Prius vs Honda Insight (2009)

My parents owned a Honda Jazz/Fit and needed to change car. After analysing the market, the km travelled each year, personal preference, etc. my parents decided to buy a Honda Insight. The Prius is more expensive and bigger for smallish streets of Florence (Italy) where they live, and the Auris Hybrid has an abysmally small and *even* oddly shaped (!) trunk (I wonder how many Auris they have sold so far…if at all).

I had the chance to drive the Insight for a 2 day trip of about 500km and recently again in the snow.
My impressions/differences to the Prius as follows, in no particular order:

• Honda offers a really nice and helpful rearview mirror with integrated LCD display connected to a rear camera, for a reasonable 300€ (no need of a Navi – Toyota doesn’t even know what I am talking about; only (expensive) beeping sensors…)
• a more detailed (i.e. more screens) information display vs Prius; but Prius’ dashboard is way more elegant and subtle; Insight’s is more “modern”, “colourful” and “bright”
• the speedometer is *way* more accurate (within less than 5% compared to 10% of the Prius)
• apparently fuel consumption is more accurate (displayed vs calculated) – over the last 6 fuellings – around 3-4%, rather than 6% in my Prius
• narrower body that yields a more compact front seating area and less space behind, though practically being of same length
• the “auto stop” feature is a bit unpredictable and when at a traffic light it will start the engine again, apparently for no reason, while still pressing the brake
• in “ECO mode” the fan of the AC will simply *shut off* instead of blowing at least some fresh air when stopping the engine (“auto stop”) at a traffic light
• useful, though possibly “annoying”, programmable chime to tell you when going faster than a set speed – 2 (!) speeds can be programmed
• compared to EU Prius, a counter telling you when the car should be serviced
• all information is in front of view and no head-up display; I know people find this better, but after several months of use, I find the display “at a distance”, albeit not in the middle, easier to read and easier on the eyes (I am shortsighted); the Prius head-up display (standard on EU Prius) is *really great* and it is now always on…
• rear view is about the same of the Prius – i.e. you don’t see much…
• less kick and *way* more engine noise when accelerating harder than normal
• plastics look not as cheap as in the Prius
• seats are more “sporty” and fit more snug
• electrically foldable rearview mirrors are standard (and really helpful especially in tight parking in EU cities)
• clearly the drivetrain of the Prius is *way* more advanced and efficient; e.g. when turning off the car, the gear selector needs to be moved from D to P via N: if you are in “auto stop”, the engine will be turned on *again* simply because you moved to N…
• practically impossible to understand if the electric engine is pushing the car by itself (within a very small speed range), since the only way to recognise this is by checking the instantaneous fuel consumption – engine still spins moved by the electric engine, albeit consuming no fuel; or by looking at the energy flow display
• rough start from “auto stop” compared to the super smooth electric push of the Prius (the Insight cannot move from 0km/h electrically)
• auto lights available standard on Insight; the Prius EU does not even offer it as an option (makes the car slightly cheaper, by what? 5€ maybe?, but increases versions necessary worldwide and logistic costs – I don’t understand Toyota’s policy in this respect – less variations, less logistics costs!)
• Cruise Control is *way* smoother in Eco mode, than Prius’ CC
• both cars handle the road pretty well (17″ wheels on both cars) compared to what they can deliver, respectively, in terms of performance
• the Insight has an FM radio that actually works…
• trip A can be reset automatically each time the fuel door is opened
• parking sensors cannot be switched off at all
• traction control can be turned off (not on the Prius)

I would say that, if overall interior size is not of importance (e.g. driving often alone or with 1 passenger), and taking into consideration overall km driver per year, insurance costs, buy price, the Prius is better for km driven most in town (higher fuel savings) and suburban, and sometimes on highway; the Insight is better for suburban and highway driving and should be driven as least as possible in town. Each should decide based on personal necessities, budget and local costs (e.g. taxes, local dealer offers, etc.).

I cannot recollect any other striking differences at this time – will add them here later if others come to mind.
Anyone out there that has made a direct comparison like mine?

Read here about my Prius vs Lexus CT200h impressions.

Read here about my Prius vs Auris Hybrid impressions.

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