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Honda Insight
 | | Honda Insight |
If it is possible to make it to the end of a Honda Insight road test without mentioning the Toyota Prius, you are not about to find out.
Frankly, life for any hybrid is going to be hard in the all-encompassing marketing and celebrity endorsement shadow of Toyota's eco-friendly model.
 | | Honda Insight interior |
However, it is not cheap. In fact, a base level Prius will set you back £200 more than a top of the line Insight. That's no accident. With the more affordable Insight, Honda aims to bring hybrid motoring to wider audience.
Naturally, there are sacrifices. The hybrid power-train will qualify for exemption from the London congestion charge, but at 105g/km CO2 emissions it loses out to the Prius in terms of taxation (band B at £15 per year) and bragging rights (the Prius boasts 89g/km CO2 emissions).
But using an electric motor with 58lb/ft of torque powered by batteries automatically charged under braking and coasting, the Insight is able to deliver a little more get-up-and-go than if it used its 1.3-litre petrol engine alone, alongside potentially impressive fuel consumption for a petrol-engined vehicle in the C-segment.
A valve train that shuts down when not in use to conserve energy and a trip computer designed to help develop frugal driving techniques play a part, but the Insight remains a car that has to be consciously driven economically in order to reap the rewards. A more sensible comparison would be against similarly priced and sized family hatchbacks such as the Ford Focus Econetic, Vauxhall Astra EcoFlex or even Volvo S40 DRIVe (albeit a saloon model).
In this environment, the Insight ES-T is a more tempting proposition. The five-seat, family-friendly format with a decent boot (there's little price to pay for the electric motor and batteries thanks to clever packaging) combines with very impressive specification to offer a cost-effective package with running costs taken into account.
External additions such as the colour co-ordinated body, alloys wheels and tinted glass give the Insight a contemporary appeal. A reversing camera is handy too - given the poor visibility out of the rear - while here's a premium level of equipment in the E-ST model.
That level of luxury is not always replicated in terms build quality, however. The interior plastics feel lightweight in places and interior rattles over pot holes are not uncommon.
Yet despite a few shortfalls, the Insight's cabin remains a pretty pleasant experience, particularly for the driver thanks to the hi-tech dashboard. The smartly designed and highly ergonomic controls are located around the driver in a cockpit style and the extremely clear digital and analogue dials and displays are a real triumph. The only bug-bear is the limited scope for adjusting the steering wheel angle, as the top of the wheel needs to sit in line with a blank part of the dash to avoid obscuring the displays.
The rear bench is a little cramped compared to some mainstay C-segment rivals, but access is good thanks to a long wheel base that allows for well-sized doors. With a large glass-house the cabin feels airy, too.
On the open road, the Insight proves surprisingly nimble. An assured suspension set-up and balanced feel mean making progress is no chore. A CVT gearbox results in engine whine in the cabin under acceleration, but wheel mounted paddles are a neat touch and the responsive steering is one of the highlights.
Individual circumstances will dictate whether a hybrid proves a smarter purchase than a high-efficiency diesel model, but the Honda Insight's affordability means a greater number of drivers now have the option. With such strong equipment levels the ES-T model makes an attractive alternative.
Honda Insight ES-T, £19,303
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