“Honda hybrids have always offered great value, high fuel efficiency and a healthy dose of fun near the middle price range in the Honda lineup,” said John Mendel, executive vice president of American Honda. “With the introduction of the all-new Insight, we’re opening up Honda’s fun-to-drive, versatile and fuel-efficient hybrid technology to an entirely new group of buyers that previously may not have considered a hybrid because of either image or cost."
And because technical features are the most important aspects when it comes to a newly-launched model, let's review some of them.
First of all the engine. The Insight is powered by a 1.3-liter SOHC aluminum-alloy i-VTEC engine and CVT plus an electric system that brings fuel consumption down to 0. The electric engine has a maximum output of 10 kW (13 horsepower) based on energy-recovering technologies, similar to the ones already seen on other hybrid that store and recover kinetic energy from vehicle braking.
And even if it's a hybrid, this doesn't mean it's unsafe, Honda said. The Insight comes with a remarkable lineup of safety features, starting with dual-stage, dual-threshold front airbags or front-side airbags with a passenger-side Occupant Position Detection System and ending with side curtain airbag system or ABS, EBD and ACE.
Other standard features include two-tier digital instrument panels, automatic climate control, power windows, power mirrors, MP3 audio system, Speed-Sensitive Volume Control. The Insight EX variant adds alloy wheels, cruise control, USB audio interface, Vehicle Stability Assist and Honda Satellite-Linked Navigation System.
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