2010 Honda Insight: Road Test
2010 Honda Insight LX
2010 Honda Insight ▼
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- MSRP: $19,800 - $23,100
- Invoice: $18,688 - $21,790
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Our road test for the 2010 Honda Insight includes a full evaluation of the 2010 Honda Insight from the inside out. We evaluate not only engine and handling performance for the 2010 Honda Insight, but also interior cabin and cargo space. Let our comprehensive road test ratings for the 2010 Honda Insight help you decide if a 2010 Honda Insight is right for you.
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ACCELERATION
| LX | Class Average |
|---|---|
| 3 | 4.5 |
Insight is unimpressive by the stopwatch, and slow away from a stop. Performance is much improved in around-town driving and in passing and merging maneuvers. The transmission's Sport position seems to improve acceleration marginally, while disabling the Econ mode (via a dashboard button) seems to improve throttle response, if not actually acceleration. The engine stop and start function is less than seamless, inducing notable shudder.
FUEL ECONOMY
| LX | Class Average |
|---|---|
| 10 | 6.4 |
In Consumer Guide testing, an Insight averaged a thrifty 45.1-47.7 mpg. Insight uses regular-grade gas.
RIDE QUALITY
| LX | Class Average |
|---|---|
| 5 | 4.7 |
Insight is best described as "busy" on anything but the smoothest roads. Ride is generally free of harshness, but firm low-rolling-resistance tires and a short wheelbase contribute to considerable up-and-down motion and general choppiness.
STEERING/HANDLING/BRAKING
| LX | Class Average |
|---|---|
| 6 | 5.4 |
Insight may not be exactly sporty, but a lack of body lean in corners and good steering feel contribute to a generally rewarding drive. Some testers complained of spongy brake feel in one test car.
QUIETNESS
| LX | Class Average |
|---|---|
| 5 | 4.4 |
Fuel-economy biased tires and sparse use of weighty sound-deadening material mean that road noise is more pronounced in Insight than in many other cars of this size. Likewise, there's more wind noise than would be typical. Powertrain racket is excessive under acceleration, generally muted otherwise.
CONTROLS
| LX | Class Average |
|---|---|
| 6 | 5.6 |
Most gauges are large and easy to read. Staffers mostly warmed to hybrid-info outputs, especially speedometer backlight that changes color in conjunction with driving styling efficiency. Taller drivers find the top of the steering wheel blocks elements of the instrument panel. There's a few too many look-alike controls on the console for our taste, though they tend to be logically placed.
DETAILS
| LX | Class Average |
|---|---|
| 4 | 4.6 |
Good assembly quality partially offsets the impact of a cabin lined with cut-rate plastics and unpadded surfaces. Overall, Insight doesn't look cheap, but most other cars in this class are made of nicer stuff.
ROOM/COMFORT/DRIVER SEATING (FRONT)
| LX | Class Average |
|---|---|
| 6 | 5.3 |
Impressive headroom and legroom for a car this size, though taller drivers complained of too-short seat bottoms. Rear visibility is compromised by the split rear window, and the view to the rear corners is obscured somewhat by the car's rakish roof line.
ROOM/COMFORT (REAR)
| LX | Class Average |
|---|---|
| 5 | 3.8 |
Headroom goes wanting for taller drivers, otherwise most adults will be fine for shorter trips. Narrow door openings complicate entry and exit.
CARGO ROOM
| LX | Class Average |
|---|---|
| 7 | 4.7 |
Classic hatchback design allows for generous cargo room with the rear seats folded flat, though a roughly 3-inch liftover complicates sliding larger items out of the car. Handy under-floor cubbies are a useful touch.
VALUE WITHIN CLASS
| LX | Class Average |
|---|---|
| 6 | 5.8 |
Despite a silhouette that too-closely mimics Toyota's Prius, Insight is notable for its lack of Hybrid fussiness. The instrument panel is fairly conventional, and unlike the Prius, so is the shifter. Prices are commendably low, as well. For shoppers looking for serious fuel economy with set-and-forget simplicity, Insight could be the car for you.
Total Score
| LX | Class Average |
|---|---|
| 63 | 55.2 |
Total Score: 63
Scores for all Compact Cars
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