Road Tests: Long-Term Test

Video highlights of this vehicle

A forlorn wail resounded across the land, accompanied by wringing of hands and beating of chests, when Associate Editor Liz Kim found out that she was, once again, to be the driver of the Insight for the month. "Why, God, why?!" lamented Kim; you'll remember that the hybrid-powered vehicle was her unsatisfying chariot in August of last year.

Such is life; quit being such a drama queen, Kim. Ah, well, she logged her complaints anyway.

"Contrary to popular belief, it does rain in Southern California. So for much of the month, the Insight was driven in a pelting deluge. Somehow, I felt that the electric-powered Insight, whose motor already reminds me of that of a blow dryer, should come with one of those tags that reads 'Keep away from moisture! Warn children of the danger of electrocution!' Hmm — a car that relentlessly reminds you of its 'electric-ness' driven through this huge puddle — ah, there's nothing like the smell of fried automotive journalist in the morning!"

Sounds like fun, but nothing untoward happened, save for tires that slipped all over the place in the wet. The skinny low-profile tires don't provide the best traction; they also result in a bumpy ride over road anomalies, hitting each bump with a bone-jarring Thwack! that reverberated throughout the cabin. "While the taut suspension and quick steering provide a nicely balanced vehicle with which to slide through corners, the setup is really unforgiving to the driver. Plus, the motor may be near silent, but so much road noise is transmitted through the cabin that you really enjoy very few peaceful moments. It really reminded me of a go-kart, but not as entertaining."

Research Editor Erin Riches disagreed, telling about how "I kept it steady and full of electric battery power, and it pretended to like me a little. There were high wind warnings on both evenings at the junction of the 5 and Highway 14, but a wrenching grip on the steering wheel ensured that the Insight stayed in its lane with only a little flinching. During much of my driving, the cabin was full of wind roar — given the car's lightweight structure — but it was no worse than driving a convertible with the top up.

"I was again immensely pleased by the Insight's quiet composure at 80 mph — the car exhibits surprising vigor at freeway speeds and enables the driver to hang out in the left lane as desired."

The rigors of work required Kim to drive up the coast to Baghdad by the Bay, and she made all diligent effort to slough off the Insight. She ended up trading with Technical Editor Scott Memmer for his Volkswagen Passat, but he wasn't vexed; he was much more inclined to be kind to the car. "Contrary to some of my earlier observations, it actually gets off the line pretty quickly, accelerates decently and handles the roadways with aplomb and elan. It's kind of like driving a low-slung Civic with a conscience.

"The instrument cluster is informative and user-friendly. It tells the driver what he needs to know — fuel consumption, battery status levels, whether the electric motor is charging or assisting — without being obtrusive. Likewise, the controls, such as the shifter and steering wheel, work to inform the driver rather than distract him. In this, the car is classic Honda, an automaker known for an almost uncanny ability to build cars that skirt the line between boredom and function. I guess the pleasure in driving the Insight comes from knowing you're driving a Honda and getting over 50 miles to the gallon."

Kim, like in her previous update, took umbrage at the limited rear visibility out of the hindquarters of the Insight, further exacerbated in the rain by the rear wiper that is effective in clearing only half the surface area. She took out her frustrations by revving the hell out of the engine in low gears, and managed, at one point, to get only 39 mpg out of the three-cylinder 1.0-liter engine. And, oh, the woebegone engine - "I'd be tootin' along, then slow down to make a right turn at a green light. I'd slow down to around 12 mph, which is usually the time to downshift it into second then zoom out, right? 'Fraid not, Pepe. You have to slip it into first if you hope to maintain any momentum and then accelerate."

She also noted that the idle-stop feature doesn't engage as readily as it used to; when stopped at a light, with the tranny in neutral, clutch out and brake pedal pressed, it doesn't go into idle like it did before — not until you fully press the clutch and toggle around the shifter a bit. And true to its forthcoming 15,000-mile service interval, the maintenance required light is steadily on. Presently the odometer is slightly over 15,000, and we'll get it serviced ASAP.

Kim's vexation left us wondering how she could be so mean to such a cuuuuute car. Doesn't she know that the whole raison d'etre of the Insight isn't to give you driving ya-yas, but to have a feasible alternative to regular cars that imbibe precious fossil fuels and then discharge poisonous emissions? How could she incite the wrath of conscientious Insight owners?

She answers, "I know that the Insight is a technological sensation; it's a forerunner of the breed and certainly a step in the right direction in environmental terms. The thing is, you're just sacrificing too much to get back very little, especially in light of the fact that the Toyota Prius is such a more eminently livable car. Our Insight isn't even a SULEV vehicle, something the Prius manages to achieve."

Technology Editor Scott Memmer agreed, stating "I still like the Prius better for its five-person seating capacity and automatic transmission, though Honda has announced that the Insight will get an auto tranny and SULEV status in mid-2001."

The stench of leftist liberal guilt lingers with Kim, even as she thankfully hands off the keys to the Insight. Ah, well, we're certain that there's a special place reserved in hell for people who don't appreciate the Honda.

Current Odometer: 15,136
Best Fuel Economy: 52.1 mpg
Worst Fuel Economy: 45.8 mpg
Average Fuel Economy (over the life of the vehicle): 49.9 mpg
Body Repair Costs: None
Maintenance Costs: None
Problems: None