"The car is kind of a novelty for me at this point," says associate Web editor Rory Jurnecka. "It really can be fun trying to eke out every last mile per gallon and then checking the 'score' at the end of a trip. The interior is distinctly sci-fi, but just adds to the experience."
Fellow associate Web editor Kirill Ougarov has different sentiments: "Unless you really want a hybrid that isn't a Prius and can't swing the extra change for the Civic Hybrid, I don't see too many reasons to buy this car. It's underpowered, undertired, and arguably underequipped: $23,770 gets you 43 mpg in the city and a nav, but it doesn't provide satellite radio, power seats, or an improved stereo. "This would be okay if the hybrid system worked brilliantly. Except that it doesn't. The start-stop feature works intermittently, with the engine sometimes not stopping at lights even with the eco mode enabled and A/C off."
| 2009 Honda Insight |
| Months/miles in service | 4/7204 |
| Avg econ/CO2 | 37.9 mpg/0.51 lb/mile |
| Unresolved problems | None |
| Maintenance cost | $0 |
| Normal-wear cost | $0 |