Ask the Best and Brightest: Would a Fit Hybrid Rescue Honda's Insight Fail?

Edward Niedermeyer
by Edward Niedermeyer

To put it simply, Honda’s Insight sold 4,226 units last month while the Prius sold 18,886. Through August, Toyota sold 93,810 Priora while the Insight motivated only 14,045 buyers. Honda has tacitly admitted that the Insight is not up to snuff. But upgrades could take years. Honda could just as easily have the long-rumored Fit Hybrid ready in the same time. Would it be a better Prius fighter? Or will Honda Hybrids be stuck wandering the desert until, say, the CR-Z arrives?

Edward Niedermeyer
Edward Niedermeyer

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  • DisturbedDriver DisturbedDriver on Sep 11, 2009
    I believe Disco Stu offered the same analysis of disco album sales, based on 1975-1977 trends. I will believe this when I see it. Yes, and the same was said of the Boeing 7E7 (later renamed the 787) by the likes of Airbus/EADS when it was first announced.
  • Mockingbird Mockingbird on Sep 12, 2009

    I have (had) been a long time fan of Honda. I have owned a total of 4 Hondas over a course of 17 years. When it was time to trade our last Honda this year, I looked to, well, Honda, and Acura. But there wasn't a single model in their line up that a. suites my needs b. appeals to me. I had come to the realisation that Honda is making "different" cars these days than what they used to. But are they completely off their mark as to what North Americans actually want for their rides? What ever happened to their oft touted "quality"? Ultimately, though, the single deciding factor that turned me away from Honda was ........ the head rest. That front leaning head rest is a killer on my upper back. Seriously, Honda need to re-examine their overall design direction to be more in tune what most of us like, not what Honda wants us to like. Case in point - the Crosstour.

  • M1EK M1EK on Sep 14, 2009
    Honda’s forte has always been simple cars whose efficiency is built-in, as opposed to bolted-on. They should stick to their strengths, and let Toyota stake its future on the hybrid fad. First generation Honda Insight on line 1.
  • Anonymous Anonymous on Sep 14, 2009

    "Honda’s forte has always been simple cars whose efficiency is built-in, as opposed to bolted-on. They should stick to their strengths, and let Toyota stake its future on the hybrid fad. " Very well said. I second that. I owned an 1990 Accord coupe 5-speed for 14 yrs before donating it to charity with 137k hard-driven stop-go cold start miles at 18 yrs old, and we still own a 91 civic hatch with very low miles that easily gets 44 highway and 35 overall. The new Insight is only marginally better and does not justify the price premium. it is 10 MPG below the Prius in most tests. Unless Honda can do what it could always do, make a PRius foghter with high-quality materials AND BETTER, not 10 MPG WORSE, MPG

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