The numbers dont lie. I like it, but I am sure today if Honda used the latest tech they could easily beat Toy. Its just a recirnation of the ima system, smaller battery and fit motor. Come on, the battery compartment in the back is freaking huge, they could easily put in a larger one, used the fits 1.5l Atkinson cycle motor or at least used the 16 valve timming thingie they use on the civic.
__________________
Enginer 4 kilowatt PHEV, 3000k 35 watt fogs, Eco bulb highs, 4300k 35 watt low all w/relay kits, DRLs/Rear Wiper removed&rear interior gutted, Sony HU W/front speakers, Tanabe nf springs, 35% tint all around, all LED lamp replacement, 09 fit progress rear sway bar, OEM block heater, full gril block, KN Filter, Honda vent visiors, group 51 battery, home made balancer/grid charger Best/Worse MPG 96/36
It's very harsh of Edmund's to say the Insight is a "horrid" car. Edmunds gets a lot of press and is often quoted so it's sad to see them write something so biased. IMO it hurts their credibility.Car and Driver whom I respect did not feel that way and preferred it to the Prius.
We just took our Insight on a 1400 mile trip and it was quite comfortable and got 38 mpg at an average of 67 mph on the highway. That's not great but hybrid's are not designed for great mileage on the highway.
Sure, they COULD have put in a bigger battery, and all that... but the price would have jumped through the roof... the mpg would have been worse and it REALLY wouldn't have been competitive. It's having a hard enough time NOW with low gas prices and the carpocalypse. If you're willing to spend a "little" more and have a bigger battery and higher-tech (and don't need a hatch) just buy a Civic Hybrid. A little more and get a Prius. I actually don't think Edmunds review (in their long-term blog anyway) is bad. This car has a VERY limited audience. If you REALLY want to see somebody trash the Insight, watch THESE:
They praise the Prius and then bash the Insight for the split rear window and small rear wiper. They even complain about how the split gauges take too much getting used to meanwhile the gauges in the Prius are in the CENTER. Very odd
I was going to suggest your title was harsh, until I read the article. It's a matter of taste, they apparently like saccharin. Give me a national publication and I'll give you all of the reasons I wouldn't drive a Prius if you GAVE it to me. Of course, I don't listen to the 'crowd' anyway (I have no debt and am a saver)! So Insight ownership isn't the first minority I've belonged to, and probably won't be the last
If they hadn't put the Ford Fusion as one of the 'best' things one might think they were just having a bad day.
The Insight is the first car I've owned that has been so polarizing. My prior cars have been an 87 Prelude, 99 Civic and 03 CR-V (which we still have). All three of those received good, though not "OH MY GOD THIS IS GREAT!" reviews. They were all reliable, practical and easy to drive.
I feel that our Insight offers all of those same attributes but is being blasted by the press. Some of the complaints I understand - the rear seat is small, the engine can be loud under hard acceleration and the auto stop feature is unpredictable. Some of the complaints just make no sense - loud interior and poor mileage are the two main ones. Some sources like Consumer Reports make many complaints that just don't make sense - especially ones that they blast the Insight for but give the Prius a pass. Acceleration is virtually identical yet CR complains about it in the Insight. Interior road noise levels are lower in the Insight yet CR complains about it being loud - no complaints about the Prius. Both have split rear windows but apparently it is only a fault when it is part of the Insight.
I am fine with the fact that Edmunds doesn't like the Insight but in my opinion using words like "horrid", "vile" and "crappy" (not to mention the misspelling of the word "especially") make them look like bitter and unprofessional jack asses. Those type of comments are expected from shock journalists like Jeremy Clarkson but from a publication that wants to be taken seriously it is just not acceptable.
What's even more puzzling about Edmunds is that their original review and Editor Score ( show a different story. http://www.edmunds.com/honda/insight/2010/review.html
That said there are some points that Edmunds makes that are fair. The Insight has fallen WAY below it's sales goals. There is just no way to argue that. The high gas price explanation that I hear frequently makes no sense. The Prius is more expensive than the Insight yet is selling something like 8x more cars. I also am skeptical about the CR-Z. Now that some performance numbers are emerging from Japanese brochures the CR-Z looks very underwhelming. I know it is a niche vehicle to begin with but I will not be surprised to see VERY low sales.
The insight isn't selling for one reason. While we all get upset over the fact that 99% of reviewers compare it to the Prius... the fact is... they should. Honda designed the Insight to appeal to one customer: Green folks who want a hybrid (Prius mainly) but don't want to pay (or can't afford) the premium it commands. You can only accomplish this if your product is what you say it is: a true hybrid for less money. In the case of the Insight, too many compromises were made to accomplish this in the North American model. The reality is this: If toyota took the 2010 Prius and shrunk the battery, ditched the rear discs for drums, ditched the standard alloy wheels for plastic covers, and used a belt-driven AC compressor the car would probably cost LESS than the Insight. As it stands now, the EX insight and Prius III are only about $30/month away from each other. The Prius II and EX even less.
I'd still take the Honda because it is more nimble and fun to drive. But I'm in the minority. In fact, there are only 18,000 of us who feel that way. That's why they are piling up on the lots and selling for under invoice with 1.9% financing. Just my 2 cents.
The other odd thing is that when Edmunds' Inside Line compared the Insight to the '09 Prius, the Insight won. When they compared it to the '10 Prius, the Prius won slightly on points but all the reviewers said that they would rather own the Insight, even if the cost of the cars is not a factor.
Using just what has also been in testing and reviews one could just as easily describe the Insight as "A safe and reliable compact economy car with reasonable storage and is fun to drive." In so many of the reviews from cameras to cars, people fixate on what is missing instead of what is present. A review should after-all be on the performance/value of what you are buying (not theoretically what it 'could' have been).
I have to say that the Insight's performance in snow and ice is the best of any car I have driven. Honda needs to follow Nikon's marketing tactics and find a well known face to associate with the Insight.
The AutoGuide.com network consists of the largest network of enthusiast-owned enthusiast-operated automotive communities.
AutoGuide.com provides the latest car reviews, auto show coverage, new car prices, and automotive news. The AutoGuide network operates more than 100 automotive forums where our users consult peers for shopping information and advice, and share opinions as a community.
F you Edmunds.com!
show a different story. 
