Honda Insight 1.3 HYBRID i-VTEC Review: Economies of Scale

What we like:

Sips less fuel than even a Jazz

green factor

feels and looks like a bespoke hybrid unlike the Civic Hybrid

relatively affordable price tag

great utility

better equipped than ‘unofficial' cars

What we dislike:

Engine sounds really gruff when pushed hard

uninspiring driving dynamics

grey imports have been running around for a while

not exactly pretty

Thanks to the use of the Jazz's smart and space efficient platform, the Insight offers a cabin that is truly spacious and practical. The boot offers a very usable loading area and is relatively deep for a hybrid model, as most hybrids have a shallow boot to accommodate the batteries underneath (the Insight's batteries are really compact in size and concealed below the space saver spare tyre. Moreover, the rear seatbacks split/fold to reveal an even more voluminous load area if required.

Rear passengers will enjoy as much knee room as in a Jazz or City but with just a slight compromise to headroom thanks to lower and more streamlined roof line. Up front, the driving position is OK, but a seat that can be adjusted to go lower would be a huge welcome, especially for taller drivers. The driver is greeted by a futuristic looking dashboard that is inspired by the Civic's, which means a futuristic looking two tier instrument binnacle with the speedo on top while the rev counter, multi-function computer, fuel gauge and battery charge meter readouts are placed lower. The steering wheel rim might block the speedometer for some shorter drivers though. The sloping rear hatch also poses some visibility problems but at least the CR-X style additional rear window helps a tad in the rear visibility area.

Build quality is typical Honda but some of the plastics and material used inside feel hard to the touch. The controls and switchgear though, are hard to fault. The officially imported Insight offered by Kah Motor is significantly better equipped than Insight models offered by parallel importers. These standard kit VSA Vehicle Stability assist, cruise control, a 160 watt factory stereo with USB and AUX inputs, rain sensors, automatic headlamps, factory fitted 16-inch alloy wheels and so on. As an added peace of mind and to encourage buyers to buy an ‘official' Insight, Kah Motor has tangles a five-year unlimited mileage warranty for all Insights.

The uninitiated will probably draw a parallel between the Insight and the Toyota Prius. But in actual fact, these are two hugely different hybrid cars. The Prius is a more sophisticated car and hence its higher sticker price. The Toyota's priority is just to maxmise fuel economy and nothing else. The Insight might not be as sophisticated and is less economical than the Prius but it is certainly a hybrid model that is more all rounded and easier for Average Joe to buy and live with.

Credits: Story and Photos by Raymond Lai