Automotive
Unlike many hybrids that looked unusual, the Honda Insight did not look like a hybrid at first glance, except for the badge on the back.
The sedan was more attractive than most of its class and borrowed design elements from its sibling, the Accord.
Built on the Civic platform, the car used the roof and rear quarter panels from it, while the rest of the body was unique to the Insight.
Inside, the quiet cabin had a standard active noise cancellation system. Even the base version had soft-touch materials and a 5-inch display, while higher trim levels featured stylish perforated leather seats.
The top version had heated seats, which, despite being very comfortable for long trips, lacked lumbar support adjustment.
The spacious cabin provided ample room for all passengers and had many large storage compartments. For convenience, the car had a USB port and wireless charging.
Equipped with a 1.5-liter Atkinson-cycle four-cylinder engine, a lithium-ion battery pack and Honda’s two-motor hybrid drive system, the Insight offered reduced fuel consumption.
Available driving modes allowed you to drive on electricity alone, in addition to Normal and Sport modes, which provided faster acceleration response.
Another useful feature was the ability to adjust regenerative braking intensity using the paddles behind the steering wheel: left for stronger braking, right for weaker.
The trunk was spacious, and since the batteries were under the rear seats, they folded like regular seats, increasing the trunk capacity.
The base version was well-equipped with numerous safety features from the Honda Sensing package: dynamic cruise control, lane-keeping assist and forward collision warning with automatic braking.
Other features included automatic high beams, traffic sign recognition, a multi-angle backup camera, remote engine start, a blind spot camera and smart entry with automatic locking.
