Consumer Reports released results from its annual car reliability survey, and the 2010 Honda Insight scored the highest of any vehicle in predicted reliability. Hybrids dominated the list for reliability—with five of the eight most reliable family cars: Toyota Prius, Ford Fusion Hybrid, Mercury Milan Hybrid, Nissan Altima Hybrid and Toyota Camry Hybrid.
In the auto industry’s struggle to re-invent itself as innovative, high-tech, and environmentally friendly, car companies have fixed on the idea of plug-in hybrids and electric cars as a solution. What hasn’t been worked out is the fundamental question of how and where a million plug-in vehicles will find juice for their cars. Pike Research, a renewable energy research and consulting firm, identified a number of myths about how electric car charging will unfold by 2015.
When the Honda Insight was introduced in early 2009, reviewers gushed with praise. Reviewers claimed that the Insight is more compelling and fun to drive than the quintessential gas-electric car, the Toyota Prius, which is bigger, faster, and uses a more sophisticated third-generation of hybrid technology. But in the past few weeks, a number of critics have found it quite easy to find faults with the Insight—harshly criticizing the car for the very traits that have allowed Honda to keep down the price.
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In the second half of May, Kelley Blue Book surveyed 753 prospective car buyers and found that 87 percent expect gas prices to rise sharply. How is that affecting their car buying habits? According to Kelley, shoppers are looking at smaller cars with smaller engines.
Japanese carmakers are widely recognized as leading exporters of hybrid cars to the United States. But their key strategic advantage may become their ability to sell hybrid gas-electric vehicles to Japanese consumers.
The new Honda Insight is being billed as the Prius-fighter. Living up to that expectation will depend on real-life numbers that drivers start to post. We recently ran the Insight twice in our usual test loop. When we drove with a lead foot, we got a very modest 38.8 miles per gallon. On the second slow and steady run, we easily managed 51.2 mpg.
“Hybrid affordability” is the catch phrase for the week. Just days after Honda announced a base price of $19,800 for the new 2010 Honda Insight, making it the least expensive hybrid to be sold in the US, Japan’s Nikkei business daily reports that Toyota plans to counter with a cheaper new hybrid model of its own.
Honda’s goal with the new five-door 2010 Honda Insight is affordability, not maximum mileage. But the first set of real-world road tests are arriving, and they are consistently higher than 60 mpg.
The goal of the 2010 Honda Insight, based on information Honda released today at the Detroit Auto Show, is to make the best use of the most cost-effective hybrid technology. And that may be a smart strategy from what some analysts consider to be the smartest car company in the world.
The new Honda hybrid will hit dealer showrooms in April 2009. That’s the official word from Honda about the hybrid-specific yet-to-be named hybrid—designed to take the Prius head-on in the battle for the hybrid market.
The Toyota Prius’s design—raking windshield, rounded roof line and swooping hatchback—has been emblazoned in the public consciousness as the very definition of what a hybrid is supposed to look like. That will present a difficult challenge for Honda, as it prepares to launch its new hybrid-only subcompact—shown here as an "unofficial" illustration based on spy photos.
Honda today announced that it will introduce its new small hybrid in early 2009, as well as another unique small hybrid vehicle based on the sporty CR-Z compact concept sports car—and a hybrid version of the Honda Fit subcompact.
Honda has been tightly guarding the details about its next hybrid, which the company is introducing next year. But details are emerging. The subcompact hybrid will be priced below the Civic Hybrid, will use nickel metal hydride batteries, and will take design cues from the sleek Honda FCX Clarity.
Honda won't be making any more of its iconic Insight, but plans are in the works for further green innovations.
