Honda Insight (09 on) - Review

Unlike other Honda hybrid models, the Insight is a five-door hatchback, making it a realistic choice for families. There's plenty of cabin space, especially in the rear where there's good knee and head room while thanks to a flat floor, three people can comfortably fit in the back. Ride quality is very good and the Insight deals well with potholes and rough tarmac, so it's a shame that the engine is so noisy when accelerating even moderately quickly. On the plus side, all models come with climate control and electric windows as standard while ES models get heated front seats.

Standard boot space in the Insight is 408 litres which is more than a Ford Focus, although still smaller than Honda's own Civic hatchback, which has 485 litres. The luggage area is long and wide though while the large opening tailgate makes loading and unloading big items easy. There's also a clever two-level boot floor section, which can be used to keep valuable items out of sight plus the rear seats split 60/40 and fold down flat to create a level area. In the front there's good stowage including large door pockets that incorporate bottle shaped holders.

The Insight shares some interior components, such as the steering wheel and switches, with the Civic hatchback. Unfortunately the rest of it lacks the same upmarket feel and there are some cheap-looking plastics on show (as a result of keeping weight down), but overall build quality is excellent. The driving position is spot on and there's plenty of reach adjustment in the steering column - however some drivers may find the digital speedo obscured by the top of the steering wheel. The real highlight of the cabin is the futuristic two-tiered instrument panel. This features a glowing light around the speedo which tells you how economically you're driving - green is good but aggressive acceleration sees it quickly turn blue.