Honda Insight 1.3 i-VTEC IMA Hybrid CVT HS
What is it?
Once in the vanguard of Honda’s low CO2 emission hybrid assault on the SME small fleet market, the five-door Insight hatchback, with its petrol/elctric drivetrain, is coming to the end of its shelf life as Honda concentrates its fire-power on diesel engines.
What’s hot?
- Newer cars may have overtaken the Honda Insight in the low CO2 stakes, but the car still delivers on 99g/km CO2 and economy of 68.9mpg…
- …which for company car users paying tax at 20% means a miserly £43 monthly company car tax bill for 2014/15.
- Our review car averaged over 50mpg on a combination of short urban runs and motorway work.
- Eco mode button helps you boost economy.
- If you’re used to diesel rumble, the Insight is pleasantly quiet (although occasional road surfaces do catch the tyres out with roar).
- If you’re gentle on the throttle the CVT transmission is seemlessly smooth (as it should be) with auto stop also unobtrusive.
- Decent spec includes four electric windows, front fogs, heated front seats, rear parking sensors and 16 inch alloys.
- Usefully deep underfloor compartment in the boot.
- In-built Honda reliability a major plus point for small businesses wanting cast-iron reliability.
What’s not?
- Accelerate hard and the engine sounds pained; use the Sport mode on the auto transmission and things get worse with the high pitched whine of the CVT joining in the commotion…
- …best not to, and drive more gently, more relaxed.
- There’s no sat nav or Bluetooth on this spec – business users would be better off paying the additional £1k for the HS-T spec model.
- Interior plastics are hard and scratchy.
- Flat boot floor is useful but battery means boot is shallow.
- Steering is light around town, but needs more feel on the motorway to prevent lane wander.
- The Insight has been overtaken for CO2 emissions and fuel economy by the brilliant 1.6 diesel engine in its sister Civic hatchback.