Honda Insight Hybrid MPG

By: Andy Hodges
Staff Writer
Published: Aug 20, 2009

Eco Assist Boosts 2010 Honda Insight MPG Rating

If you talk to different Honda hybrid owners about what mileage their car delivers, you'll get a different answer regarding the 2010 Honda Insight Hybrid MPG rating. This can only tell you about their driving habits, or if they are driving more in the city than the highway. It is true that the gas mileage you can get out of the Honda Insight depends on how you drive it. The official EPA rating is 40 mpg in the city and 43 mpg on the highway.

Several Honda Insight 2010 owners are reporting mileage of 70 mpg or greater. This could be difficult to imagine for some folks, especially if you are not aware of the benefits that a hybrid car can bring, but it can happen. There is a minor learning curve when you first buy the hybrid vehicle, but you should have no problem pulling 60 to 70 mpg once you learn the proper way to drive it.

The engine in the automobile, like most new hybrids, is a small combustion motor that uses gasoline. It is a standard 1.3-liter, I4, 98-horsepower, and while this might seem very small, it gives the Honda car enough power to cruise. When running in its electric mode, the small engine turns off and becomes a generator to recharge the hybrid battery.

The Honda Integrated Motor Assist (IMA) is another new technology that can give the car a boost under certain driving conditions. It is similar to a turbocharger where it is called into action when extra power is needed for acceleration and hill-climbing. The Insight can also accelerate using only electric power for up to 30 mph.

Another nice thing about the Honda Insight is the interactive dashboard that allows a driver to track fuel economy and emissions. The feature is known as Eco Assist, or Efficiency Booster, that minimizes the overall energy use while providing maximum mileage. There is also a feedback system that coaches the driver that can lead to better fuel efficiency.

Honda is striving to expand a positive impact of economical and environmentally by producing responsible vehicles. The 2010 Insight is the first new series to provide exceptional fuel economy at an affordable price. Hybrid cars are also in high demand and the automaker actually released its new automobile on April 22, which is Earth Day in the United States. It was a clever marketing campaign.

Owning a new hybrid car right now might not seem logical, but most financial analysts are predicting another price increase on fuel costs. It is a smart move if you buy one of these fuel efficient vehicles. The 2010 Honda Insight LX Hybrid has a starting price of $19,800. If you buy one totally equipped, which is the EX version, you're looking at a price of around $21,970.