If you are reading this story in 2024, the chances are, Honda still doesn't have any products on sale with a plug. Honda has always been a green vehicle company with a product line focused squarely on efficiency. As recently as 2021, Honda had the highest fleet average fuel economy and lowest CO2 emissions of any major full-line automaker in America. However, the battery-electric wave crashed over Honda before it could don a wetsuit. What Honda does have is a few hybrids from which a green car shopper can choose.

Before the BEVs became all the rage, Honda created a civic-sized hybrid-electric vehicle called the Insight. The name was an homage to an early vehicle Honda produced in the 1990s and 2000’s, and then again from 2009-2013 in the U.S. market. During its time in production, the Insight featured cutting-edge green technology that rivaled the Toyota Prius.

Our review here is on the 2018-2022 Honda Insight, which we had the pleasure of testing back when it was still on sale as a new car.

If you are looking for a great Honda hybrid sedan, look no further than the Honda Insight. The Insight would make a great rideshare vehicle, commuter car, or general-purpose sedan. The Insight will appeal most to drivers who are not looking for straight-line performance but instead want the very best fuel economy possible in a compact/mid-size sedan. Counted among the Insight’s many plusses is an excellent safety rating.

The Honda Insight is a sedan, so its primary competitor may be viewed as the Toyota Camry Hybrid. Camry Hybrids have a reputation for legendary reliability and, in our testing, were always surprisingly easy to live with. Shoppers may find more Camry Hybrids from which to choose. The Camry may also be a smidge more expensive if the age and miles are the same as an Insight being compared. MPG is similar, with the Insight having a slight edge. There is a larger aftermarket industry servicing the Camry Hybrid ownership, particularly when it comes to battery cell replacements.

The Prius is a bit smaller, but is a hatchback. No vehicle has a better reliability history than the Prius, and there are many more in the used vehicle marketplace. Although, as Prius shoppers quickly find out, they sell at a premium. There is a larger aftermarket industry servicing the Prius Hybrid ownership, particularly when it comes to battery cell replacements.

If you want fantastic mileage, a hatchback, and also outstanding performance, the 2023 and newer Prius is the way to go. The new Prius Hybrid is quick, looks great, and is fun to drive. AWD is available. If you are reading this and didn't realize the Insight had been discontinued in 2022 and want a new vehicle, you simply must go try a new Prius before you go much further. While you are in the Toyota showroom, why not check out the half-dozen or so other hybrids the company has on sale for around $30K to $35K? Want a Prius you can drive on electric power alone all the way to work? Check out the Prius Prime.

It is hard to ignore the similarities between the Insight and the Civic. In truth, the Insight was basically a Civic Hybrid. If you don't value fuel economy and instead want more performance, the Civic is the way to go.

In its last year of production, 2022, the Insight had an MSRP, including Destination charge of $26,205 for the EV trim and $30,235 for the Touring trim. We checked out used car listings for the Honda Insight and found EX trim prices were around $18K for good condition examples with mileage under 75K. Touring trim Insights have a price of roughly $4K higher. We found a low-mileage 2021 Certified Pre-Owned Insight EX with just 36,000 miles on the odometer priced at $21,000 being sold by a local Massachusetts Honda dealer.

The easiest way to describe how the Insight drives is to compare it to a Civic. It feels like a Honda Civic with an engine that is weaker and noisier. Because it is. That does not mean you won’t love the Insight. If you are buying a vehicle for commuting or rideshare, your enjoyment will come when you spend thousands less per year on fuel. The Insight had a comfortable ride with capable handling. It had no bad habits. We assume that shoppers of the Insight will take a test drive, but if you don't, be aware that the Insight is not a quick vehicle. Our section on options has some important notes about why you may want to skip the LX trim.

The Honda Insight was tested back in 2022 by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety and earned the highest possible score, Top Safety Pick +. In 2019, NHTSA scored the Insight five stars. The Insight is one of the safest sedans one can buy.

Honda earned a solid reputation for reliability and durability over many decades, but by 2022 had dropped to below average in the J.D. Power Dependability Study. Although reliability information for the low-volume Insight is sparse, Consumer Reports rated it ⅗ for model years 2019 and 2020. Failing AC compressors and minor body issues were its main flaws.

For most of its run, there were three Insight trims: LX, EX, and Touring. For 2022, there were only two trims of the Insight produced: EX and Touring. One tip we would offer shoppers is to avoid the base LX trim, which was produced during earlier years. It lacked Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. The LX trim disappeared as the Insight approached its final year of production. The EX had a 52 MPG Combined rating, and the Touring, with its less efficient tires, had a 48 MPG rating. If you are buying an Insight with hypermiling in mind, the EX is the way to go.

Honda has one of the shortest warranty periods in the automotive industry. Notably, the Insight Hybrid has a longer warranty on its hybrid bits. An extended warranty on the Insight may be a good investment. The AC compressor has a bad history. If you opt for a third-party warranty, ensure that part would be covered, and also check that the hybrid system will be part of your coverage. Buying a Certified Pre-Owned Insight would be a wise choice if you can find one.

• Basic: 3 years / 36k miles
• Powertrain: 5 years / 60k miles
• Hybrid Components: 8 years / 100,000 miles
• If buying used, consider our list of best extended warranty providers

Today, the Honda Insight is only available as a used car. In 2022, there were 7,628 delivered, so the newest Insight one could find used would be about two years old. Based on our research of the used market, the Insight had a very high price relative to conventionally-powered cars like the Civic during the past few years, but with gas prices having stabilized and inventory growing, it has seen a drop in value. Those Honda fans who want a Civic-sized hybrid will find the Insight a great used car if they can locate one to purchase at a fair price.

Here’s a tip: If you shop for a used Insight, ensure the AC works properly, and check to see if the AC compressor has been replaced. Early models had multiple failures, and a replaced AC compressor would be a good thing to see.

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