Used 2012 Honda Insight Consumer Reviews
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We have a limited number of reviews for the 2012 Insight, so we've included reviews for other years of the Insight since its last redesign.
Fair warning, don't do it
John, 01/22/2017
2012 Honda Insight PZEV 4dr Hatchback (1.3L 4cyl gas/electric hybrid CVT)
7 of 9 people found this review helpful
I'm writing this now because I have to trade my 2012 Insight in at 108k miles. The first year was great with the exception of the fact that when you stop, the engine cuts out (which is normal) but as it's syncing back up to accelerate, it rocks back and forth. One person got into a minor accident with me, she ran a red light because of texting and I didn't see her, she slammed into my passenger side front part of the car at around 15 mph. This crunched most of the car, I learned then just how fragile the car was, it's a tin can, someone hits you, you're not looking good. So otherwise, it got it's 44 mpg on the highway. I started a family and the backseat is tiny, the overhead part is tiny, don't buy this car if you're over 6 feet tall, it's just so uncomfortable for the back and even in the front, you can't get a good feeling in that seat ,it's very tight. So why am I trading it in? Well, the car broke down, engine light, VSA, Hill stability something, I dont know, end result was that oil has flooded the engine, seals broke down. It explains why I needed oil changes more often. the 0W-20 the car takes needed it every 2500 - 3000 miles (sometimes sooner towards the end). It wasn't leaking, the guy in the dealership (full support, how nice of them, of COURSE they'd support me, I'm trying to figure out just what's going on) said that the nut on the oil can on the bottom was loose and I was losing oil while driving. So now I have no engine, and a battery that's showing signs of needing to be replaced, and it's just very disappointing. The rule is, if you buy hybrid, save up a bunch because the battery bill will be big. If you buy this hybrid, don't. It's got way too many issues compared to even a normal hybrid, people don't even want to work on this because of the compactedness of the engine. I bought a Honda thinking it would last, not this Honda. No way. Avoid!
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LOVE my 2011 EX Insight
rjbjr5, 05/31/2011
2011 Honda Insight EX 4dr Hatchback (1.3L 4cyl gas/electric hybrid CVT)
13 of 19 people found this review helpful
The main reason I love the Honda Insight is the gas mileage I'm getting. I had a 2006 Pacifica, getting 18-19 MPGs... now I average about 42 MPG just running errands and back & forth to work. Drove to NH & back and got 48.6 MPGs - calculated manually (miles/gallons). I am saving at least 1/2 my monthy car payment in gas each month! Driving it is fun & feels sturdy... it's a smooth ride and I never can tell when transitioning from gas to battery etc. Since this is only the 2nd year of the new Insight, I'm really hoping the engine etc. is made as well as all other Hondas and will last just as long... time will tell.
2012 Honda Insight for sale near you
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- Base 4dr HatchbackMSRP: $7,999304 mi away
- LX 4dr HatchbackMSRP: $16,999308 mi away
- Base 4dr HatchbackMSRP: $7,995355 mi away
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50K Miles Later
spartan949, 09/18/2013
2011 Honda Insight EX 4dr Hatchback (1.3L 4cyl gas/electric hybrid CVT)
6 of 8 people found this review helpful
I have owned my Insight since March 2011 and have driven 50,000 miles. I have averaged 41.3 MPG for the entire life of the car so far, which is what I expected and am very pleased. I have had to do nothing but 5 oil changes, air filter, cabin filter and one CVT trans fluid change as recommended. There have been no other issues with the vehicle. Tires are finally bald and will be replaced at 50K miles as well. Number don't lie though, I did the calculations and with the lower price and good fuel economy you would have to own the Prius for 7-8 years before it would start saving you money over the Insight.
Worst car I've ever owned!!
KB, 08/07/2016
2012 Honda Insight EX PZEV 4dr Hatchback w/Navigation (1.3L 4cyl gas/electric hybrid CVT)
9 of 13 people found this review helpful
Bought a 2012 with 96,000. Yes, the mileage was a little high but we got a brat deal. My husband drives an 11 year old Accord and has never has as much as a sneeze. During our last oil change, our mechanic commented how low the oil level was and thought it was due to my neglegance for not bringing it in sooner. 6 months later, the engine died. And I mean beyond repair. To replace the engine would have been 10,000 and that still wouldn't have fixed all the problems we had. Our mechanic was appalled to see a Honda such poor quality and ours is not an outlier. Please, please do not buy this car!! Do yourself a favor and spend the extra money on a Prius, that's what we did and it is a far, far superior car.
- Safety
- Technology
- Performance
- Interior
- Comfort
- Reliability
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Enjoying my '11 EX Insight
benjiej, 01/21/2011
2011 Honda Insight EX 4dr Hatchback (1.3L 4cyl gas/electric hybrid CVT)
12 of 20 people found this review helpful
OK, I had a 2010 Insight LX, but only for a few months. There were many things I didn't like, but most of them were due to features I had given up by choosing the LX instead of the EX. I have been driving the 2011 EX for about a month and I am much happier with this car. Some of this is subjective, but it seems to drive better than the 2010, the transitions from electric to gas aren't as noticeable (the 2010 shuddered annoyingly), the Auto Stop engages for longer periods at stop lights, and of course I love the features the EX offers over the LX. (note that the 2011 LX has gained many features that my 2010 did not have). For the way I drive it's a great car.