Welcome to Latest Insight, a Honda blog that follows the journey of our latest hybrid, the Insight.
Posted by Sage Marie on June 23, 2009 7:30 PM
It seems that there’s been a little confusion out there regarding the price/value equation between the 2010 Insight and the Prius that I’d like to clear up. Recently, I saw a post claiming the price difference between the two cars equipped “as customers want” is only 700 dollars more for the Prius. This was based on an MSRP of 21,300 for an Insight EX, and of $22,000 for a 2010 Prius II, which currently is the least expensive 2010 Prius available.
According to the Power Information Network (PIN), an affiliate of J.D. Power and Associates, the average transaction price of the 2010 Insight in June* was $21,526, while it was $26,436 for the 2010 Prius. “Average transaction price” is the average price paid for a car, including, transportation charges, options and accessories, but not including taxes or fees. So, in this case Prius buyers are paying $4,910 more for the keys to a Prius equipped “as customers want.” Generally speaking, the difference will grow even bigger when sales tax is applied. In the world of entry-level vehicles, hybrids or otherwise, $5000 is a big gap, and while it’s inevitable that there will be cross shopping between the two cars, we think this suggests that they will continue to attract different buyers.
Like the numbers above provided by PIN, third-party evaluations are a very helpful tool for car shoppers. All car consumers should research sources like J.D. Power, Edmunds and Kelley Blue Book (kbb.com) to help make the right choice. In the case of the Insight’s price, the numbers speak for themselves.
—Sage
*as of June 19th.
Tags: hybrid, affordable, prius, price, honda, 2010 Insight, msrp, toyota
It seems that there’s been a little confusion out there regarding the price/value equation between the 2010 Insight and the Prius that I’d like to clear up. Recently, I saw a post claiming the price difference between the two cars equipped “as customers want” is only 700 dollars more for the Prius. This was based on an MSRP of 21,300 for an Insight EX, and of $22,000 for a 2010 Prius II, which currently is the least expensive 2010 Prius available.
According to the Power Information Network (PIN), an affiliate of J.D. Power and Associates, the average transaction price of the 2010 Insight in June* was $21,526, while it was $26,436 for the 2010 Prius. “Average transaction price” is the average price paid for a car, including, transportation charges, options and accessories, but not including taxes or fees. So, in this case Prius buyers are paying $4,910 more for the keys to a Prius equipped “as customers want.” Generally speaking, the difference will grow even bigger when sales tax is applied. In the world of entry-level vehicles, hybrids or otherwise, $5000 is a big gap, and while it’s inevitable that there will be cross shopping between the two cars, we think this suggests that they will continue to attract different buyers.
Like the numbers above provided by PIN, third-party evaluations are a very helpful tool for car shoppers. All car consumers should research sources like J.D. Power, Edmunds and Kelley Blue Book (kbb.com) to help make the right choice. In the case of the Insight’s price, the numbers speak for themselves.
—Sage
*as of June 19th.
Tags: hybrid, affordable, prius, price, honda, 2010 Insight, msrp, toyota
Posted by Dave Terebessy on June 17, 2009 7:35 PM
It might be hard to decide between the Insight and the Civic Hybrid. After all, both vehicles deliver excellent fuel economy. Both feature Honda’s elegant, lightweight Integrated Motor Assist hybrid system—not to mention Honda quality. So it’s no surprise lots of folks are feeling torn.
A brief look at the spec sheets of each will reveal a significant size difference. The Insight is smaller in length, width and wheelbase, and it weighs less. But styling is probably the most recognizable difference. Our Civic Hybrid is a hybrid in a traditional sedan package, while the Insight is sporty and designed to cheat the wind. Insight offers a 60/40 split fold-down seat for great cargo volume with the seats up or down. The Civic Hybrid interior features leather and heated seats for a more premium feel.
And the most important difference is…you! A lot depends on who you are and what you’re looking for in a car. The Insight was designed to be accessible for a wider range of drivers who may have felt priced out of the hybrid market—until now. It’s tailor-made for the environmentally conscious and socially active individual. The Civic Hybrid is for those who are ready to move over to a more efficient commute, without sacrificing the size and amenities to which they have become accustomed.
