A number of automotive journalists have driven the Insight, and written about how it compares to driving other cars. While there are a few differences of opinion, there are many things that most or all of them agree upon.

Overall Impressions

Among all reviewers the overall impression of the Insight has been that it drives much like any other car. One reviewer summarized this well by saying "unlike virtually every other electric vehicle I’ve ever driven in the past 25 years, the Insight actually feels like a real car".

The biggest exception has been that some reviewers commented that it was a little disconcerting at first when the engine automatically shut off when waiting at a red light. However without exception all agreed that the "almost silent" automatic restart was perfectly seamless, with "no discernable lag".

Comfort and Ergonomics

For the most part, the Insight has received high marks for comfort. Several reviewers have commented on the ample passenger volume and leg room, with statements like "there's good room for a pair of professional basketball players in the supportive front bucket seats". One reviewer specifically stated that he felt the Insight would be quite comfortable for long trips, in contrast to many other high-efficiency cars.

Many reviewers have commented on the quiet interior at highway speeds. In part this is due to the low level of wind noise produced by the very aerodynamic body. The low rolling resistance tires are probably also contributing to the low noise level, though one reviewer mentioned that this varied depending on the road surface. Several reviewers have considered the engine/motor to be noisy during acceleration, describing it as "gruff" with a "slight and unobtrusive electric whine".

Reviewers have said that the ride is "good", though several have commented on ride harshness on rough roads or sharp bumps. However, it was said that "when we encountered rough railroad tracks ... the Insight's body felt strong".

Most reviewers have pointed out that the rear cargo area is small, though one reviewer said that "the Insight has a surprising amount of storage room under its hatchback". A couple reviewers have commented that rear visibility is poor, though again not everyone agreed.

The Insight's ergonomics have been well received. Most reviewers felt that the digital instrument panel was well laid out so that the information genuinely helped the driver in achieving the best efficiency possible. Reviewers also felt that controls for the various power accessories, automatic climate control and sound system were well positioned.

Several reviewers have been impressed by the build quality.

Performance and Handling

The Insight's handling has been generally well-received, with comments such as "responsive", "sharp handling" and "fun to drive". Some reviewers even went so far as to describe the Insight as "sporty"; although it doesn't provide sports-car acceleration.

Braking distances are said to be good, which is to be expected given the Insight's light weight. One reviewer commented that the brake pedal felt "mushy".

Reviewers have said contradictory things about power and acceleration, with comments ranging from "surprisingly sprightly", "accelerates swiftly", "lively" and "impressive low down torque" to "it takes just a little longer to accelerate", "mid-range acceleration ... is a dawdle" and "several glimmers shy of dazzling". These differences of opinion may have been due to different expectations. They may also have been due to some reviewers looking at Honda's performance figures, while others were reporting on their subjective impression from driving the car. In fact, one journalist seemed to sum this up well by saying "acceleration from rest is brisk rather than startling and although the Insight gains speed rapidly once on the move, the three-pot engine's lusty warbles make you think you are travelling faster than you are". There was general agreement that the Insight "cruises easily" at highway speed.

Honda claims that the low-rolling resistance tires exhibit good dry and wet pavement performance, but we suspect that they still don't have the grip of larger tires. One reviewer commented that they were able to get wheel spin when accelerating on dry pavement. We don't know to what extent this is due to the extra low-end torque provided by the electric motor, and what it extent it is due to lack of grip. Those living in northern climates may want to swap the standard tires for real snow tires during winter months.

The steering has been described as "quick", "sharp" and "responsive". One reviewer said that the electric power steering "feels a bit disconnected from the road", though another disagreed saying that there is "plenty of feedback through the well-weighted electronically-assisted power steering".

Several reviewers felt that the suspension provided good handling characteristics. One review stated that "handling is surprisingly good considering the car's economy MacPherson strut front and twist beam axle rear suspension", and went on to say "there's no excessive body roll in corners".

Finally, reviewers liked the manual transmission setup, mentioning the light, short-travel clutch, and describing the shifter as "slick" and "crisp".

One journalist summed up the driving experience by stating "Honda's engineers say they were looking for a driving experience not unlike a sporty Civic and in most respects that is true".