I was able to sample my very first Honda a few days ago thanks to the awesome service called Zipcar, a national chain of car share services. I rented a 2012 Honda Insight, marking the second time I have ever been in a Hybrid vehicle. As a self-proclaimed hypermiler this was an opportunity to really put my skills to work.
First a little background information. Zipcar is unique service. Provided that you pass the background check and get cleared by their insurance company, you can rent a car by the hour instead of by the day. For a little over $20 I rented a Milano Red Insight for two and a half hours. I filled that time really getting to know it inside and out.
Thanks to its rival, the iconic Prius, the unique aerodynamic form of the Insight instantly lets you know youre in for a hybrid driving experience. The recent facelift brought more efficient LED taillights as well as distinctive blue LEDs on the front that Honda uses to differentiate its electrically assisted models. The design is certainly a far cry from the iconic shape that was revolutionary when the Insight was launched in 1999. In reality Hondas CR-Z carries the torch design-wise for that car. It certainly isnt the prettiest car, but I really like the unique, purpose built shape.
Honda interiors, since the previous generation Honda Civic, have been driver oriented, futuristic, and just plain awesome in my book. I found the stacked gauges to be easy to use and awesome to look at. Everything that the driver needs is close at hand except for the radio which can be a bit of an awkward reach. The HVAC controls are laid out right next to the steering wheel and I felt comfortable with them instantly. For a car that starts at $18,500 the interior materials are on par with almost every subcompact on the market. Comfortable seats and well thought out ergonomics make the interior of the Insight a relaxing place to be.
The real question is the most obvious. How fuel efficient is it. The answer to that question is 54 miles per gallon in city driving, and 65 mpg in mixed driving. For erence, that is twice as efficient around town as my 2012 Hyundai Accent with less effort. Hondas Integrated Motor Assist (IMA for short) is not designed to operate in full EV (electric vehicle) mode except for under light load conditions. The point of IMA is to assist the engine when in an inefficient scenario such as acceleration. I havent driven the Prius or other hybrids on the market so I dont have anything to compare it to. The final word is the system works and it works very well. Working in tandem with my skilled, light right foot this is an extremely efficient car.
What surprised me the most about the Insight was just how fun it was to drive. The steering wasnt very communicative and was extremely light, but it was just so easy to place the car where you wanted it to go. Fuel efficiency is important to me, but I also want a car that still makes me feel like Im in control. The Insight isnt going to be setting lap times at a race track, but its a lot of fun around town.
After the two hours were over I dropped it off at its permanent home on the campus of Indiana University. I was actually a little sad to have to say good-bye to this little fuel miser. If youre asking would I rent this car again? The answer is definitely! The Insight isnt a sports car, nor is it a hot hatch, but it was a genuinely fun car to drive and it makes it easy to save fuel on the congested streets of Bloomington, IN.
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