Honda announces 3rd gen Honda Insight (2019) = a less ugly Civic sedan

[Natalya]

Rounded rear bumper is the only style cue it shares with its predecessors. I did notice that final rear area looks kinda small, so it probably has a good cd.

[Xist]

Test drive of 2019 Civic hybrid Insight:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1X0IcIyJ6K0

He describes it as a 50 MPG Civic, without looking like a "spaceship," [Gen1?] or being in your face [Prius?], although he mentions that it has four hybrid badges, but that is the only way to distinguish it.

Right, because eighteen years later they gave up on the aerodynamics they managed with the original Insight.

He said twice that you should pay extra for the less-efficient EX or Touring models because they have features that makes the Civic Insight "easier to live with."

They could probably make a long list of features that my Civic does not have, but the only one that matters to me is:

1. Not running.

Well, back to work!

[Vman455]

FWIW, we don't know what the drag numbers are on this car, since Honda stopped publishing those some years ago. In their press material for the 2016 Civic, they claimed "12% reduction in drag" from the 2015 model, but didn't specify trim, coupe or sedan, or what. I expect that probably references the sedan, and I would bet this Insight is slightly better than the regular Civic. But, again, their press kit doesn't give us any numbers--the only drag coefficient quoted in there is the first gen Insight!

It would be interesting to get one of these, a 2010, and a 2000 in a rolling-road tunnel.

[Vman455]

I was reading through Honda's press kit again and noticed this time a paragraph on aerodynamics. They claim the Insight has "the best aerodynamic performance in its class," but I wonder which class? It also says the Insight has "the flattest underbody of any Honda production vehicle." Here's a CFD image:



Profile:



The underside is particularly interesting since the regular Civic on which this is based has no diffuser panel under the trunk, in any variant.

[JSH]

The 3rd Gen Honda Insight is a sedan because sedans sell MUCH better than hatchbacks in the USA. Honda wants to actually sell cars this time.

[MetroMPG]

sedans sell MUCH better than hatchbacks in the USA.

Unless said hatchbacks are marketed as crossovers/CUV's, in which case they can't keep enough of them in stock compared to sedans!

[cRiPpLe_rOoStEr]

Originally Posted by MetroMPG

Unless said hatchbacks are marketed as crossovers/CUV's, in which case they can't keep enough of them in stock compared to sedans!

Considering that Mitsubishi revived the Eclipse nameplate in a crossover, it's actually quite surprising that Honda didn't follow such with the Insight. Sure it may sound like comparing apples and oranges, but crossovers have been somewhat more "fashionable" on a worldwide basis.

[JSH]

Originally Posted by cRiPpLe_rOoStEr

Considering that Mitsubishi revived the Eclipse nameplate in a crossover, it's actually quite surprising that Honda didn't follow such with the Insight. Sure it may sound like comparing apples and oranges, but crossovers have been somewhat more "fashionable" on a worldwide basis.

Honda is using the standard CR-V Hybrid name for the Hybrid version of their crossover.

I read an interview with the project manager for the Civic / Insight and he said they used the Insight name instead of Civic Hybrid because they are attempting revive the performance image of the Civic. Honda does not believe the public (at least in the USA) equates performance with hybrids so they did not want to use a hybrid label on the Civic platform.

[gone-ot]

What do you want?

SUV = a big brick people hauler
CUV = a smaller brick people hauler
original Insignt = aerodynamic vechicle

[Xist]

The Gen1 Insight was designed to efficient haul one or two people, not "Well, one day I may want to carry seven people, their furniture, and tow a yacht, so I will purchase the biggest vehicle that I can find.