Can you please give more details?

 

I am not so sure about there being a BIG differance between the years -
I think BIG differance should be saved for changes like 73 to 74 mustang -
2006 to 2010 insight - 82 to 84 vette - ect

I own a 2010 and test drove a 2011 - the one significant differance I personaly noticed was that the 2011 had stereo controlls in the EX, while my 2010 EX did not -

Other than that I could not tell a differance when drivng.

Tim

 

The only difference I notice is that VSA is standard on all models for 2011.. where as 2010 LX don't even have VSA..

 

The things I noticed it the idle stop is a lot longer, even with econ off. I'll get about 15 seconds in my 2010, the 2011 will stay off vor over a minute. It also feels like the 11 "uses" more of the IMa... battery, as in it seemed to use the assist more than the 10. The IMA battery will drop to one bar,I don't know that I've seen it go that low on my 10. Overall, the 2011 just seems more dialed in. I really liked the 11 we test drove and that is the car my wife bought. I bought a 10 and figured they would be the same car. All that said, we get pretty similar mileage. It's just that how the 11 operates is how it should be.

 

No one asking the million dollar question? Anu diff in mpg? Remeber you got to put back what you use. It maybe the sampling rate is better for the SOC vs the previous models.

 

Couple things I noticed, the bezzles around the A/C-Hetaing vents are chrome on the '11 (Not sure if I like better) I swear theres a new dark blue color but it could be I never saw this color in 2010. Gone is the awsome spectrum pearl white on my '10 replaced by the boring taffeta white (looks more egg shell) on the '11

In my opinion I doubt Honda changed any of the programming on the car, a new car always feels different than an older car or one with significant miles on it. While one of my work trucks were in the shop for warranty repair I rented three different V6 double cab Tacoma trucks over a two week period. Each truck was configured the same aside from the color but drove differently. Ironically I still got the same average mpg out of all three trucks but the ride and drivetrain felt different. Most notably the worst feeling of the three was the newest and with the least milage of only 1100 miles.

 

I know my 2011 can be in auto-stop mode for multiple minutes, consistently.

I have no basis of comparison without owning a 2010, but I would be reluctant to call out KJ as being full of horse manure because from everything I have read on this forum so far, what he says sounds within bounds.

 

We actually bought our Insights at the same time, drove them both home that same evening. Both had about the same mileage on them. I've driven mine to work since mid Jan., same commute I've done for years. I'm intimatly familier with how my 2010 operates. So when I drove Jan's to work, I did notice differences in how the car operated. BUt..I do like my 10. IF it operated like the 11 that would be wonderful. If not, I'll live with it. We seem to get similar MPG's. When I asked, she said she didn't notice any difference driving my car except for it not staying off as long at a stop.

 

I might be able to add a little to why it might be auto-stopping for a shorter period, that is a significant factor of the amount of "juice" still in the starter battery. If your battery is loosing it's ability to hold a charge, the car will auto-stop for shorter periods because it senses, apparently, the need to make sure there is charge in both the IMA and the starter battery. While we were having problems getting Honda to replace a defective NEW battery, the auto-stop would never shut off for more than 10 to 20 seconds and then restart the car. Apparently afraid it would leave you setting at a green stop light with no charge to get going again. With the new battery, which they finally provided, the auto-stop is off until I decide to go again, as it should be. Sure makes sense to me. ...Bob

 

I might be able to add a little to why it might be auto-stopping for a shorter period, that is a significant factor of the amount of "juice" still in the starter battery.

I'll second that theory. One of the gauges I keep my SGII set to is the 12 volt gauge. The IMA Battery doesn't provide a constant trickle charge to the 12 volt. Once the 12v hits about 12.8v the DC-DC system kicks in and jumps it up to about 13.9v. I think this is what also triggers a re-start of the ICE (one of the MANY things). I've noticed that when I'm not using the head lights (or my sub) the car can remain off what seems almost indefinitely.

I have had the occasion where it didn't go into auto-stop and I put it in 'N' and auto-stop engages and lasts as described above. So now if it doesn't go into auto-stop at a drive-thru I just pop it into 'N' to make sure. One thing I really dislike about winter is seeing the trip average drop while waiting in line

 

Here's a great run around the new 2011 insight, I was actually wondering what's new too. I don't think I like those chromed out air ducts.... But it does show which one is which year...

 

Does the 11 Handle better than the 2010?

I saw a press release that teh 2011 would get improved handling?

Can you feel anthing that improves how the car handles?


Thanks

 

I saw a press release that teh 2011 would get improved handling?

Can you feel anthing that improves how the car handles?


I read that was just for some Euro versions, not for the USA. I really don't notice a difference with regards to handling.

