FIRST REVIEW: Is The New Honda Insight A Prius Killer Or A Dud?

I noticed at the Detroit Auto show that the new Prius has a much higher quality interior than the Insight and the Insight exterior was not as nice as I was hoping.

The new Prius was a good looking car in person and I wasn't a big fan of the last Prius design.

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— Agent001 (View Profile)

Posted on 1/16/2009 2:37:02 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 5   

Um, it IS a Prius.

— Obliv (View Profile)

Posted on 1/16/2009 2:45:50 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: -1   

Nah...it looks similar to the first gen one but it looks old and tired compared to the fresh new Prius coming.

Doesn't look that nice in real life either...proportions seem wrong to me.

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— Agent001 (View Profile)

Posted on 1/16/2009 2:48:28 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 2   

The only reason this would potentially be a Prius killer is because of its price.

— _43LE (View Profile)

Posted on 1/16/2009 3:28:27 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 5   

I am not a fan of either car. But, I would live to see a 24-hours-of-Lemans series with only these two cars (stock), to see which one crosses the finish line with the least amount of gas used. In fact, I believe that would be the ultimate determinant of which of these cars is the best.

— BSBB (View Profile)

Posted on 1/16/2009 3:37:07 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 2   

Dud. A super ugly Prius.

— iLexus (View Profile)

Posted on 1/16/2009 4:46:09 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1   

I invite anyone to correct me if I am wrong because I do not have any stats in front of me. . .
The current gen Prius is faster, bigger, and gets better mpg's than the up and coming Prius "killer."
How is this even a question?
The next gen Prius is faster, bigger, and gets better mpg's than the current Prius. So how is this new Honda a Prius killer? And throw in that it is already slated to sell less than the current Prius.
Now, I'm not saying that it isn't a good car. Or that Honda won't sell all 200,000 that they are making. What I am saying is that it is not as good as a Prius.
So the price will be less. A Mustang is much less than a Ferrari. Yet not to that disparity, the Prius is a better hybrid than the Insight!!!
As a "Prius Killer," DUD!!!

— toyfan (View Profile)

Posted on 1/16/2009 5:48:23 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 2   

I think this is more of a Yaris/Fit hybrid alternative. It definitely has to have a lower price than the Prius.

For people who want a hybrid minus the fancy stuff in the Prius and Civic. The lower the price, the more mass market hybrids will become.

— huu76 (View Profile)

Posted on 1/16/2009 8:17:36 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 2   

Insight is to the Prius what Accord is to the Camry.
Both are good.

— g2ok (View Profile)

Posted on 1/16/2009 9:25:16 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 3   

I'd rather have a Civic Hybrid to be honest.

They need to just go nationwide with the Clarity and be done with it.

— adamsaf723 (View Profile)

Posted on 1/17/2009 12:01:47 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 2   

Honda has lost the hybrid war to Toyota again.

— Badgewhore (View Profile)

Posted on 1/17/2009 12:15:41 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 2   

Dude...this thing is absolutely horrible and most folks would'nt be seen in it. Honda has lost it. After the release of the new TL and now this? I truly dont get it. Why is Honda bent on selling these horrible looking cars. THE THING LOOKS LIKE IT FELL OUT OF AN UGLY TREE AND HIT EVERY BRANCH GOING DOWN. "A DUD INDEED"!!

— lexworld (View Profile)

Posted on 1/17/2009 12:49:53 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 0   

Honda the better car (more fun to drive than the Prius - not saying much), Toyota the better hybrid (but more expensive, so is it worth the cost in gas savings?)

One thing does surprise me, how all reports say the back seat is tight in the Insight...

It will be interesting to see how the Insight does if Toyota does indeed decide to sell the current Prius at a lower price to compete with the Insight while selling the new Prius at a higher price.

Not a Prius killer OR a dud - just a good alternative for Honda fans and people with less cash (like young people).

— IhavearedS2000 (View Profile)

Posted on 1/17/2009 9:13:33 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 3   

I think it's a class below. What this car offers that nobody else does is a fantastic combination of attributes that the average family wants in a low-cost package. It's efficient enough, decent to drive, OK to look at, spacious/practical, well-built, reliable, and less than $20,000.

The Prius is much nicer, and I have to admit I like the new design a lot more, but you can't really compare them.

— S4cabriofoxone (View Profile)

Posted on 1/17/2009 4:46:33 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 2