Test drove a Honda Insight yesterday...

[SDGuy]

So, a Kia Soul isn't a consideration - even with their carefully crafted & obviously targeted ads?!?
:burnout:

[AllGold]

The Prius is pretty much universally recognized as the best hybrid.

The Insight has had some pretty bad reviews, at least when it first came out (haven't followed it lately).

[Grateful11]

PeterB wrote:
Wow, thanks Grateful. A whole lot of useful info there... I'm now looking at the Fit, to see how it compares...

You're Welcome.

Personally if I were going Honda I'd take the Fit over the Insight. I think the Fit is really neat and I've never
heard any complains about them. I don't know anyone that owns an Insight so I can't give any "insight" on
the them personally.

I think a the Kia Soul is neat too. I see a lot of them around here.

[sekker]

PeterB, we have a 2005 Honda Civic Hybrid. If the new Civic is big enough for you, it's a decent vehicle and a lot cheaper than the Prius.

I do think the Prius is the best overall hybrid you can buy today. But I think some others - like the Ford Fusion - are catching up.

[zero]

It's more expensive and gets worse milage than the Prius.

[Ted King]

sunfalcon wrote:
Why not just go with the Civic? I've got a 2008 Civic EX and the gas mileage is excellent. Easily get 40mpg on the road and around 32-35 in mixed city/highway driving.

The Civic gets better mileage than the Fit, has more room, and is a bigger car. I looked at both the Fit and the Civic and I am glad I chose the Civic. If I could get an Insight with a Sunroof, I might be tempted...

I also compared a (non-hybrid) Civic with a Fit but ended up buying the Fit. If you go by the published mileage results, a Fit automatic gets 31mpg average mixed driving and the 5-speed manual Civic gets 29mpg. I'm not doubting that you get the mileage you say, but what I get with my Fit is also more than they indicate as the "official mileage" - it averages about 35mpg mixed and about 38mpg highway. The Civic may have a larger wheelbase but oddly enough it doesn't have more room than the Fit. They both have 91ft³ of passenger space but the Fit has a cargo volume of 21ft³ and the Civic just 12ft³. I'm sure the Civic is a great car, but for me the extra volume of the Fit is something I use a lot.

http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/sbs.htm