 

britsoft and JimJohn, I find your comments really interesting. My 12v battery tests out just fine. If I leave the climate control off, it will idle stop for 5-6 minutes. Cobb you tubed this. Even with lights, and stereo on AND if you turn the CC back on, it will still stay stopped for several minutes. The climate control is the primary input for determining idle stop time. ECON ON optimizes fuel economy and will allow idle stop longer. ECON OFF prioritizes cabin comfort, so idle stop is shorter. Seems to go from about 10-15 sec econ on, to ~45 sec econ off. The other interesting thing I notices is that outside temp. seems to make a difference. There seems to be a threshold temp. above which idle stop time increases. Maybe ~70 deg. F. We've only had a couple of days that warm here so I can't say for sure.
So britsoft, with the climate control on how long is your stop time with your new battery? Please try it econ on and off and time it. Also what is the outside temp there when you test it? I'd appreciate your response.
thanks!

 

I just got my 2011 Insight EX/N...I've never driven a 2010 so I don't have anything to compare it to.
I'm averaging 44MPG so far. I commute on a highway that leads up to a mountain, so on my commute to work I get 60MPG because I'm gradually going downhill. Going home is a different story...I average about 43MPG going home because of all the uphill inclines. The IMA uses as much battery as it possibly can to assist with the inclines, and ends up force regening if there's no traffic for me to charge my battery with. I dip into force regen 1-2 times while driving home.

Stop times are great - I've never had the car start up at a stop light without me lifting my foot off the break.

I actually like the chrome bezels - I think it makes the interior look a lot more modern and luxurious!

Do the 2010's have blue ambient lighting that comes from underneath the A/C controls and shines on the driver-side cup holder? That's one of my favorite things about the interior.

 

Yeah my 2010 EX has that blue light, which i also think is cool! This isn't a huge deal, but a difference i noticed is that the 2010's(at least mine)don't come with floor mats. BUT, mine did come with the rear cargo tray/mat. I went and bought the floor mats yesterday which came out to $113. That is way cheaper than the cargo tray so i guess its not a big complaint, i would have bought it eventually. (EDIT: thats factory prices. I just saw online that you could get the cargo mat for the same price or cheaper.)

Im glad there are not a bunch of huge differences between the two. I was going to buy the 2011 but ended up getting the 2010 beacuse i was able to get the dealership to deal on the 2010 more. I know im not crying about the chrome bezels, ha ha!

 

Oh, and one more thing I've noticed (again, I've never driven a 2010 Insight before)...

I see a lot of people complaining that their 2010 i2's don't put the IMA to use as much as the 2011's do.
In my 2011 I find it very easy to force the car into EV mode. I just take my foot off the accelerator briefly so that the car begins to coast and charge the battery, then softly apply pressure back to the accelerator. The car will run on the electric motor only, until about 1500 RPMs or so, then the gas engine will kick in.
If I gauge it right I'm able to use nothing but the electric motor while in traffic. It's a bit more difficult (or near impossible) while going uphill.

Is it this easy in the 2010's?

 

The car will run on the electric engine only, until about 1500 RPMs or so, then the gas motor will kick in.

You've got them backwards. It is electric motor and gasoline engine.

 

Thanks for the correction Mn!
I can run EV on my 10 as described.

 

Fixed it.

I was half asleep when I wrote that

 

I have a 2011 and it's impossible to use EV-only mode unless you are going slightly downhill (or level and under 20 mph or so). Utterly useless!

 

Hmm, I hit EV only mode (100mpg+) on my short burst on 395 between the Route 7 exit and the S. Glebe rd exit. Not the entire way (I haven't tried) but some. There might be a slight downhill slope there... hard to tell, but it's fun when you realize you're not using any gas at 60-65mph.

 

The ev mode is useless unless you got a phev kit. My previous attempts resulted in a forced regen for a few miles til it built the charge back up.

Even then its hard to enter for me and my big feet. Basically you take the play out of the petal and at best I can only manage 1-2 bars of assist before it pops the gas motor back on.

 

you mean the gas ENGINE, right? Why do people call the engine a motor?

 

Yeah, for the most part. Anything that makes a vehicle go is called a motor. Weve come acustom to using that term interchangability since the steam motor came and went.

 

Motor: A machine that converts electrical energy into mechanical energy by means of the forces exerted on a current-carrying coil placed in a magnetic field
Engine: Any machine designed to convert energy, esp heat energy, into mechanical work: a steam engine ; a petrol engine

Mixing up motor and engine confuses people and for anyone who supports the electric drivetrain as a source of motive power and is trying to explain things to other people, it becomes very disruptive when they are put out there wrong. Largest people who bother me about it are when television newscasters almost never fail to call an electric motor an electric engine. Please use the right terms.

 

I always associate motor with electricity and I associate engine with internal combustion, but......

2 dictionaries that I checked say that motor includes internal combustion, as do a few sources on the interwebs. Also the dictionary on my Apple computer says motor can be internal combustion.

 

Honda Motor Company,
Ford Motor Company,
General Motor(s) Company,
Nissan Motor Company,
B(M)otor)W,

... etc.

Someone better start writing CEO's to inform them that their company is misleading the public.

 

LOL

Motorcycle???

Ever heard of a boat with an outboard engine?