Here’s a car reviewer who is less than impressed with the new Honda Hybrid:
Much has been written about the Insight, Honda’s new low-priced hybrid. We’ve been told how much carbon dioxide it produces, how its dashboard encourages frugal driving by glowing green when you’re easy on the throttle and how it is the dawn of all things. The beginning of days.
So far, though, you have not been told what it’s like as a car; as a tool for moving you, your friends and your things from place to place.
So here goes. It’s terrible. Biblically terrible. Possibly the worst new car money can buy. It’s the first car I’ve ever considered crashing into a tree, on purpose, so I didn’t have to drive it any more.
It gets better.
Enjoyed the read. I’ve also enjoyed my 2003 Civic Hybrid with now 93,000 miles on it. I’m not completely sold, however (not sure if my next car will be a hybrid) because the idea of eventually having to replace the batteries has always loomed large as a cost. Also, I chose the 5 speed, not the CVT, so I don’t have the crying baby effect. Mileage is ~46mpg reliably, though heavily reliant on driving technique. My wife and I achieve noticeably different mpg around town.
It’s ironic that Clarkson of all people would complain about CVT when it permits 2010 Insight outdrag 2010 Prius despite worse power loading. What a moron. And he’s supposed to be a star in a performance car show?
I think he was complaining about the noise and let his snark get in the way. My understanding of CVT is that it set the RPMs at max torque and held them there, so you got max acceleration throughout.
This review struck me as a bit deranged, so I looked for a second opinion. Edmunds seems to give a thumbs-up.
http://www.edmunds.com/honda/insight/2010/testdrive.html
I didn’t say it was an accurate or fair review (how would I know?). It is entertaining, though.
They brought back the Insight?
What were they thinking?
(Plus, notanexpert, note that even Edmunds has to admit it’s “noisy”, and their plusses all seem to be “it’s just like a Fit, plus green!”.
Then again, for nearly $20k for something the size of a Fit, I think you’d be mad to not buy a Civic and spend the savings on fuel – plus increased drivability and space.
But then again again, I’d get the Accord. 21/30 is perfectly workable fuel economy even compared to a notional 45 – the difference on the highway is between 2 and 3 gallons of fuel to go 90 miles. That amounts to perhaps $350 a year if one drives 15,000 miles.
That’s a very small price to pay for power, space, and comfort.)
They brought back the Insight?
What were they thinking?
They brough back the name “Insight”, not the car. Both are hybrids but the original Insight was a 2 seater and the new one seats 4, among other changes.
I use to be annoyed with Jeremy Clarkson. I’ve since grown to enjoy Top Gear. You can only take it so seriously, before you realize it is just entertainment. He ripped the Tesla as well, in that it was sporty, but heavy, and lasted about 50 miles, not 200 miles as rated.
Personally, I have a long commute. One that should be able to take advantage of a hybrid. But I still haven’t found the price increase to match the savings in gas. However, I’m starting to take a hard look at the Ford Fusion Hybrid, because it has a 700 mile rated range, and it has all the bells and whistles of a fully equiped Accord.
“The purpose of computing is insight, not numbers.” — Richard Hamming
“The purpose of computing numbers is not yet in sight.” — some wag
Clarkson is honest and hilarious. Cherish his talent.
Clarkson needs to learn more about hydrogen, and diesel for that matter.
Jim needs to learn more about Clarkson. Warning Jim, don’t click this link, you might become less ignorant.
Jim, did you even click Rand’s link and read page 2 or 3?
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/05/15/AR2009051501319_pf.html
“Welcome the 2010 Honda Insight gas-electric hybrid sedan/hatchback. It is to hybrid automotive technology what populism is to politics — designed and marketed for the masses.
Offered at several thousand dollars less than the similarly sculpted Toyota Prius, another gas-electric with an arrow-like body designed to reduce wind resistance, the new Insight is bound to win buyers largely at Toyota’s expense.”
“The new Insight gets 40 miles per gallon in the city and 43 miles per gallon on the highway for a combined city/highway mileage of 41.5 miles per gallon. Those numbers give the Prius nearly nine miles per gallon more in combined city/highway mileage rankings. But, considering its pricing and overall quality and performance, I happily would choose the new Insight over the Prius.
My road-test crew — my wife, Mary Anne, and Washington Post associate for vehicle evaluations Ria Manglapus — join me in that assessment.
The three of us deemed the Insight spirited and comfortable enough to take on long trips, which we did on drives between Northern Virginia and New York. We loved the automobile’s fit and finish — excellent overall craftsmanship employing high-quality cabin materials and featuring an ergonomically smart interior that’s easily among best in class.”
Warren Brown is the Posts Car Guy and usually a sober columnist.
Leland:
Yes, I did. Clarkson hypes hydrogen, which is and always will be the energy storage solution of the future, and diesel, which is looking at skyrocketing demand over the next twenty years (and therefore can be expected to cost more than gasoline again once the recession eases). Click my name for details.
The short version is: if everyone in the U.S. switched to gas hybrids the demand for, and cost of gasoline would go down. If everyone switched to diesels the demand and cost of diesel would shoot up.
If everyone switched to gas hybrids, the demand for nickle would go up. If everyone switched to gas hybrids, the demand for lithium would go up. If everyone switched to gas hybrids, every car accident will require a hazmat crew.
Jim, I understand supply and demand. You’re the one who voted for Obama.