Honda Insight (00-05) - Review

Review by Parkers on
The pioneering Insight was Honda's first petrol-electric engine 'hybrid' - a car with both a petrol engine and electric motor. It may be quirky to look at, and it only seats two, but there's strong demand among buyers for it and as a result used values remain surprisingly high. That is in part because it's so cheap to run. Cars registered after March 2001 are exempt from road tax, it has a 100 per cent discount from the London Congestion Charge and is capable of up to 83mpg, making it one of the thriftiest cars on the road.
3.5 out of 5

Other Honda reviews

5 out of 5

Running costs

Insight is the King of mean - great news for prospective buyers. Although it may seem initially expensive to buy, some buyers will find that it pays for itself - particularly if you're downsizing and living in London. Cars registered after March 2001 are exempt from road tax, it has a 100 per cent discount from the London Congestion Charge and is capable of up to 83mpg. Parts and servicing are quite pricey, but this is off-set by the other savings.

Summary Running Costs

Servicing period

12,500 miles/12 months

Warranty

Three years/60,000 miles

Road tax (12 months)

£0.00 - £0.00

Vehicle excise duty (VED) varies according to the CO2 emissions and the fuel type of the vehicle. For cars registered after March 1st 2001 VED or road tax is based on the car's CO2 emissions. For cars registered before March 1st 2001 it is based on engine size.

Full running costs data

5 out of 5

Green credentials

  • A
    80
  • B
  • C
  • D
  • E
  • F
  • G
  • H
  • I
  • J
  • K
  • L
  • M

CO2 emission figure (g/km)

Fuel economy rating

The arrows indicate the best and worst CO2 bands for this model.

Emissions summary

Few can come close to Insight on the Eco front. It features a hybrid engine, which is essentially a petrol engine linked to an electric motor, which, when you brake or coast, captures energy to charge the battery for the electric motor. That means you get power without the added fuel bills. With an average of 80 g/km CO2 across the range, its emissions are exceptionally low. It's also extraordinarily economical, averaging 83 mpg.

Find the exact engine and CO2