Feature: 2010 Honda Insight vs 2010 Toyota Prius

January 26, 2009

Top: 2010 Honda Insight; photo by Paul Williams; Bottom: 2010 Toyota Prius; photo courtesy Toyota Canada. Click image to enlarge

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By Jil McIntosh

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At this year’s edition of the North American International Auto Show in Detroit, it was just like old times, as two senior hybrid nameplates squared off from opposite sides of the room. In one corner, the 2010 Toyota Prius, the first mass-produced hybrid, was unveiled in its third generation. And in the other was the 2010 Honda Insight, a name used on the first hybrid to come to North American shores, and now revived on an all-new model.

Originally the only game in town, the Prius and Insight are no longer alone. Both companies make other hybrids, while General Motors, Ford, Nissan and Chrysler also have models on the market, and other companies have them on the way. The Prius still commands the lion’s share of the gasoline-electric market, to the point that it’s almost become a generic name for hybrids with many customers. Honda, meanwhile, has brought back the name of the cute-n-funky little two-seater that introduced us to the idea, in the hopes that buyers will reconnect with it. So how do the two measure up?

At the moment, it’s all by the numbers, as Autos has only been behind the wheel of the Insight, and pricing hasn’t been announced. But it’s important to note that while both are hybrids, they’re not the same, and there are some fundamental differences that may sway buyers to one or the other.

2010 Honda Insight; photo by Paul Williams. Click image to enlarge

Both are four-door hatchbacks, but the Prius is the larger of the two: a 2700 mm (106.2 inches) wheelbase to the Insight’s 2550 mm (100.3 inches), and a body length of 4460 mm (175.5 inches), to the Insight’s 4376 mm (172.2 inches). The Insight is also smaller than the Honda Civic Hybrid, a model with an MSRP of $26,350, and Honda has said that the Insight will cost less. (The smaller Fit is also scheduled for a hybrid powertrain, but it won’t be sold in our market.)

Since the 2009 Prius is priced at $27,710, expect the Insight to come in with the advantage of a lower sticker price. But there will be more than just price riding on the decision with some buyers, because while both cars are hybrids, they don’t work quite the same.

Both use a four-cylinder engine: a 1.3-litre in the Insight, and a 1.8-litre in the Prius, which also uses an Atkinson cycle. This variable valve timing system squeezes as much energy as possible out of the fuel for better mileage; its lower horsepower per displacement is compensated by the hybrid system’s electric assist. The hybrid system is called the Integrated Motor Assist (IMA) on the Insight, while Toyota’s is Hybrid Synergy Drive. Both use continuously variable transmissions (CVT). The Insight’s engine also includes a system called Variable Cylinder Management, or VCM, which stops firing on all four cylinders during deceleration to save fuel and decrease resistance to allow the motor/generator to more efficiently generate electricity and charge the battery. Combined net horsepower ratings are 98 hp for the Insight, and 134 hp for the Prius. As with all hybrids currently on the market, you don’t plug in either one; the system recharges itself.

Top: 2010 Honda Insight; photo courtesy Honda; Bottom: 2010 Toyota Prius; photo courtesy Toyota Canada. Click image to enlarge

The biggest difference between the two models is in how the hybrid system works. For many buyers, it will come down to the factors of price versus operation: the Insight will be less expensive, but it isn’t as sophisticated a system. Unlike the Prius, which can take off on electric power and now includes an “EV” mode that lets the driver select electric-only driving for almost two kilometres, the Insight can only run on battery alone when it’s cruising at around 40 km/h. However, both use an idle stop feature, which shuts off the gasoline engine when the car is stopped – such as when sitting at a light, or in heavy traffic – so that no fuel is used and there are no emissions. The electric motor restarts each one, so there’s no conventional starter to wear out.

The Prius is an improvement on the second-generation model, with 90 per cent of the Hybrid Synergy Drive newly-developed; Toyota says that power is improved by 22 per cent, while fuel consumption is seven per cent better. Although the 1.8-litre is larger than the 1.5-litre it replaces, the new engine runs at lower r.p.m. on the highway and so uses less fuel. Estimated fuel economy is 3.7 L/100 km in the city, and 4.0 L/100 km on the highway. The new model is virtually the same size as before, but the cowl moves forward for better interior space, and it rides on a new platform that Toyota promises provides better handling. Brakes are now discs on all four corners, replacing the rear drums currently used. A new design for the battery cooling unit increases the cargo area, making it 10 mm (0.4 inches) longer, and 56 mm (2.2 inches) wider, while a new design in the front seatbacks improves rear legroom.

Top: 2010 Honda Insight; photo by Paul Williams; Bottom: 2010 Toyota Prius; photo courtesy Toyota Canada. Click image to enlarge

Four driving modes are available: the standard driving mode, as well as driver-selectable Eco Mode, for better fuel economy; Power Mode, which gives a sportier feel; and EV-Drive, which runs on battery only at low speeds for about 1.6 km under certain conditions. As before, a multi-information display panel provides feedback on fuel efficiency. There are also new options, including Intelligent Parking Assist, which guides the car hands-free into a parking space. We’ve already seen it here on Lexus – it was also used on the previous-generation Prius, but only in Japan – and hopefully it’s been better tweaked for Canada, since the Lexus system proved notorious for its difficulty with snowy parking lots, and the length of time it takes to get everything lined up. Of far more interest is a new sunroof with solar panels. The panels power electric fans when the car is parked, cooling down the interior, so that when the driver comes back to the car on a summer day, it isn’t necessary to run the air conditioning for very long.

The Insight, on the other hand, is an all-new model, and certainly a long way from the futuristic little two-seater that first bore the name. It uses the fifth generation of the Integrated Motor Assist, and is expected to rate 4.8 L/100 km in the city and 4.5 L/100 km on the highway. (You’ll notice that the city number is higher, as with a conventional model, while the Prius’ city number is lower; this is due to the Prius’ ability to run more in battery-only mode.) The electric motor assists the gasoline engine during acceleration and in some cruising situations. The Insight also has an “economy” button which, when pushed, provides more economical driving by adjusting the throttle control, CVT, idle stop duration, air conditioning and cruise control operation.

Top: 2010 Honda Insight; photo by Paul Williams; Bottom: 2010 Toyota Prius; photo courtesy Toyota Canada. Click image to enlarge

The Insight introduces an all-new system, called Eco Assist, which helps the driver keep track of fuel economy and recommends better driving habits. The speedometer background changes colour to indicate how efficiently the driver is accelerating and braking, and a multi-information display keeps track of fuel economy ratings, both during that particular trip and on a lifetime basis, in the form of plant leaf graphics. Up to five leaves will appear as the car is driven in a more fuel-efficient style.

While the Prius is traditionally sold in a single trim line, with available option packages, the Insight will be available in LX or EX trim. Vehicle stability control, an option on the 2009 Prius, will be standard equipment on the 2010 model; on the Insight, it’s part of the upper-line EX trim. Both have seat side and curtain airbags, while the Prius also adds knee airbags.

So which one should buyers choose? That will depend on many factors, because these two hybrids share only the name. Comparing them really is apples to oranges, as they’re differently sized, they don’t work the same way overall, and the Prius’ better fuel economy will be offset by what is expected to be a fairly substantial price variation in the Insight’s favour. As for me, I can hardly wait to drive ’em both.