The realease of the Insight has ruffled a few feathers due to its price tag.The MSRP of the Honda Insight is much less than that of the new Prus. The lower MSRP earns the 2010 Insight the title of most affordable hybrid in the U.S.
The Honda has a great system that will help educate the driver how to drive more economically and thus save fuel.The ECON switch control how the car drives, you can set the car to drive more aggressively, or you can tell the car you want to drive more efficiently, and there is a system inplace that will tell you when you are getting the best MPG.An electric motor gives the engine a nice boost, this system is called the integrated motor assist or IMA. This system in the next generation hybrids from Honda are greatly improved and result in reduced weight, cost savings, and greater cabin space. Variable Valve Technology is used in the Insight motor which also helps perfomance.You can buy the Insight fully-loaded with such features as: satellite nav., paddle shiters on the steering wheel, alloy rims, an upgraded audio system, and of course cruise. Just looking at the Prius and Insight will give you some information that Honda is copying the Prius in design, form, and function.
On the other side of the coin, the Toyota Prius has a 160 horsepower 1.8L motor has a couple of different driving settings. The EV mode allows the Prius to run on battery power alone, the ECO mode’s responsibility is to ensure the optimum gas mileage is obtained, and then the Power Mode give more power and throttle response.The Pre-Collision system is available as an option on the Prius.Just set the PCS and the Prius will slow down by itself if the car ahead of you suddenly hits his brakes. The touch sensor system relocates certain buttons onto the steering wheel to lessen driver distraction.
Yes the Insight is much cheaper than the Prius, but the Prius does get much better fuel economy. The Honda has a reported 40-city mpg, 43-highway, and a combined mpg of 41; while the Prius has mpg of 48-city, 45-highway, and 46 of combined mpg.Traveling more than 20,000 miles in only 365 days (when gas is .50 a gallon), the Toyota would only cost just over 00 every year and the Honda would come in 0 more. Rolling around in a Toyota Prius will save over 50 gallons of gas per year as compared to the Honda, but it would take 27 years of driving to recoup the lower cost of the Insight.The Toyota Prius does net a better MPG rating, yet the Honda is a better value due to its cheaper MSRP!
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