If you’re still on the fence, be sure to check out the Web sites for both the Insight and the Civic Hybrid. Whichever way you go, this is one decision you can make with confidence.
—Dave
Tags: hybrid, affordable, mpg, efficiency, Civic Hybrid, honda, 2010 Insight, green
It might be hard to decide between the Insight and the Civic Hybrid. After all, both vehicles deliver excellent fuel economy. Both feature Honda’s elegant, lightweight Integrated Motor Assist hybrid system—not to mention Honda quality. So it’s no surprise lots of folks are feeling torn.
A brief look at the spec sheets of each will reveal a significant size difference. The Insight is smaller in length, width and wheelbase, and it weighs less. But styling is probably the most recognizable difference. Our Civic Hybrid is a hybrid in a traditional sedan package, while the Insight is sporty and designed to cheat the wind. Insight offers a 60/40 split fold-down seat for great cargo volume with the seats up or down. The Civic Hybrid interior features leather and heated seats for a more premium feel.
And the most important difference is…you! A lot depends on who you are and what you’re looking for in a car. The Insight was designed to be accessible for a wider range of drivers who may have felt priced out of the hybrid market—until now. It’s tailor-made for the environmentally conscious and socially active individual. The Civic Hybrid is for those who are ready to move over to a more efficient commute, without sacrificing the size and amenities to which they have become accustomed.
If you’re still on the fence, be sure to check out the Web sites for both the Insight and the Civic Hybrid. Whichever way you go, this is one decision you can make with confidence.
—Dave
Tags: hybrid, affordable, mpg, efficiency, Civic Hybrid, honda, 2010 Insight, green
Posted by Christina Ra on June 12, 2009 7:14 PM
At Disneyland® Resort, celebrations are always in season. And at American Honda, we think 50 years is worth celebrating! That’s why we’re pulling out all the stops for American Honda’s 50th Anniversary at the Disneyland® Resort. And of course, our all-new Honda Insight hybrid will be an honored guest.
Come “Celebrate the Hybrid” with us at the Disneyland® Resort, where dreams come true, from June 12 through July 31, 2009. Enter here for a chance to win your very own 2010 Insight hybrid plus a Disneyland® Resort vacation. Make a wish—you might even have one more reason to celebrate!
—Christina
Tags: hybrid, honda, events, 2010 Insight
At Disneyland® Resort, celebrations are always in season. And at American Honda, we think 50 years is worth celebrating! That’s why we’re pulling out all the stops for American Honda’s 50th Anniversary at the Disneyland® Resort. And of course, our all-new Honda Insight hybrid will be an honored guest.
Come “Celebrate the Hybrid” with us at the Disneyland® Resort, where dreams come true, from June 12 through July 31, 2009. Enter here for a chance to win your very own 2010 Insight hybrid plus a Disneyland® Resort vacation. Make a wish—you might even have one more reason to celebrate!
—Christina
Tags: hybrid, honda, events, 2010 Insight
Posted by Dave Terebessy on June 3, 2009 2:18 PM
Though we're sure you like reading the Latest Insight blog, the most efficient way to stay on top of things Honda related is to sign up for our newsletter. Don't worry, you won’t be bombarded with messages, you'll simply be updated on offers, model information and news via informative e-mails. So if you're interested, just find one of the "e-mail updates" icons
throughout the Honda web site, fill in your e-mail address and click "sign up." It's that easy.
—Dave
Tags: Insight, efficiency, 2010 cars, hybrids, news, offers, information, updates
Though we're sure you like reading the Latest Insight blog, the most efficient way to stay on top of things Honda related is to sign up for our newsletter. Don't worry, you won’t be bombarded with messages, you'll simply be updated on offers, model information and news via informative e-mails. So if you're interested, just find one of the "e-mail updates" icons
throughout the Honda web site, fill in your e-mail address and click "sign up." It's that easy.
