Here it is, better late than never: Our long-term Honda Insight November update. Thanksgiving was a milestone in our twelve-month test: Our first road trip. I knew getting two adults, two kids, a dog and luggage into a subcompact Insight was going to be a squeeze, but I didn't know exactly how much squeezing would need to be done. How'd it go? Find out in my 2010 long-term Honda Insight November 2009 update. -- Aaron Gold
Related:
- 2010 Honda Insight test drive
- Long-term Insight introduction: The great downsizing experiment
- Long-term Insight: The first thousand miles
- Long-term Insight, October 2009: Getting to know the Insight
Photo © Honda
Glad to hear it all worked in the end. However your story shows that hybrids, or at least the small ones really are better on short trips where the superior fuel milage pays off.
As to the problem with the engine starting unexpectedly… Did the power meter show you were getting battery boost on the highway, or was it charging? Its almost sounds like the battery isn’t holding a charge… or that’s what some sensor somewhere is thinking. I guess we’ll have to stay tuned.
Brian — The battery seems fine — the system seems to boost and charge as needed. I tried turning off accessories (A/C, lights, wipers), thinking maybe it was an electrical load issue, but that didn’t help. We’ll see what Honda says. — Aaron
Aaron, I make the same trip monthly and have the same load except two small dogs instead of the one big one. You are a far more patient man than I. I make the trip in a Volvo XC 90 with the I-pods, DS and X-boxs all plugged in and keeping the yougins occupied and not re-creating WWF matches in the back seat. Yes it is much more costly then your trip, but my sanity does have a price tag on it.
Keep up the good work.
“the Insight got blown all over the road when the winds picked up”
This doesn’t sound safe on open highway and I sure wouldn’t want to experience this behavior on those I-10 mountain roads. Would you quantify how much movement for us? It sounds scary if not dangerous to me.
Brian — I was able to stay in my lane, but it required constant small corrections. It wasn’t as bad as the Smart Fortwo, but it’s more severe than most small cars I test. I’d call it more annoying than dangerous. — Aaron
I may not be overly impressed by the Insight, but I am impressed with the gas mileage with a car so heavily loaded and serious highway speeds (70 mph) on hilly terrain. I would have expected 35mpg at best. I’m not going to run out and get one, but I may recommend it. Best of all, you love it as a daily about town cruiser, which I’m sure it was primarily designed for.
Guess I’m not surprised about your having to cut back on cargo. This, after all, is not a wagon….it’s a hatchback, although a slightly roomier one than most. I do find the news about how much the wind buffets it disturbing. The gas mileage is good, but not stellar, as a VW Jetta TDI wagon would probably do as well and at around the same price point.
Good review.