Honda is bringing the prototype for an all-new Insight to the North American International Auto Show next week. It's a look at the latest Honda hybrid that will arrive in showrooms later this year.
The 2019 Honda Insight looks like it's the Accord Hybrid, but it isn't. Honda is already planning a separate Accord Hybrid. this is a smaller car, and while Honda hasn't yet given us the dimensions, they have said that the Insight is "positioned as a premium compact above Civic in the Honda passenger car lineup."
That means that the new Insight is going up against the Toyota Prius, the default choice when it comes to hybrids.
The insight will offer a 1.5L Atkinson cycle four-cylinder and a lithium-ion battery pack. Honda didn't release power figures but did say that they expect a Canadian fuel economy rating better than 4.7 L/100 km. Assuming that's a combined economy figure, that puts it right on top of the 4.5 L/100 km of the Prius and 4.3 of the 2018 Hyundai Ioniq.
Honda says that in most situations, the Insight will be propelled only by the electric motor, with the gas engine operating as a generator. That's similar to the setup of the Clarity plug-in hybrid. That battery is under the rear seats giving the Insight a full-size trunk.
Inside, the Insight will have what Honda calls "class-leading passenger space." It also has an 8.0-inch touchscreen standard with Apple Carplay, Android auto, and WiFi-enabled over the air updates.
The Insight will have Honda's LaneWatch blind-spot camera standard, along with the Honda Sensing suite that includes collision mitigation braking, lane departure warnings, and adaptive cruise control.
The 2019 Honda Insight will launch later this year, and sit in a quickly expanding lineup of electrified Hondas including the Insight, Clarity, and upcoming Accord Hybrid.
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