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Used 2001 Honda Insight Consumer Reviews

4.9 out of 5 stars
27 reviews

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5 out of 5 stars

Free Car?

Kris, 03/16/2008
2001 Honda Insight 2dr Hatchback (1.0L 3cyl gas/electric hybrid 5M)
6 of 6 people found this review helpful

I have a 75 mile daily commute to work (San Diego to Irvine). I was driving a Nissan Xterra (paid off) getting 16 mpg and paying $680 a month in gas. I bought my Honda Insight for $11,000 and have a monthly payment of $225 a month. The Insight gets 50 mpg (+-2 mpg) even with all the SoCal hills and traffic. I am now paying $210 a month in gas. This is a total cost (both car payment and gas) of $435 a month, a savings of $245 a month in just the gas for my Xterra. It feels like I'm saving money and I got a free car in the process. Pretty wild! I still own the Xterra but I only use it for Home Depot runs. All this and it's a blast to drive around town. My advice...Buy one!

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5 out of 5 stars

An exceptional car

Ricky C. Savage, 11/22/2015
updated 12/06/2017
2001 Honda Insight 2dr Hatchback w/Air Conditioning (1.0L 3cyl gas/electric hybrid 5M)
13 of 16 people found this review helpful

This car produces exceptionally good fuel economy. I average about 50-54 mpg regardless of how I drive and I drive it most of the time in the 60-75 mph. My Insight is a 2001 that I bought in March 2012 when it had 16,095 miles on it. I bought it from a dealer who told me the older lady who owned it got ill shortly after she bought it and it sat in the garage for most of the time between 2001 and 2012. My mileage now (Nov 2015) was 75,926 at my last fill-up so I have put almost 60,000 on the car in the last 3 years and 8 months. I needed to replace the main battery shortly after I bought the car probably because it sat around for much of the 11 years the lady owned it. When I first bought it, the gas mileage ranged from a low of 47.7 to a high of 60.3 mpg. I would guess the average mileage was about 53-54 mpg. I calculated the gas mileage by keeping meticulous records of when I filled the gas tank and I compared the Insight's mpg with that calculated by hand. The results were within 1 to 2 mpg of what I manually calculated so the readout gives a pretty honest record of the mpg actually achieved. The largest discrepancy was about 3 mpg but it did not happen very often (it happened about 3 times). The gas mileage was as low as 42.4 mpg on a hot day in July (when I use my a/c a lot) and the average gas mileage now after all those miles is around 51 mpg. I do drive pretty fast now so that could be a factor because I generally drive 70-75 mph on the highways and I spend a lot of time on the highway. I have not had too much problem with my Insight and I really love this car. I take the Insight on long trips because I prefer better gas mileage with my Insight as compared to my Lincoln Town Car (although the Town Car is much more comfortable!). This is an update on 30 Nov 2016. I still love the car and it has a dent on the passenger side door when a person at Home Depo tossed a shopping cart at it and put a big dent in it. Also it has a scratch on the driver's side where it looks like my wife must of scraped something. I still love the car and it still gets great gas mileage with over 86,500 miles on it. Gas mileage averaging 50 mpg in the cooler winters here in Las Vegas and it drops to the low 40s during the months of Jun, Jul and August when I use the A/C during the hot days. It has returned to the low 50s in September. Update 3 June 2017 -- I still love this car and wished more cars were being made that get between 42 and 54 mpg (and that is with me manually calculating the mileage)! Update 5 December 2017 -- I still love this car and nothing has made me change my mind about it!!

Safety
4 out of 5 stars
Technology
5 out of 5 stars
Performance
4 out of 5 stars
Interior
5 out of 5 stars
Comfort
4 out of 5 stars
Reliability
4 out of 5 stars
Value
5 out of 5 stars
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5 out of 5 stars

Best Car I've Ever Owned

SemperJoe, 03/22/2009
2001 Honda Insight 2dr Hatchback (1.0L 3cyl gas/electric hybrid 5M)
6 of 7 people found this review helpful

This is the coolest and best car I have ever own. I have saved thousands of dollars on gas driving this - not to mention helping the environment. I highly recommend this car to anyone considering one!!!

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4.75 out of 5 stars

50+mpg, totally trouble free

Dave, 06/04/2006
2001 Honda Insight 2dr Hatchback (1.0L 3cyl gas/electric hybrid 5M)
3 of 3 people found this review helpful

Except for no center armrest in console the best designed most efficient vehicle I have ever owned. Fun, cute, 10K miles mid-February to early june. 53mpg. average--with automatic, AC, PS, PB, PW, P. locks, P. mirrors. Comfortable and surprisingly roomy. 5 day round trip Tucson to San Francisco, driver and passenger and luggage - 38 gallons, $105, 1900 miles! And American Honda transferred the warranty (8 yr./100K miles) for $50 transfer fee, then informed me they had extended the driveline warranty from 8/100K to 10/150K.

