My Review of the Honda Insight (3 Months 7,500 Miles)
This is my review of the 2010 Honda Insight. I have waited 90 Days and over 7,500 miles before writing this review.
Many might not like this review but its the truth and my opinion of the car. I'm not a troll or flaming this forum. I honestly waited 3 months to see if my opinions of the car would change. To be fair I will list the things I like as well.
My previous car was a 2007 Audi A4. This is my first "Compact Car" and my very first Honda.
Let's start with the things I really like about the 2010 Honda Insight:
(1) The Outside looks better than any other Hybrid on the road. Everyone tells me it looks better then the Toyo Prius.
(2) The inside has a cool looking dash and nice blue lighting.
(3) The car is fully integrated with my Apple iPhone. No need to touch my iPhone for phone calls or music selection plus it charges in the center console.
(4) I get to ride as a single person in all Car Pool or HOV Lanes on all Florida Highways.
(5) Insurance dropped to 1/2 of the Audi A4.
(6) Best Mileage is 72.6 (See MPG Section for Details)
Things I hate about the 2010 Honda Insight:
(1) Build Quality is extremely poor. Way too much plastic. Everything you touch seems cold and hard. The headliner is as thin as my T-Shirt. The door panels and door sills mark up just from people getting in and out. I feel like the build quality is similar to a Chevy Aveo. Many cars in the 23K range do not feel this way.
(2) The car is disgustingly noisy. Further making me feel I'm driving a 12K Kia Rio.
(3) The car actually rocks from side to side when using the windshield wipers! People in the car really have a laugh at that.
(4) Driving over 70MPG is scary and feels like the wind will just blow you away. See note #3 for more laughs.
(5) The car drives like a Go Cart.
(6) The car sounds like a Go Cart.
(7) The most boring car I have ever driven. No input from the road. You feel like a Robot on Auto Pilot when "driving green". Car is NOT fun to drive. The upgraded Stereo blows chunks and there is No option for Leather.
Car and Driver actually said;"This is the first car they have ever driven that they wanted to drive straight into a tree".
Last edited by MiamiTrance; 08-13-2009 at 01:47 PM.
Good, honest review. I have differing opinions and results, but that is what makes people different. Let's discuss some of your issues:
#3 windshield wipers rocking the car!!! Mine does not do this, so perhaps you should yell at the dealer. That implies one large amount of torque produced by the wiper motor!!
#2 may be the quality of the roads, but then, you have driven these roads before so would know better. Where I drive/commute in Southern California, I find that the road noise is less in this car than in some other, more pretentious cars that I have owned. Even at the higher tire pressures that I run. But, only you know your roads and what is 'loud'.
#4 for me is a non-happening...even on the rare run to 75 in merging/passing, the car seems steady to me. One thing may be poor tire balance, alignment, or some combination.
#5, 6. and 7 would have or should have been noted on the first test drive; this is after all, a sub compact hybrid economy car, not an Acura or Lexus....
C&Ds opinions on any car not capable of 200+MPH are well noted....they did not particularly like 2 of my 3 Porsches either
Questions:
Have you addressed any of these issues to the dealer? Perhaps you need an alignment? What tire pressures are you using? I am using 40lbs, but others use less. Most are running a higher pressure than the 'factory' 33lbs. For me, the higher pressure reduced some of the sponginess of the handling. Again, only you can guage whether that will help.
Good luck with whatever you decide to do...
__________________
2010 Insight EX/NAVI Clear Sky Blue Metallic
ex- 2005 Prius Millennium Silver Metallic
pkg#6
ex-2004 Civic Hybrid Opal Silver Blue Metallic 5spd manual
ex- 29 other vehicles
Considering your previous vehicle, I can understand some of your complaints. I came to the Insight after driving a Saab 9-3 for two years. The Insight certainly can't compete with a European sports sedan in handling and performance.
I haven't ever experienced the wiper-blade shaking the car and I feel comfortable on the windy plains of Indiana going 80mph. I also know the car is the quietest I've ever driven (more so than even the Saab) unless you push the engine hard. What, in particular, is noisy to you? I am curious if you have a loose seal or something.
I also agree with your complaint about the plastic -I think that's the main thing that irks me about the car.
Quote:
Originally Posted by MiamiTrance
Car and Driver actually said;"This is the first car they have ever driven that they wanted to drive straight into a tree".
Which Car and Driver article are you referring to? The one that had it beat the Prius in a comparison test or the one where they said, "...the Insight drives like a Honda, with tight suspension motions, a firm ride, well-connected steering, and a no-fat musculature. Interior sound levels are mild and well controlled, especially at freeway speeds..."
Maybe you're thinking of Jeremy Clarkson's review? He also happens to think Hondas are only for old, retired people. I enjoy watching him on "Top Gear," regardless.
Nice review, though I disagree quite a bit! No offence, here are the disagreements we have: The wiper issue is odd to say the least! Just had mine on a few minutes ago and they are quiet and the car does NOT rock!
I drive on the Sawgrass expressway to 595 and then onto I-95 every day and go 70-75 MPH and the car is stable, quiet (compared to the 10+ compacts I owned over the last few years) and a pleasure to drive! I guess after an Audi it's hard to handle a compact!
