Road Tests: Long-Term Test

Video highlights of this vehicle

This was the third tour of duty in the Honda Insight for Consumer Advice Editor Philip Reed. Looking back, he found it interesting to note that the last time he drove the car, gas was nearly $2 a gallon (now, it's dropped below a dollar). Furthermore, he has driven many more cars and, consequently, can compare it to a broader range of vehicles.

Enough waffling. So, did he like it or not?

While Phil continues to be impressed with the engineering of this gas-electric hybrid, the comfort/convenience factor is taking its toll. It's great to get 50 to 60 miles per gallon, but there are cars on the market that sell for less, have four doors and a trunk, and get over 40 miles per gallon.

Still, the Insight was the first car to prove that the marriage of gas and electric motors in the U.S. market wouldn't end in divorce. It set the pace two years ago, and now the imitators are flooding in: the Ford Escape and Honda's own Civic. So, the Insight broke new ground and made a statement. The Edmunds.com staff drove the Insight for over 31,000 miles without a single significant mechanical problem. That's pretty amazing.

Phil also discovered that the little silver bullet still has a certain wow factor. A friend who is a film director and drives a Land Rover, asked him to "do lunch." Afterward, when he saw the Insight, he just had to have a ride. All the way, he was asking questions about its design and operation. Then, when they stopped at a light, the engine shut off. "What? Is it broken?" he demanded. "No. No. That's just the auto shut-off feature," Phil explained.

After the director got out, he poked his head back in the window and said, "Cool car." Driving away, Phil wondered what other vehicle would have elicited such a reaction.

Now for the laundry list of driving reactions. Phil was particularly aware of the harsh ride the Insight's low-resistance tires afford. On pavement that is grooved for water runoff or when going over expansion joints, the cabin vibrates, and the noise is loud enough to be heard over a cell phone. Speed bumps are unsettling, to say the least.

Following the Edmunds.com holiday party, Phil got stuck in a torrential rainstorm. Here is how he recorded this incident in his logbook: "I drove the Insight through a heavy thunderstorm, which left more than a foot of standing water in some places. The engine didn't sputter at all. The only noticeable reaction was that the brakes grabbed and were harder to modulate."

One of Phil's earlier complaints was the feeling of vulnerability the Insight gives the driver. He expanded on these feelings in the logbook: "The engine is great for fuel and performance, but in the safety department, this car might be lacking. Admittedly, my route along the 405 (freeway in Los Angeles) is filled with hulking SUVs which tower above me and fill the rearview mirror with their lights. Also, the car is very light -- I'm reminded of this every time I open or close the door."

Another element that makes the driver feel vulnerable is the lack of passing power. In a sports car, where the driver would also be sitting low, the speed and agility are defensive weapons -- like a boxer who is quicker than a larger and stronger opponent. But, as Phil noted, "If you shift according to the indicator on the dash, it leaves you with no acceleration for mid-range maneuvers, lane changes or merging. I wound it up far past the indicated shift levels, and it performed adequately. Still, the nagging shift arrow gave me a guilty conscience, reminding me I was wasting gas."

Rather than end this trilogy of long-term updates on a sour note, Phil wanted to return to the relevant subject of fuel economy. "The high mileage this impressive little car gets is only half the story. Since it uses less gas, it also emits less carbon dioxide. And this is a good thing. During the month I drove this car, I kept reading reports about global warming. One article flatly stated that the climate change is largely due to vehicle emissions. Furthermore, it stated that the United States is the most polluting country in the world. The article reminded me how there is an alternative to the ever-increasing trend toward larger, more powerful vehicles."

With this in mind, Phil decided to create a comparison between the Honda Insight and several of the other cars in the Edmunds.com long-term test fleet. Over two years, the staff typically drives 30,000 miles. How many gallons of gas does this consume? And what would this cost the owner of the car? (We assumed that gas would cost an average of $1.50 a gallon, and keep in mind that the Lincoln LS takes premium gas at $1.75 per gallon).

A cynic could argue that the Lincoln LS has the capability of carrying four or even five people and is thus a poor comparison. However, for much of its driving time, the Lincoln carried only one person. While this is not an "apples to apples" comparison, it is interesting to consider. And keep in mind that, when a car burns fewer gallons of gas, it also releases a lower volume of emissions.

So, in the final analysis, Phil felt the Honda Insight was not only a reliable and thrifty commuter car, it also set a valuable standard for conservation.

Current Odometer: 31,750
Best Fuel Economy: 63.0 mpg
Worst Fuel Economy: 47.5 mpg
Average Fuel Economy (over the life of the vehicle): 52.4 mpg
Body Repair Costs: None
Maintenance Costs: None
Problems: None