. The steering is precise, and the Insight is tidy around corners and willing to change directions.

　　Our test Insight stopped from 60 mph in 123 feet, which is decent for the class. The braking is predictable and easy to modulate, but the pedal feels a bit disconnected during hard braking. We were also bothered that, in normal driving mode, the adjustable regenerative braking system kept resetting itself.

　　

Comfort

8.0/10

　　How comfortable is the Insight? Honda has gotten most of the fundamentals right. The seats are comfortable, with medium-firm foam and enough contouring to provide support over long drives, although some drivers may miss adjustable lumbar. There's some bounciness when driving over humps in the road, but single-wheel impacts and smaller road textures are snubbed deftly.

　　The climate system has big and clearly marked physical controls, and the vents provide good coverage. The main downside is noise. The gas engine can idle loudly and create vibrations when the battery needs charging, and it makes more noise at freeway speeds than some competitors. Wind noise is well-suppressed, but there's also noticeable road noise at speed.

　　

Interior

8.5/10

　　How’s the interior? Larger on the inside than the exterior suggests, this cabin typifies Honda's mastery of space utilization. There's plenty of headroom and elbow room for front passengers. Drivers of various proportions should be able to find an agreeable seating position, although we wish there was a hair more range on the telescoping steering wheel. In the back, headroom is snug for taller adults, but there's good toe room.

　　The Insight is functional and well-designed, with obvious and well-labeled controls. Using the transmission selector buttons is a bit more distracting than moving a traditional gear lever, but you'll get used to them. Visibility is good out of the front, though the wide rear roof pillars and tall rear deck create some rear blind spots.

　　

Technology

8.0/10

　　How’s the tech? Honda's infotainment screen is quick, sharp and easy to use. The physical shortcut buttons on the screen's left side are also useful. It makes Apple CarPlay and Android Auto (standard on EX trim and up) less of a priority, though Honda's integration with both is excellent.

　　Honda's advanced driver aids continue to lag the competition, as they're rather conservatively tuned. The brake alert comes up a bit too readily in routine city driving, but it's not as intrusive during the initial warning phase as some other systems. The adaptive cruise system is OK, but other systems are more natural in their operation.

　　

Storage

8.0/10

　　How’s the storage? The Insight isn't quite as cargo-friendly as the Prius, but it's still quite useful. The reasonably deep cargo hold has about 15 cubic feet of capacity, and the 60/40-split rear bench can be folded down via levers in the trunk. The hybrid batteries are situated under the back seat and do not impede on cargo volume.

　　A well-thought-out center console is the centerpiece of the in-cabin storage. The space is deep and provides outstanding volume. You also get a removable and sliding insert and divider system. A handy rubberized pad on the console is ideal for a phone. For child duty, the Insight has car seat anchors in the back that are easy to access under fabric fastener flaps, and there's ample space for car seats.

　　

Fuel Economy

9.0/10

　　How’s the fuel economy? The EPA estimates the Insight gets 48 to 52 mpg in combined driving. That's among the highest fuel economy of any car you can buy. Encouragingly, we observed 50.5 mpg on our 115-mile evaluation route, indicating the EPA's numbers are applicable for real-world driving.

　　

Value

8.5/10

　　Is the Insight a good value? The Insight is a sensible and well-built sedan that punches above its price point. The well-screwed-together cabin has a pleasing design and plenty of soft touchpoints at every trim level. This is typical Honda cabin construction, which is no bad thing. It's also a great value, and it feels and drives like a more expensive vehicle.

　　Warranty coverage is on par with Toyota, but it significantly trails Hyundai and Kia. While the Insight shouldn't be an expensive car to own or operate, some competitors offer perks such as free maintenance that aren't standard-issue for Honda.

　　

Wildcard

8.0/10

　　The execution of the Insight is a subtle but significant step forward for inexpensive hybrids. It has shown the genre evolving beyond the nerdy awkwardness of adolescence and into a more confident phase. It doesn't need to broadcast its green cred, and that's a breath of fresh air. This car exudes a level of sophistication that surpasses its price point.

　　

Which Insight does zzdcar recommend?

We prefer the middle ground and think the Insight EX is the best value for money. There's standard Apple CarPlay and Android Auto and, for 2021, standard blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert.

　　

2021 Honda Insight models

The 2021 Honda Insight is a small hybrid sedan that comes in three trim levels: LX, EX and Touring. All are driven by a 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine that primarily acts as a generator to supply power to an electric motor that drives the front wheels. Combined system output is 151 horsepower. Options are limited to various appearance packages that are available across all three trim levels. Highlighted standard features include:

　　LX

　　Starts you off with:

　　16-inch alloy wheels LED headlights Push-button start 5-inch infotainment touchscreen Single USB port Six-speaker audio systemHonda Sensing

　　A suite of advanced driver aids standard on all Insights, which includes:

　　Automatic emergency braking (warns if a front impact is imminent and applies the brakes if you don't respond in time) Lane departure mitigation (warns you of a lane departure when a turn signal isn't used and can automatically steer to maintain lane position) Adaptive cruise control (maintains a driver-set distance between the Honda and the car in front) Lane keeping assist (steers the Insight back into its lane if it begins to drift over the lane marker)EX

　　Adds some upgrades and nice-to-have features, such as:

　　Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone integration Proximity keyless entry 8-inch infotainment touchscreen Eight-speaker audio system More powerful, 2.5-Amp USB charging ports Blind-spot monitor with rear cross-traffic alert (warns you if a vehicle is in your blind spot during a lane change or while in reverse)Touring

　　The top of the line trim adds:

　　17-inch alloy wheels LED fog lights Leather upholstery Power-adjustable driver's seat Heated front seats Sunroof Rain-sensing windshield wipers Dual-zone climate control Integrated navigation system Wi-Fi hotspot capability 10-speaker premium audio system

　　

2021 Insight Highlights

Trim: LXEXTouringLX

　　

Base MSRP	$22,930
Engine Type	Hybrid
Combined MPG	52 MPG
Cost to Drive	$73/month
Seating	5 seats
Cargo Capacity All Seats In Place	15.1 cu.ft.
Drivetrain	front wheel drive
Warranty	3 years / 36,000 miles