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Redesigned, Bulkier Honda Insight to Challenge Prius

Posted by timothy on from the identical-cousins dept.

In what probably amounts to good news for consumers eyeing a hybrid for their next vehicle purchase, Honda is resurrecting the "Insight" name, this time in the form of a five-seat, Prius-like hatchback. The automaker's announcement included the tantalizing statement that the cost would be "significantly below [that of] hybrids available today," but provided no further details on pricing. Although Honda may have some trouble unseating Toyota's dominance of this particular hybrid market, hopefully the Insight's reintroduction will help to make hybrid cars even more affordable to consumers. This is also welcome news to folks like myself who, after the initial flurry of excitement when the now-retired original Insight was introduced in '99, were left scratching their heads at Honda's hybrid strategy as Toyota picked up their dropped ball and ran with it.

7 of 638 comments (clear)

  1. The problem is... by Darkness404 · · Score: 5, Interesting

    The problem is with hybrids is that for most you end up paying more than you would your current car:

    If you have your car payed off and spend $70 a week for gas, that is a total of $3640 for an entire year.

    On the other hand, if you buy a $25000 hybrid, you might only need to buy $30 of gas a week, but unless your car payments are less than $120 a month, you aren't saving any money by buying a hybrid.

    Yes, over time a hybrid is going to save you money, but by the time you get it payed off, there will be a more effective hybrid that costs less.

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    1. Re:The problem is... by TooMuchToDo · · Score: 5, Informative
      Please don't spread FUD:

      http://www.hybridcars.com/faq.html#battery

      How often do hybrid batteries need replacing? Is replacement expensive and disposal an environmental problem?

      The hybrid battery packs are designed to last for the lifetime of the vehicle, somewhere between 150,000 and 200,000 miles, probably a whole lot longer. The warranty covers the batteries for between eight and ten years, depending on the carmaker.

      Battery toxicity is a concern, although today's hybrids use NiMH batteries, not the environmentally problematic rechargeable nickel cadmium. "Nickel metal hydride batteries are benign. They can be fully recycled," says Ron Cogan, editor of the Green Car Journal. Toyota and Honda say that they will recycle dead batteries and that disposal will pose no toxic hazards. Toyota puts a phone number on each battery, and they pay a $200 "bounty" for each battery to help ensure that it will be properly recycled.

      There's no definitive word on replacement costs because they are almost never replaced. According to Toyota, since the Prius first went on sale in 2000, they have not replaced a single battery for wear and tear.

    2. Re:The problem is... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Informative

      This October's Consumer Reports article "Which affordable hybrids save you the most money?" disagrees with you.

      Conclusion: "Despite their higher price, many models pay off after only a year" and some models "can save more than $4,000 over five years."

      http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/cars/new-cars/news/2008/10/affordable-hybrids/overview/affordable-hybrids-ov.htm

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      You also complain that hybrids have "weaker engines than the cheaper gas car," forgetting that electric motors have much better torque than gasoline engines (eg. even diesel locomotives use electric motors) so higher horsepower isn't needed.

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      Finally, a reply to your battery FUD: http://tech.slashdot.org/comments.pl?sid=954363&cid=24883785

  2. EEEEEVIL by evilviper · · Score: 5, Funny

    In 2005 just 666 Insights were sold.

    Good to know Honda's merger with Satan Corp. is working out for them.

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  3. The standards changed for 2008 (at least) by Estanislao+Mart�nez · · Score: 5, Informative

    The EPA changed its fuel economy standards in 2008, and perhaps other times between 1989 and then. The 2007 Prius is rated at 60 mpg city, 51 highway; the 2008, which is really the same car, is rated at 48/45. So you definitely can't compare the 1989 numbers with the 2008.

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  4. Re:Sometimes you've got to ask yourself... by Hawthorne01 · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Well, my Civic Hybrid looks just like a regular Civic.

    Whether or not that's fugly is a matter for debate, though.

    What gets me is that for 15 years, I was a light-truck guy (Nissans), and there are no hybrid light trucks. Zero. Zilch. Zip. Nada.

    I'd love to see a compact truck (smaller than either Nissan's current Frontier or the Tacoma) with a hybrid motor that can handle everyday use. I'd be first in line to buy one when they come out.

    --
    "Only two things are infinite, the universe and human stupidity, and I'm not sure about the former."
  5. Re:Sometimes you've got to ask yourself... by hey! · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Well, internal combustion engines deliver their maximum torque at over a thousand RPM. Since you have the greatest need for torque at 0 RPM, you'd have to have some kind of bulky gear train between the engine and the wheels.

    This may not be cost effective.

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