Complain about a product or service

Honda To Sell Hybrid For Under $20,000

Hopes to cut Toyota's lead in the U.S. hybrid market

March 11, 2009
Hybrid vehicles get very good gasoline mileage but have one distinct disadvantage — they tend to cost a lot more than a similar gas-powered car, wiping out all that fuel savings.

But now American Honda Motor Company — hoping to cut into Toyota's dominance of the U.S. hybrid market — has announced its hybrid, the 2010 Honda Insight, will go on sale later this month with an MSRP of $19,800.

The five-passenger, five-door hybrid is powered by what Honda calls its Integrated Motor Assist system comprised of a 1.3-liter i-VTEC gasoline engine and a 10-kilowatt electric motor that together contribute to an EPA-estimated city/highway fuel economy rating of 40/43 miles per gallon.

The Insight features the Ecological Drive Assist System, an innovation the company says can further enhance efficient vehicle operation while providing feedback related to individual driving styles.

"The all-new Honda Insight brings the cost of entry for hybrid technology within closer reach of an entirely new car-shopping audience," said Dick Colliver, executive vice president of American Honda. "In addition to making good environmental sense, hybrid technology is now entering a new era where it can also make financial sense for a broader range of customers."

The original Honda Insight debuted in 2000.

Honda says major features standard to the new Insight LX include front, front-side and side-curtain airbags; an anti-lock braking system; a continuously variable automatic transmission; Eco Assist; automatic climate control; tilt and telescope steering column; manual driver's seat height adjustment; power windows; a four-speaker AM/FM audio system with CD player and auxiliary audio input for external digital music players.

A more premium version of the Insight is also available. The Insight EX, with a MSRP of $21,300, adds to the Insight LX features with Vehicle Stability Assist; alloy wheels; cruise control; steering wheel-mounted paddle shifters; an upgraded audio system with six speakers; USB audio interface; a center console with armrest and storage compartment; and heated side mirrors with integrated turn signals.

A 4-cylinder engine with intelligent variable valve timing and a DC brushless electric motor forms the foundation of the IMA hybrid system. The electric motor, positioned in-line between the engine and the transmission, adds power during acceleration and in certain cruising situations, and recaptures energy from the vehicle's forward momentum during braking.

The Insight's IMA system has the capability to operate exclusively on electric power in certain low- to mid-speed cruising conditions. It can also provide cylinder deactivation during deceleration and an idle-stop feature when the vehicle is stationary.

With a 10.6-gallon fuel tank, Honda says the Insight delivers an estimated maximum driving range exceeding 400 miles. Models for sale in California and states that have adopted the California Air Resources Board ZEV standards receive an Advanced Technology Partial Zero Emissions Vehicle emissions rating, the company said.

Report Your Experience
If you've had a bad experience -- or a good one -- with a consumer product or service, we'd like to hear about it. All complaints are reviewed by class action attorneys and are considered for publication on our site. Knowledge is power! Help spread the word. File your consumer report now.

Share		Follow us on Twitter.