—Dave
Tags: Insight, efficiency, 2010 cars, hybrids, news, offers, information, updates
Posted by Sage Marie on May 22, 2009 2:08 PM
The Insight team and I are proud to announce the 2010 Honda Insight was named a 2009 Top 10 Green Car by Kelley Blue Book’s kbb.com. It’s the first of many media accolades I hope to see. Being the hybrid for everyone, the Insight is utilitarian, and simplified, and I believe it validates the hybrid as a totally legitimate evolution of the passenger car that’s here to stay. It’s good to see Kelley Blue Book noticed, and was also impressed with the Insight’s affordable starting price of $ 19,800, stating, “…the all-new Honda Insight is the least expensive full-production hybrid available in the U.S.”
—Sage
Tags: hybrid, affordable, mpg, efficiency, honda, 2010 Insight, kbb, green, Kelley Blue Book
The Insight team and I are proud to announce the 2010 Honda Insight was named a 2009 Top 10 Green Car by Kelley Blue Book’s kbb.com. It’s the first of many media accolades I hope to see. Being the hybrid for everyone, the Insight is utilitarian, and simplified, and I believe it validates the hybrid as a totally legitimate evolution of the passenger car that’s here to stay. It’s good to see Kelley Blue Book noticed, and was also impressed with the Insight’s affordable starting price of $ 19,800, stating, “…the all-new Honda Insight is the least expensive full-production hybrid available in the U.S.”
—Sage
Tags: hybrid, affordable, mpg, efficiency, honda, 2010 Insight, kbb, green, Kelley Blue Book
Posted by Christina Ra on May 15, 2009 5:53 PM
Earth Day seems like yesterday, but for one lucky winner, the fun is going to last all summer long—because he has something amazing to look forward to. At the Earth Day Insight Launch Event at Honda Center, Armand W. of Irvine, California won a VIP trip to the Lollapalooza Music Festival, August 7–9 in Chicago’s Grant Park.
He and his lovely wife, Amanda, scored VIP passes to Lollapalooza, including unlimited access to the Lolla Lounge, buffets and refreshments, mini-spa treatments, deluxe hotel accommodations, round-trip airfare and lots of other perks.
If you’re headed to Lollapalooza, you could be a winner, too! Honda is eco-partnering with Lollapalooza’s popular Rock & Recycle Program. Festival attendees will have the opportunity to win a new 2010 Insight by completing a series of eco-mindful activities. You can get details at the Lollapalooza Web site.
—Christina
Tags: Insight, hybrid, environment, efficiency, 2010 cars, honda, events, music
Earth Day seems like yesterday, but for one lucky winner, the fun is going to last all summer long—because he has something amazing to look forward to. At the Earth Day Insight Launch Event at Honda Center, Armand W. of Irvine, California won a VIP trip to the Lollapalooza Music Festival, August 7–9 in Chicago’s Grant Park.
He and his lovely wife, Amanda, scored VIP passes to Lollapalooza, including unlimited access to the Lolla Lounge, buffets and refreshments, mini-spa treatments, deluxe hotel accommodations, round-trip airfare and lots of other perks.
If you’re headed to Lollapalooza, you could be a winner, too! Honda is eco-partnering with Lollapalooza’s popular Rock & Recycle Program. Festival attendees will have the opportunity to win a new 2010 Insight by completing a series of eco-mindful activities. You can get details at the Lollapalooza Web site.
—Christina
Tags: Insight, hybrid, environment, efficiency, 2010 cars, honda, events, music
Posted by Christina Ra on May 13, 2009 3:09 PM
We’ve talked a lot about the Insight’s affordability and efficiency on this blog, both of which, naturally, we are very proud of here at Honda. But now it’s time to let our hair down a little bit and talk about something fun: music!
Since the Insight is the car for everyone, we wanted to make sure we included music for everyone. That’s why an MP3/auxiliary input jack is standard on the LX, plus plenty of extras. To take full advantage, visit Yahoo! New Now to learn about new music, then head on over to MySpace to pick up some free downloads.
The Insight can also take you and your friends to where the music is. Honda is an eco-conscious music partner for the hottest summer music festivals this year. For starters, groove and go green from August 7–9 at the Lollapalooza Music Festival in Grant Park, Chicago. In between shows, stroll down Green Street and learn simple and effective ways to live a life more green. This year, Lollapalooza is 100-percent carbon neutral. You can get details about Rock & Recycle at the Lollapalooza Web site and learn about the chance to win a 2010 Insight.
