2001 Honda Insight - The Car Connection
At first glance, the Insight looks sporty yet peculiar. A low, aerodynamic front end leads to a steeply raked windshield and a gradually sloping roofline that ends in a tall, stubby rear end. Rear wheel covers and low bodywork that hangs around the back end add an odd styling element. A passenger thought that the Insight was a new derivative of the old CRX, which can be understood because the two cars are very close in shape and dimensions, although the hybrid has no similarities with the CRX or del Sol. Despite the low horsepower figures and swarms of worshipping eco-freaks, the Insight is energetic and fun to drive in traffic. The little three-cylinder engine puts out an almost agricultural sound, though, and it's a shaky little powerplant, too, transmitting a fair amount of vibration through the steering column.
InsightCentral.net: The Independent Honda Insight Website
December 11, 2004 - The Honda Insight claims the title of Most Fuel Efficient Car in America for the sixth consecutive year. The EPA recently released its 2005 Fuel Economy Guide and the Insight grabbed the top slot, both in its category and overall. November 8, 2003 - The most significant changes for the 2004 Honda Insight will be in its interior enhancements. Owners of the previous model years were more than pleased with the Insight's most important features. Indeed, they rarely complained about the car's mileage, design or engineering. Instead, many Insight owners have been known to gripe about the sub-par audio system and, this year, Honda finally heard the music.
Test Drive Notes: Honda Insight 2001
So, how well does all this technology work? Pretty well, actually. Driving around town, at speeds of up to 20 miles per hour, Tom thought the Insight accelerated adequately. That's because when you step down hard on the gas pedal, the DC motors kick in for additional torque. Although its technology allows the Insight to keep up with traffic, there's just no getting away from the fact that this is a very small and dangerous vehicle - especially in comparison to the average Camry or Taurus, to say nothing of a Ford Excursion. Not only is the Insight small, but it's also got an aluminum body, which is very light - the whole car weighs a measly 1,856 pounds.
InsightMan and his Honda Insight hybrid auto
January 8, 2001-The vehicle Daimler-Chrysler calls a truck for legislative reasons, but somehow qualifies as a car because it's based on the old-tech Plymouth Neon, was named by 50 journalists as the 2001 North American Car of the Year in conjunction with the North American International Auto Show. The other two contenders for the award were the Honda Insight and Toyota Prius. Well, one other thing is different: it gets only 68 mpg in the EPA highway mileage ratings. The reason for the drop from the 70 mpg rating of the 2000 Insight is a matter of optional equipment. The only optional equipment offered by Honda for the Insight is the air conditioning system. Of course, because Honda wanted to achieve the highest possible mileage rating when they introduced the Insight, they used an Insight without the air conditioning system. Less weight; less drag on the engine. The August Consumer Reports took a "First Look" at the Insight and they weren't very impressed. They said, "The Insight drives a lot like other small cars, but it feels slower, and you must shift the 5-speed stick often to get the car up to speed and keep it there. Handling isn't so agile, either. On bumpy roads, the ride is stiff, almost harsh. That ride, the small cabin, and pervasive road noise can be fatiguing on long trips.
AutoSpeed - Special Feature- Honda Insight
The Honda Insight is a car that you could never recommend anyone buy. At nearly AUD$50,000 it's about AUD$30,000 too expensive. It has a poor ride - in fact, its suspension needs quite a deal of sorting - and an amazing lack of interior room. But how is the battery charged? The 144-volt battery bank gets filled up by the electric motor, working in reverse. Whenever you abruptly lift the throttle the dashboard instruments show electric charge flowing back into the battery; this helps slow you down. And since the Insight tends to keep on rolling and rolling and rolling without this so-called regenerative braking at work, the Insight actually feels very normal when you lift off. Place your foot gently on the brake pedal and the electric braking force increases, while press harder again and the normal friction brakes come into effect. Little discs on the front (they were terribly warped in the press car) and drums at the back.
CanadianDriver: Used Car Review - Honda Insight, 2000 - 2003
The two power sources work together when you're on the road, with the gas engine as the primary power and the electric motor there to kick in for additional oomph when needed. To improve energy efficiency, the electric motor acts as a generator when the Insight in coasting or braking. Stop in any gear but first and the gas engine shuts off.
Honda Insight / Toyota Prius Comparison
Comparisons between the Honda Insight and Toyota Prius are inevitable. Technologically, they are two of the most advanced cars ever offered to consumers. They also share the same raison d'etre: to make more environmentally sound cars that a wide range of people will still want to own & drive.
2006 Honda Insight Hybrid Car Review - Edmunds.com
The Insight's cabin combines quasi-futuristic aesthetics with forthright functionality. The digital instrument cluster includes one meter to show you when the electric motor is assisting and when it's charging the battery pack, another meter to show instantaneous fuel economy, and a third display to show you the average mpg. If you're the driver of the Honda Insight, you can't keep your eyes off this stuff. Whether you feel excited by the challenge or merely guilty, you're motivated to improve the numbers before you. The Insight's power is adequate for most driving. However, the battery charge will drain quickly in the manual-shift version if you hold a high gear too long under heavy IMA assist. IMA assist and regenerative braking work much better with the CVT, as the balance of gas and electric power is managed automatically (which also makes draining the battery virtually impossible). The Honda Insight is highly susceptible to crosswinds, and the narrow tires easily track any groove in the pavement.
We are not an official site of Honda. We are just adepts of Honda religion. We own Honda cars, we drive Honda cars, we want to read about Honda cars and finally we want to tell you what news we found about our cars. All trademarks you can find on this site are belong to their respective owners. Honda is trademark of Honda Motor Co., Ltd. and its subsidiaries and affiliates. You can find official Honda information at official web site.
© Copyright 2008. Best Honda Cars