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5 out of 5 stars

BEST Car I ever owned

Tooler1988, 08/25/2009
2001 Honda Insight 2dr Hatchback (1.0L 3cyl gas/electric hybrid 5M)
5 of 7 people found this review helpful

Why they stopped making this car I will never understand. Running original plugs at 230000 miles. On 3rd set of tires, Getting 70000 per set. Only thing that had to be replaced was the air fuel sensor, which took me less then 10 min to do. Great in the snow.

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5 out of 5 stars

2001 Honda Insight

sparky23, 03/29/2008
2001 Honda Insight 2dr Hatchback (1.0L 3cyl gas/electric hybrid 5M)
2 of 2 people found this review helpful

Over my lifetime, I have bought eight new cars from a Karman Ghia to a Cadillac. This by far is the best car, new or used, I have ever had. Great conversational piece, incredible reliability, and unbelievably economical. Oh and did I mention that the all aluminum body does not rust. It still looks like new.

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4.38 out of 5 stars

definitely no loser (a tad expensive tho

snoodle, 03/06/2002
2001 Honda Insight 2dr Hatchback (1.0L 3cyl gas/electric hybrid 5M)
2 of 3 people found this review helpful

60 mpg for the past 6000 miles, highest mpg on trips is over 100mpg one-way and in the 80's both ways

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4.75 out of 5 stars

Love my Insight

damonhenry, 04/09/2002
2001 Honda Insight 2dr Hatchback (1.0L 3cyl gas/electric hybrid 5M)
1 of 1 people found this review helpful

After a year of use I still love my Insight.

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4.75 out of 5 stars

2001 Honda Insight

charliec, 04/07/2002
2001 Honda Insight 2dr Hatchback (1.0L 3cyl gas/electric hybrid 5M)
1 of 2 people found this review helpful

The Honda Insight is a great car. This car handles well, responds quickly, has remarkable acceleration and of course the trademark fuel economy. Great car, great efficiency, low emissions, more car makers should get a clue and offer vehicles such as this (and for that matter more car BUYERS should get a clue and demand cars such as this.)

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5 out of 5 stars

title

ronsugiyama, 04/16/2002
2001 Honda Insight 2dr Hatchback (1.0L 3cyl gas/electric hybrid 5M)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful

handles like a real sports car, exceptional performance through the corners. it really needs to have cruise control.

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5 out of 5 stars

Mine is running good at 208,000 miles!

Johnny916, 04/27/2010
2001 Honda Insight 2dr Hatchback w/Air Conditioning (1.0L 3cyl gas/electric hybrid CVT)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful

Great car to own, I've had several of them already. The latest one came with CVT Transmission/AC/Cruise Control. Love them, I think it's the most reliable vehicle on the road because it's so light and doesn't take a lot of engine power to move it around.

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4.25 out of 5 stars

2001 Honda Insight

floatee, 03/13/2002
2001 Honda Insight 2dr Hatchback (1.0L 3cyl gas/electric hybrid 5M)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful

Great gas mileage, but not as high as advertised (I have a 58 mpg average right now). Mileage drops significantly in winter. Road handling diminishes in rain/snow/ice/wind conditions. Storage is poor, but that is obvious before buying. I have a 40 mile round trip commute in Chicago-area traffic and have taken it on a few longer trips (500+ miles) too.

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5 out of 5 stars

Millenium Transporter

Heb, 02/12/2003
2001 Honda Insight 2dr Hatchback (1.0L 3cyl gas/electric hybrid 5M)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful

This Little Car is a 10. The only complaint ... it's affected by crosswinds because of it's low weight. Tailwinds provide up to 90 MPG. Average MPG has been 61.

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5 out of 5 stars

Could be a "10"

Hans Blixxxx, 02/16/2003
2001 Honda Insight 2dr Hatchback (1.0L 3cyl gas/electric hybrid 5M)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful

This car is as promised with no major sacrifices.

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4.88 out of 5 stars

Great Car for the Money

sherri schroeder, 01/31/2005
2001 Honda Insight 2dr Hatchback (1.0L 3cyl gas/electric hybrid 5M)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful

This car has been a outstanding vehicle for a commuter, you can't beat its performance or mileage. The tire size is a major factor in the mileage factor even though they have to be ordered they are not a regular stocked tire size. I someone is thinking about this car for its mileage, I highly recommend it.

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4.75 out of 5 stars

Still love my Insight

Z6throck, 10/11/2003
2001 Honda Insight 2dr Hatchback (1.0L 3cyl gas/electric hybrid 5M)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful

I've had my Insight for almost three years now. Every month my mpg gets a little better (averaging about 65 mpg per tank now). The car is wonderful for my daily 50 mile commute and does well for small trips like going to the grocery store.

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4.88 out of 5 stars

One word, AWESOME!