Still can’t get enough music in your life? Follow the Insight to the next stop on our musical tour: the Austin City Limits (ACL) music festival October 2–4. Another carbon-neutral green venue, the festival encourages carpooling, recycling and the purchase of $3 carbon offsets. At the ACL, no green stone is left unturned—from merchandise to hand sanitizer.
The Insight wishes you a very musical summer!
—Christina
Tags: Insight, hybrid, environment, efficiency, 2010 cars, honda, events, music
We’ve talked a lot about the Insight’s affordability and efficiency on this blog, both of which, naturally, we are very proud of here at Honda. But now it’s time to let our hair down a little bit and talk about something fun: music!
Since the Insight is the car for everyone, we wanted to make sure we included music for everyone. That’s why an MP3/auxiliary input jack is standard on the LX, plus plenty of extras. To take full advantage, visit Yahoo! New Now to learn about new music, then head on over to MySpace to pick up some free downloads.
The Insight can also take you and your friends to where the music is. Honda is an eco-conscious music partner for the hottest summer music festivals this year. For starters, groove and go green from August 7–9 at the Lollapalooza Music Festival in Grant Park, Chicago. In between shows, stroll down Green Street and learn simple and effective ways to live a life more green. This year, Lollapalooza is 100-percent carbon neutral. You can get details about Rock & Recycle at the Lollapalooza Web site and learn about the chance to win a 2010 Insight.
Still can’t get enough music in your life? Follow the Insight to the next stop on our musical tour: the Austin City Limits (ACL) music festival October 2–4. Another carbon-neutral green venue, the festival encourages carpooling, recycling and the purchase of $3 carbon offsets. At the ACL, no green stone is left unturned—from merchandise to hand sanitizer.
The Insight wishes you a very musical summer!
—Christina
Tags: Insight, hybrid, environment, efficiency, 2010 cars, honda, events, music
Posted by Christina Ra on May 5, 2009 2:22 PM
Turns out, the only place to be on Earth Day this year was the Honda Earth Day Insight Homecoming and Launch Event at Honda Center! It was a gloriously sunny day in Anaheim as I watched the first-generation Insights roll in. Some passionate Insight owners came from as far away as Delaware, Michigan, Connecticut and Florida!
We had some celebrities in our midst, too, such as Wayne Gerdes—the man who coined the term “hypermiler” and who had nothing but praise for Honda and the Insight. Also in attendance was John Johnson—better known by this crowd as “Insightman.” He drove all the way from Ann Arbor, Michigan to attend the festivities.
Kurt Antonius, Assistant Vice President, Public Relations for American Honda welcomed the crowd, saying, “This is indeed history…and you are all pioneers.” He stated that the quest for fuel-efficient vehicles is not a marketing ploy, but “part of Honda’s DNA.”
Soon the general public began flooding in for delicious food, fun sweepstakes prizes, and of course the opportunity to test-drive the all-new Insight. Signs around the course advised Insight test drivers to try the car with Econ™ mode* on and off, and to experiment with other features. Everyone I spoke with after the drive was surprised with the Insight’s smooth handling and economical price.
All in all it was a great day for everyone. But the sun shone a little brighter for sweepstakes winner Richard Wada of Orange, California. He got the keys to a brand-new 2010 Insight! Congratulations, Richard. And thanks to all who came out for the fun.
—Christina
* Eco Assist™ is a trademark of Honda Motor Co., Ltd., and may not be used or reproduced without prior written approval.
Tags: Insight, hybrid, environment, efficiency, 2010 cars, earth day, honda
Turns out, the only place to be on Earth Day this year was the Honda Earth Day Insight Homecoming and Launch Event at Honda Center! It was a gloriously sunny day in Anaheim as I watched the first-generation Insights roll in. Some passionate Insight owners came from as far away as Delaware, Michigan, Connecticut and Florida!
We had some celebrities in our midst, too, such as Wayne Gerdes—the man who coined the term “hypermiler” and who had nothing but praise for Honda and the Insight. Also in attendance was John Johnson—better known by this crowd as “Insightman.” He drove all the way from Ann Arbor, Michigan to attend the festivities.
