2010 Honda Insight Hybrid Car

By: Susan Harris
Staff Writer
Published: Oct 13, 2009

Honda Insight Specifications

The 2010 Honda Insight Hybrid debuted in early 2009 to offer car buyers better fuel efficiency. The Honda Insight has an official EPA (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency) rating of 40 MPG (miles per gallon) in the city and 43 MPG on the highway. Honda built the 2010 Prius for the mainstream consumer, and it's been a great success.

Honda Insight owners are reporting great mileage with this Hybrid. Some claim that they can achieve up to 48 MPG on the highway by using simple driving practices that increase fuel economy. Some of these practices include slower acceleration, slow braking, and coasting whenever possible. One consumer claims that he only visits the gas pump once a month because he drives under 30 MPH (miles per hour).

Driving at slower speeds does mean that the Hybrid will use the electric motor whenever possible. During electric operation, the gas engine is automatically turned off, while the vehicle uses its battery to power the electric motor. This is when the automobile becomes a gas-free solution Hybrid.

When the gas engine is running, it will recharge the Hybrid battery pack. The 2010 Insight uses a Nickel Metal Hydride (Ni-MH) battery, which is commonly used in Honda Hybrid cars. The battery has no trouble powering the vehicle under 45 MPH.

The vehicle has a sleek design and can seat up to five passengers. The 5 door Hybrid sedan is lightweight in comparison to previous Honda Insight models. The new Insight was completely redesigned to allow low center gravity, a method typically used to make cars more lightweight.

There are currently two trim levels, LX and EX, for the Honda Hybrid. The basic model has a starting price of $19.800, which makes it one of the cheapest Hybrid cars on the market. The premium model comes with the Satellite-Linked Navigation System with Voice Recognition for $23,100.

The gas engine is a highly efficient 4-cylinder, 1.3-liter i-VTECH, with Honda's IMA (Integrated Motor Assist). This system works in conjunction with the electric motor and gas engine to provide additional power for the vehicle. The transmission is known as a CVT (continuously variable transmission) that substitutes the gears found in conventional transmissions. The Insight was built with fewer moving parts, which means less potential maintenance.

Honda Insight comes with a new talked-about feature known as Eco Assist. This is a feedback system that can provide real-time information for the driver. Most of the information is based on fuel-efficient driving practices. The vehicle is also equipped with an ECON button located on the dashboard. When the button is pressed, the car will minimize the overall energy used, which will deliver the maximum fuel economy.