I am 6’5”, 36” inseam…so I feel some of your pain. A few of my observations with the Insight (compared to my 87 CRX and other cars)…
Versus the CRX, the insight offers a more “chair-like” or “upright” seating position. In the CRX you sit low to the floor with legs stretched straight out in front. The Insight if more of a bent-knee type of arrangement. I fit “OK” but the dash is much closer than the CRX. If I am ever hit in the front, I will definitely be buying a new dash and probably a new set of knees and shins. I also recline the seat back quite a ways (as far as it will go in both cars) With the non-airbag CRX, I just cut the old steering wheel off of the column and welded in a 3” extension to put the wheel within easy reach. Because the Insight is air-bag equipped, I’m a bit hesitant, but may wind up doing something anyway because the wheel is pretty far up there…I wind up driving with my arms fully extended and elbows locked. One mod I do intend to make soon is to put some type of blocks under the front of the seats. Because of the bent knee driving described above my butt touches the seat, but thighs are pretty much unsupported. Lastly, I don’t think I’m hallucinating but it certainly seems that there is less leg room on the passenger side. I’m pretty sure this is due to the computer stuffed under the floor, but it definitely seems more cramped.
To sum it up, the CRX (strangely for such a small car) is one of the more leg-roomy cars I have driven…with a few cuts and welds, it gives me a great driving position. The Insight is on par with most new cars, but because of a different driving position, crumple zones, and air-bag deployment space, it definitely has a different “feel”. I’m not opposed to cutting and welding to get a driving position I like…but may be a little more delicate in the insight with ½ pound of rocket fuel setting in the steering wheel. The best would be to go test drive one and see how it fits your body style and expectations.
As for the hill, it shouldn’t be too big of a deal…it will be all downhill when you go home, right!