UPDATE: You can now read our first review of the 2019 Honda Insight
- Estimated 55 mpg city
- 1.5-liter Atkinson-cycle engine
- Offered in LX, EX and Touring trims
- Available this summer
Honda is rolling out its production-ready 2019 Insight at the 2018 New York International Auto Show, touting the gasoline-electric hybrid sedan as a premium compact offering up to an estimated 55 mpg in city driving.
The 2019 Insight, positioned between the compact Civic and midsize Accord, hits dealer showrooms early this summer. The debut of the production version comes just a few months after Honda revealed the prototype Insight at the 2018 North American International Auto Show in Detroit.
Honda opted for a more “universally appealing styling” of a sedan for Insight’s third generation instead of the hatchback it sported in previous lifecycles. The sporty looking car stands wide, features Honda’s “flying wing” grille and a coupe-like roofline.
Also: Check out the latest news from the New York Auto Show
Two-motor hybrid
The 2019 Insight is powered by a 2-motor hybrid system that includes a 1.5-liter Atkinson cycle engine, electric propulsion motor and a lithium-ion battery pack. (There’s no automatic transmission in Honda’s system; instead the electric propulsion motor powers the drive axles.) The hybrid system generates 151 horsepower and 197 lb-ft of torque. Honda said it expects combined city/highway fuel economy of at least 50 mpg, but Environmental Protection Agency ratings weren’t provided.
“The Honda Insight shows consumers that the efficiency of a hybrid car doesn’t mean sacrificing style, refinement or performance,” Henio Arcangeli Jr., senior vice president of American Honda Motor Co. Inc., said. “The Insight is another symbol of a new era in the evolution of Honda electrified vehicles, where customers can have everything they want with no compromises.”Honda features three driving modes on the Insight: Normal, Econ and Sport. In Normal mode, the Insight can drive in all-electric for about a mile. And the Insight features steering-wheel mounted deceleration paddles for regenerative braking options.
The Insight shares a base platform with the Civic but received several upgrades for ride quality and quietness. Honda says the Insight boasts segment-best rear legroom at 37.4 inches and offers a generous 15.1 cu-ft of trunk space. The car’s battery pack is placed under the rear seats, allowing those to fold for cargo-hauling ease.
Also: Get your first look at the new and redesigned cars of 2019
Three trim levels
It will be available in three trim choices: the LX, EX and a top Touring trim. The base LX sedan comes equipped with 16-inch alloy wheels, rearview camera, LED headlights, daytime running lights and tail lights and heated side mirrors. Inside, the car features a 7-inch driver’s information center and a push-button start. The EX trim has Smart Entry and an 8-inch touchscreen. Buyers who choose the Touring trim get a slew of extras such as 17-inch alloy wheels, LED fog lights, power moonroof, navigation, rain-sensing wipers, leather seats that adjust and are heated in the front, premium audio, dual-zone climate control and 4G LTE Wi-Fi hotspot.
Every 2019 Insight also will include Honda Sensing, a suite of standard safety and driver-assistance tech that includes forward collision warning, collision mitigation braking, lane departure warning and keeping assist, road departure mitigation, adaptive cruise with low-speed follow and traffic sign recognition. The higher two trims, EX and Touring, also get Honda LaneWatch, which shows the right side of the car in the center display when the right turn signal is activated. Pricing for the 2019 Insight wasn’t disclosed, but Honda says it will fall between pricing of the Civic and Accord.
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