Honda Insight VTi 2013 Review

Price Guide (recommended price before statutory and delivery charges): $29,990
Options fitted to test car (not included in above price): Nil
Crash rating: Five-star ANCAP

An upgrade for Honda’s Insight hybrid hatch might seem to have popped up pretty early considering the car was only introduced here less than two years ago. But, with better official consumption and emissions figures, improved rear-seat headroom and a few other refinements including steering wheel Bluetooth controls for the base VTi, LED daytime running lights, a between-seats front cubby and improved rearward vision, the latest Insight – at the same price as before – brings a good deal more than is often the case with mid-life refreshes.

The most important aspects are the improved efficiency and emissions claims: Official Insight combined fuel consumption drops from 4.6L/100km to 4.3L/100km, while the CO2 figure is down from 109g/km to 103g/km. Not a lot, and still not at the same level as Toyota’s Prius which quotes 3.9L/100km and 89g/km, but still worth spruiking.

The improvements have come from various measures including extra efficiencies that have been squeezed out of the engine and CVT transmission, as well as the adoption of lower-rolling resistance tyres, aerodynamic improvements and an electric fuel pump that eliminates unnecessary drag on the engine.

The styling changes include LED daytime running lights, which are incorporated into a slightly redesigned front bumper, and a back end tweak with new tail light lenses and a thinner spoiler that gives a better – though still not great – view to the rear. The rear wiper covers a bigger area too. New-design alloy wheels – 15-inch on the VTi, 16-inch on the VTi-L – add a bit of extra 'chunk' to the appearance.

If you are familiar with the Insight’s interior, you’ll spot one or two changes there too -- once again for the better. The base VTi’s integrated Bluetooth on the left side of the steering wheel is unquestionably a good thing, as are the new front cubby/armrest between the front seats and the 20mm improvement in rear headroom.

Otherwise, the Insight is pretty much the same.

The powertrain, apart from the revised engine and transmission, is unchanged, with a less hybrid-centric approach than, say, a Prius. This comes courtesy of sequential paddle shifters on the steering wheel and a tachometer (redlined at 6200rpm) that draw attention to, not away from, the working of the petrol engine.

Being a hybrid though, these things are supplemented in the Insight by plenty of visual information depicting the workings of the petrol-electric system and which particular drive path (petrol, electric, or both) is being followed at any given time, as well as the state of charge in the battery pack (unlike the Prius, Insight cannot operate on battery power along when crawling along in heavy traffic, or reversing out of a driveway). There’s also Eco Assist, that can be selected via a button on the left of the dash to maximise fuel economy by changing parameters within the operation of engine and transmission.

In terms of packaging the Insight shows little, if any compromises, with a proper fold-flat splitfold back seat and a very respectable load area that measures a decent 408 litres with the back seat in its upright position. A funky, Civic-inspired multi-level dash (with high-mounted digital speedo), easily found knobs for manipulating the climate control and sound systems and a comfortable driving position with a two-way adjustable steering wheel, contribute to the Insight’s feel-good nature.

The drive experience hasn’t changed, with the usual mix of minus and negative points. Insight is hopeless at maintaining a pre-set cruise control speed up or down hills, while the ride and handling are perfectly acceptable.

In all, the Honda Insight is a pretty good deal for a hybrid, with the base VTi as tested coming in a tad below $30,000 before on-road costs, unchanged from the pre-upgrade model.

The burning question is whether the claimed economy improvements are evident. A drop from 4.6 to 4.3L/100km is good, and edges a little closer to the far more expensive Prius, but is it enough to be noticeable in everyday real-world use? Well, that’s hard to say because the new car actually sipped a little more fuel on test than our original car in early 2011. That time yours truly managed 5.3L/100km over a week of driving in mixed conditions while this time around we recorded 5.6L/100km in very similar circumstances.

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