Used 2012 Honda Insight PZEV 4dr Hatchback (1.3L 4cyl gas/electric mild hybrid CVT) Consumer Reviews

Fair warning, don't do it

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!