In over 1 month of owning this car and driving 3,000 miles I have No scratches, chips in the paint or any other physical damage at all.
The plastics are hard, thats true but they have not scratched up and I find them easy to clean. This is also my first Honda and I am very impressed.
It's not a sportscar, it's a 1.3 Litre hybrid and many people neglect that fact when reviewing this car. I think they expect it to run more like a Civic SI!
Last edited by Mikeyt1818; 08-13-2009 at 02:36 PM.
Why did you bother getting this car. Although I think some things in your review are way over the top silly. The windshield wiper comment is absolutey stupid. Everything that you mentioned would have been noticeable in the test drive. This is a compact car not an Audi. I get tired of everyone comparing this car to 40000-50000 dollar cars and then complain because it doesn't have leather seats and doesn't perform like a sports car. It is built to get great gas mileage while still having some amenities.
This is my review of the 2010 Honda Insight. I have waited 90 Days and over 7,500 miles before writing this review.
Many might not like this review but its the truth and my opinion of the car. I'm not a troll or flaming this forum. I honestly waited 3 months to see if my opinions of the car would change. To be fair I will list the things I like as well.
My previous car was a 2007 Audi A4. This is my first "Compact Car" and my very first Honda.
Let's start with the things I really like about the 2010 Honda Insight:
(1) The Outside looks better than any other Hybrid on the road. Everyone tells me it looks better then the Toyo Prius.
(2) The inside has a cool looking dash and nice blue lighting.
(3) The car is fully integrated with my Apple iPhone. No need to touch my iPhone for phone calls or music selection plus it charges in the center console.
(4) I get to ride as a single person in all Car Pool or HOV Lanes on all Florida Highways.
(5) Insurance dropped to 1/2 of the Audi A4.
(6) Best Mileage is 72.6 (See MPG Section for Details)
Things I hate about the 2010 Honda Insight:
(1) Build Quality is extremely poor. Way too much plastic. Everything you touch seems cold and hard. The headliner is as thin as my T-Shirt. The door panels and door sills mark up just from people getting in and out. I feel like the build quality is similar to a Chevy Aveo. Many cars in the 23K range do not feel this way.
Extremely Poor ? Give me a break. Yugo is extremely poor but not the Insight. Less expensive, yes, poor no
Plastic, yes, so does the Prius, but theres is even more so
Door panels mark up ? Yes to a degree. So did my Honda Civic and Honda Accord.
23k range ? Its a hybrid and cost more then a regular car. A 23k car, none hybrid, can have some better material in it over the less expensive Insight hybrid which is where the money goes. Into the Hybrid engine
(2) The car is disgustingly noisy. Further making me feel I'm driving a 12K Kia Rio.
Not noisy at normal speeds. When you speed up to over take someone, then yes, and to be expected with a small gas engine.
(3) The car actually rocks from side to side when using the windshield wipers! People in the car really have a laugh at that.
Side to side with the windshield wipers on ? For goodness sakes, stay off the the sauce when driving. Rains lots here in Florida and never noticed it as some others have mentioned.
(4) Driving over 70MPG is scary and feels like the wind will just blow you away. See note #3 for more laughs.
Have not noticed this either. Unless of course a big rig passes by real fast then I have noticed this. Same with my Civic.(5) The car drives like a Go Cart.
That is just plain silly and wrong. You are still thinking of your other car and have not gotten used to the hybrid nor never will with your attitude
(6) The car sounds like a Go Cart.
Only when flooring it
(7) The most boring car I have ever driven. No input from the road. You feel like a Robot on Auto Pilot when "driving green". Car is NOT fun to drive. The upgraded Stereo blows chunks and there is No option for Leather.
You can get leather as an after market. Stereo ? What did you expect in a less expensive car for goodness sakes.
No input in Econ Mode. No news there. To be expected. Don't you read the reviews before you buy some thing.
Car and Driver actually said;"This is the first car they have ever driven that they wanted to drive straight into a tree".
As other posters mentioned. It was not Car and Driver that said that.Other car mags said it was a good car, not great. Did you bother to read those or just the one or two negitive reviews ?
Hey all, let's not stomp on this guy for voicing his opinion.
I mean, c'mon, we complain because a reviewer doesn't own the car and hasn't spent time getting to know it or learn to drive it but then we rail on someone who has driven the car 7500 miles over three months in sweltering heat (stupid gas-powered AC) and posted better fuel economy than I have ever gotten? Sheesh. Talk about a double standard.
He doesn't like the car? Fine. At least he tried and he's still contributing to this forum ('specially with his nice, high numbers!).
Hey all, let's not stomp on this guy for voicing his opinion.
I mean, c'mon, we complain because a reviewer doesn't own the car and hasn't spent time getting to know it or learn to drive it but then we rail on someone who has driven the car 7500 miles over three months in sweltering heat (stupid gas-powered AC) and posted better fuel economy than I have ever gotten? Sheesh. Talk about a double standard.
He doesn't like the car? Fine. At least he tried and he's still contributing to this forum ('specially with his nice, high numbers!).
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My Review of the Honda Insight (3 Months 7,500 Miles)
