2002 Honda Insight: Road Test
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2002 Honda Insight Manual
2002 Honda Insight ▼
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- MSRP: $19,080 -$21,280
- Invoice: $17,824 -$19,876
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Our road test for the 2002 Honda Insight includes a full evaluation of the 2002 Honda Insight from the inside out. We evaluate not only engine and handling performance for the 2002 Honda Insight, but also interior cabin and cargo space. Let our comprehensive road test ratings for the 2002 Honda Insight help you decide if a 2002 Honda Insight is right for you.
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ACCELERATION
| Base w/air conditioning | CVT | Class Average |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | 2 | 3.7 |
Peppy enough around town; test Insights did 0-60 mph in 11.3 sec with manual transmission, 11.5 with CVT. But freeway merging and 2-lane passing demand care, and Insight feels taxed on long, steep upgrades. CVT smooth and responsive in both "S" and "D" settings, but feels liveliest in "S."
FUEL ECONOMY
| Base w/air conditioning | CVT | Class Average |
|---|---|---|
| 10 | 9 | 6.7 |
Tested in and around Chicago, manual-transmission Insight returned up to 71 mpg in city driving and 57.3 overall. Performance tests and high-speed freeways kept California test car to 48.9 mpg. CVT version averaged 48.1. Computer controls can momentarily turn off the engine at standstill to save gas, minimize emissions; restarts are near instantaneous and hardly noticed. Insight uses regular-grade fuel.
RIDE QUALITY
| Base w/air conditioning | CVT | Class Average |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | 3 | 4.1 |
Choppy and often thumpy except on smooth roads due to short wheelbase and economy-oriented lightweight construction. CVT model weighs about 100 lb more, rides slightly better.
STEERING/HANDLING/BRAKING
| Base w/air conditioning | CVT | Class Average |
|---|---|---|
| 4 | 4 | 4.9 |
Slim, low-rolling-resistance tires help fuel economy but have limited cornering grip. Insight also wanders along grooved pavement and in strong crosswinds, but otherwise has conventional front-drive behavior. Mild wander, only average distances in emergency-stop tests.
QUIETNESS
| Base w/air conditioning | CVT | Class Average |
|---|---|---|
| 3 | 4 | 3.6 |
Minimal soundproofing saves weight, so wind noise and coarse-pavement tire thrum can annoy. Engine seems quieter with CVT.
CONTROLS
| Base w/air conditioning | CVT | Class Average |
|---|---|---|
| 5 | 5 | 5.6 |
Mostly logical, convenient, but climate-control display and bar-graph gauges are too small for easy reading. Solid driving feel, fine detail assembly, functional but not fancy interior decor. CVT's "S" button would be easier to activate if it were on shift knob.
ROOM/COMFORT/DRIVER SEATING (FRONT)
| Base w/air conditioning | CVT | Class Average |
|---|---|---|
| 4 | 4 | 4.4 |
Roomy enough for tall adults, mostly because seats are quite low. They're well-shaped but lightly padded, so long trips might produce aches. "Bathtub" seat position also hampers entry/exit, though visibility is good except with bulky cargo aboard.
ROOM/COMFORT (REAR)
| Base w/air conditioning | CVT | Class Average |
|---|---|---|
| 0 | 0 | 3.2 |
(No rear seating.)
CARGO ROOM
| Base w/air conditioning | CVT | Class Average |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | 2 | 3.3 |
There's 5.0 cu ft beneath the hatch and 1.5 in a covered floor well--not much even for a 2-seater. High load deck and sloped roofline preclude carrying bulky items.
VALUE WITHIN CLASS
| Base w/air conditioning | CVT | Class Average |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | 3 | 4.7 |
Despite modest acceleration and a stiff ride, Insight is a useful city/suburban commuter, especially in CVT form, with high-tech, environment-friendly appeal. Our test examples averaged 48 mpg. But like the larger Toyota Prius, Insight is costly for an economy car, and the payback in fuel savings will take years to recoup. Insight has its charms, but we'd opt for Honda's more-practical, similarly priced Civic Hybrid, or even a conventional subcompact.
Total Score
| Base w/air conditioning | CVT | Class Average |
|---|---|---|
| 34 | 36 | 44.2 |
Total Score: 35
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