2019 Honda Insight Is Basically A Civic Hybrid With More Premium Aspirations (With Video)

Honda has announced at the 2018 New York International Auto Show the return of the Honda Insight, which debuts in production form at New York.

With a body that looks similar to the 10th generation Honda Civic, it is no surprise then that the Honda Insight shares the same basic architecture as the Civic, only this time, it carries a more cohesive and bolder front end, with its large “flying wing” grille, sleek LED headlamps with LED daytime running lights, sharp and dynamic character lines, and a sleek coupe-like profile. Compared to the Civic, the Insight gets numerous engineering enhancements to further improve ride quality, and cabin quietness, which is achieved by the use of sound insulation in the engine bay, front fenders, front firewall, and front and rear floor. Unique to the Honda Insight is its aluminum hood for less weight which leads to greater fuel efficiency.

Inside the Insight, a more upscale and premium cabin over the Civic is presented. The dashboard is trimmed with real stitching details, soft touch materials, leather, and a mix of shiny and matte finishes. A 7-inch TFT LCD digital gauge cluster presents driver information in a legible and easy to read manner. Front and center is a new generation of Honda’s Display Audio infotainment system, which is now 8 inches in size, and first appeared in the Accord midsize sedan. The new infotainment system gets a customizable app tile menu system and smartphone-like usability. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto is fitted to the new infotainment system.

Thanks to the car’s excellent packaging, Honda says that its trunk space isn’t compromised by the battery, as it offers 427.5 liters of space, which Honda says “rivals gasoline versions of midsize cars”. 60/40 split rear seats further aid the Insight’s practicality.

Underneath the hood of the Insight is a third generation of Honda’s hybrid powertrain. It is comprised of a 1.5-liter Atkinson cycle engine, electric motor, and a lithium-ion battery pack. Total system output is 151 hp and 267 Nm of (electric motor) torque. This hybrid system is different from usual hybrid systems, as Honda’s hybrid system does not use a conventional gearbox. Instead, the electric motor directly powers the wheels. It is only during high speeds when a lock-up clutch connects the engine to the wheels, in which Honda says provides “the most efficient operation duraing highway and freeway driving”. This powertrain combination, based on Honda’s internal testing, achieves 23.3 km/l (55 US MPG) in the city, where a hybrid is normally at its most fuel efficient.

As usual with many modern cars nowadays, the Insight is equipped as standard with the Honda Sensing suite of active safety technologies, which include Forward Collison Warning (FCW), Collision Mitigation Braking System (CMBS), Lane Departure Warning, Lane Keeping Assistance System, Road Departure Mitigation, Adaptive Cruise Control with Low-Speed Follow and Traffic Sign Recognition. EX and Touring models get Honda’s LaneWatch blind spot camera, and all variants receive a multi-angle rear view camera.

The Honda Insight is positioned between the Honda Accord and Honda Civic, with sales to being in early summer of 2018. Do you wish for Honda Cars Philippines Inc. to offer the Insight here?