What with the Great Recession, swine flu pandemics and global warming filling the news with doom and gloom, here’s a breath of fresh air for you – literally.
The 2010 Honda Insight EX.
I had the pleasure of driving this distinctively-styled, five-passenger, five-door dedicated hybrid during Earth Week — and maybe it was the allergy meds, but I really believe there is hope for mankind.
Everybody take a deep breath. Release. Deep breath. Release.
Powered by a 1.3-liter i-VTEC gasoline engine and a 10-kilowatt electric motor that combine to create Honda’s patented Integrated Motor Assist (IMA), my little Insight ran 374 miles on 8.9 gallons of gas — an average of 42 miles per gallon.
And that was not with a lot of coasting, mind you. It included many miles with four passengers on board and a lot of pedal-to-the-metal driving to ensure the Insight was up to snuff when it came to acceleration, passing and general fun.
The Insight passed muster in all categories. My week’s gas bill was less than 21 bucks and I actually felt like I was doing my part to make our home a better place. It might sound corny, but you can’t put a price on that.
The rap on hybrids has been the high purchase cost, and the fact that it takes the better part of the car’s life to retrieve those up-front costs. The Insight LX high-sticker is now under $20,000, so that argument is falling by the wayside.
The original Honda Insight looked like something out of “The Jetsons,” only it didn’t levitate. Neither does this new version, but it’s sleek, aerodynamic, and almost looks like a twin to the Toyota Prius. The interior offers a comfortable passenger seating environment along with a hatchback that allows for easy cargo access. Rear seats fold 60/40 and provide versatility and functionality when needed.
The real beauty of the Insight is that it’s still loaded with goodies. You can sacrifice without sacrificing. Now that’s something I can support.
The base LX includes anti-lock brakes, automatic transmission, air conditioning, power windows and a stereo system with a CD player and auxiliary audio input. My EX tester added vehicle stability assist, alloy wheels, cruise control, steering-wheel-mounted paddle shifters, an upgraded audio system with USB port, heated side mirrors and more.
If you’re willing to step up to the plate, Honda will add a navigation system, satellite radio, Bluetooth hands-free cell phone operation and other thingamajiggies for additional coin.
The new Insight also features a green Eco-Assist button. When deployed, Eco-Assist helps the driver achieve improved fuel economy, by enhancing the efficiency of multiple vehicle systems, throttle control, idle-stop duration, and even air conditioning and cruise-control operation.
Other good news: you can drive this vehicle and not risk life or limb. The Insight is equipped with dual-stage front and front-side airbags and a number of other safety features to protect occupants in the event of a crash.
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