Brian Tennis, 03/01/2005
2001 Honda Insight 2dr Hatchback (1.0L 3cyl gas/electric hybrid 5M)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful

Not sure why Edmunds rates this car so low, could it be that that simply did not give something so unique and worthwile a chance? The amazing gas mileage aside, this is a VERY reliable and fun car to drive. My wife and I bought it brand new and have put over 75,000 miles on this vehicle and have had to do only minor repairs. Windshield wipers, oil changes and tires come to mind. This is a great car for us, however it may not be for everyone. You cannot have a lead foot or be an overly large human being with this car. It's small and it's not going to do any burn-outs, but it just might make individuals think about their actual driving needs and not some imaginary status symbol. SUVs suck!

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4.13 out of 5 stars

Great Little Car

mh54, 04/11/2005
2001 Honda Insight 2dr Hatchback (1.0L 3cyl gas/electric hybrid 5M)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful

My 2001 Insight is coming up on 100,000 miles of oil-change only driving. It has been an excellent automobile! Yes, I wish it was a little more powerful, but 60 MPG does not come without cost.

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4.88 out of 5 stars

the little car that could

bruce mcgrew, 02/01/2004
2001 Honda Insight 2dr Hatchback (1.0L 3cyl gas/electric hybrid 5M)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful

I was getting 75 M.P.G. when I owned this car .I also completed 961 miles on one tank.

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5 out of 5 stars

2001 Honda Insight

inetwiz, 04/07/2004
2001 Honda Insight 2dr Hatchback (1.0L 3cyl gas/electric hybrid 5M)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful

I am extremely happy with this car. The design attention to detail is amazing, and making changes (such as my full stereo setup) was very easy. It always gets looks while driving. Everyone knows what it is, but not much about it.

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4 out of 5 stars

Good for Commutes

Yvonne333, 03/04/2002
2001 Honda Insight 2dr Hatchback (1.0L 3cyl gas/electric hybrid 5M)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful

All in all, the Insight has done well as a commuter car. I commute 88 miles each day. Gas has been great. According to advertisements, I should be getting between 62 and 68 mpg. Reality-I get on average 58 hwy & 52 city. Warning! I fell into the California clean air trap. According to California DMV, the Insight DOES NOT qualify for carpool status for clean air vehicles. Unfortunately, California made that a rule in 2000 and didn't mention it to dealers still promoting this perk.

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5 out of 5 stars

Best efficiency by a long shot

Charlie, 07/31/2005
2001 Honda Insight 2dr Hatchback (1.0L 3cyl gas/electric hybrid 5M)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful

If you really want high mpg, this is the car to get. I've got 83 mpg average since I've owned it, and 93 mpg on the last tank. People worry about cargo capacity, etc., but I've fit some pretty huge things in, and for the gas savings, you can rent a U-haul when you need it.

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4.63 out of 5 stars

Great Commuter Car!

Sam, 08/22/2005
2001 Honda Insight 2dr Hatchback (1.0L 3cyl gas/electric hybrid 5M)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful

The Insight has proven to be a very economical car for me. I drive about 160 miles round trip to and from work 5 days a week and my gas bill is about a fourth of what it costs to drive my Ford Ranger. It has reasonably good performance for a hybrid vehicle although it takes some getting used to. It's kind of fun to challenge yourself and see how much mileage you can squeeze out of a tank of gas. My personal best is 57.6 mpg in mixed city and highway driving. The car is well put together except for the dashboard LCD display, which has some leakage (common in early Insights). Overall a very enjoyable car to own and operate but that factory stereo has got to go!

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4.5 out of 5 stars

Ingrid the Insight

Shoe, 04/12/2006
2001 Honda Insight 2dr Hatchback (1.0L 3cyl gas/electric hybrid 5M)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful

This is the best purchase I've ever made. 90k miles later, I'm still loving it. You must be committed to the cause of low emissions and reduced fuel consumption, because a two seater with fewer horses than most riding mowers is not for everyone. I can fit two sets of golf clubs in the back and my passenger and I are very comfortable. Smart car. You'd look smart driving it.

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4.88 out of 5 stars

Long Live the Insight!

Dan L, 05/27/2006
2001 Honda Insight 2dr Hatchback (1.0L 3cyl gas/electric hybrid 5M)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful

It's a tragedy that Honda never really promoted the Insight in the USA. We love it - peppy, great gas mileage (30-50 city, 55-70 hwy), great looking. Now why would anybody need a larger car for commuting? A geniune joy to drive. We're sad to hear that Honda is discontinuing it in Sept. 2006. It will be missed by those who had the good sense to get one. Honda would be smart to produce a hybrid Fit (our other car).

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4.5 out of 5 stars

LOVE my Insight

Fritz, 05/01/2003
2001 Honda Insight 2dr Hatchback (1.0L 3cyl gas/electric hybrid 5M)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful

I've had this car 1 year, and have been VERY satisfied. It is a very cool looking car, and is Honda's usual high quality. Fun to drive, and excellent milage.

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4.5 out of 5 stars

LOVE my Insight

fritz, 05/01/2003
2001 Honda Insight 2dr Hatchback (1.0L 3cyl gas/electric hybrid 5M)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful

I've had this car 1 year, and have been VERY satisfied. It is a very cool looking car, and is Honda's usual high quality. Fun to drive, and excellent milage.

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