Kurt Antonius, Assistant Vice President, Public Relations for American Honda welcomed the crowd, saying, “This is indeed history…and you are all pioneers.” He stated that the quest for fuel-efficient vehicles is not a marketing ploy, but “part of Honda’s DNA.”
Soon the general public began flooding in for delicious food, fun sweepstakes prizes, and of course the opportunity to test-drive the all-new Insight. Signs around the course advised Insight test drivers to try the car with Econ™ mode* on and off, and to experiment with other features. Everyone I spoke with after the drive was surprised with the Insight’s smooth handling and economical price.
All in all it was a great day for everyone. But the sun shone a little brighter for sweepstakes winner Richard Wada of Orange, California. He got the keys to a brand-new 2010 Insight! Congratulations, Richard. And thanks to all who came out for the fun.
—Christina
* Eco Assist™ is a trademark of Honda Motor Co., Ltd., and may not be used or reproduced without prior written approval.
Tags: Insight, hybrid, environment, efficiency, 2010 cars, earth day, honda
Posted by Sage Marie on April 27, 2009 7:26 PM
As an employee of Honda, I know the Insight lives up to Honda’s reputation of making reliable, economical, safe and fun-to-drive automobiles. Like any new car launch, you’re never sure when the car will receive praise from the media. In the case of the 2010 Insight, it happened pretty quickly.
I must say the media response has been as positive as any launch I’ve worked on. It’s even more impressive when you consider the fact that the all-new Insight is competing against hybrids with higher price tags. In light of this, I was happy to see how well the Insight fared in the comparison tests done by both Edmunds Inside Line and Motor Trend—two highly respected publications.
Although I’m pleased to see that the Insight has essentially passed the media test, I’m waiting to see if our newest hybrid is as big of a hit in America as it is in Japan.
On a side note, I'm curious to see if the import tuner crowd will adopt Insight as a platform for customization. Tuned Insights would be totally unconventional and could be pretty cool. Only time will tell.
—Sage
Tags: Insight, hybrid, environment, efficiency, 2010 cars, earth day, honda
As an employee of Honda, I know the Insight lives up to Honda’s reputation of making reliable, economical, safe and fun-to-drive automobiles. Like any new car launch, you’re never sure when the car will receive praise from the media. In the case of the 2010 Insight, it happened pretty quickly.
I must say the media response has been as positive as any launch I’ve worked on. It’s even more impressive when you consider the fact that the all-new Insight is competing against hybrids with higher price tags. In light of this, I was happy to see how well the Insight fared in the comparison tests done by both Edmunds Inside Line and Motor Trend—two highly respected publications.
Although I’m pleased to see that the Insight has essentially passed the media test, I’m waiting to see if our newest hybrid is as big of a hit in America as it is in Japan.
On a side note, I'm curious to see if the import tuner crowd will adopt Insight as a platform for customization. Tuned Insights would be totally unconventional and could be pretty cool. Only time will tell.
—Sage
Tags: Insight, hybrid, environment, efficiency, 2010 cars, earth day, honda
Posted by Sage Marie on April 20, 2009 2:27 PM
The Insight is a global model, meaning aside from a few regional tweaks, it’s basically the same car in any country it’s sold. That being said, it’s really interesting to see how different the commercials are that have aired globally since the launch.
There’s a good chance many of you have already seen the first three Insight commercials to be aired in the States:
Unless you’ve spent time in Europe recently, you probably haven’t seen the Insight commercial they are being exposed to over there:
As you can see, the Insight really is “for everyone.”
--Sage
Tags: Insight, efficiency, 2010 cars, hybrids, press
The Insight is a global model, meaning aside from a few regional tweaks, it’s basically the same car in any country it’s sold. That being said, it’s really interesting to see how different the commercials are that have aired globally since the launch.
There’s a good chance many of you have already seen the first three Insight commercials to be aired in the States:
Unless you’ve spent time in Europe recently, you probably haven’t seen the Insight commercial they are being exposed to over there:
As you can see, the Insight really is “for everyone.”
--Sage
Tags: Insight, efficiency, 2010 cars, hybrids, press
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