[RedDevil]

Originally Posted by MetroMPG

See "Criteria" in post 1: there ain't no $4000 2nd gen Insights around!

Although I have seen more than a few Civic hybrid CVT's in that range.

But I'm just not a big fan of Honda's CVT IMA hybrid approach. (I'm not at all enamoured with my parents' 2009 Civic hybrid.)

I want true EV mode, and true ICE-off, 1-pedal pulse & glide ability. It's time to play with a Prius.

I know, have seen that thread. Yet, the Insight is a good deal lighter and has an improved battery and IMA management. Same engine, less weight and a better battery make a lot of difference.
My parents bought a Jazz Hybrid which shares it platform with the Insight, but is 40 kg lighter. It is a blast to drive even compared to the Insight, while it is just a tad lighter.

But the Insight has a true EV mode all right - the motor is bolted to the camshaft so the engine turns over but it uses no fuel. The head has a special VTEC camshaft to reduce friction in DFCO/EV mode.
I can accelerate in EV mode up to 30 mph and sustain speed/prolong glides at basically any speed.
But you have little control over the EV mode. The IMA system decides when to use it though you can to some extent influence it by playing with the throttle. And there is no EV assist under 10 mph - a consequence of having the motor bolted to the engine rather than the gearbox, where the motors can run at very low speed, making EV creep very economical.

You can pulse and (assist) glide but on light throttle the CVT maxes out running very low revs; I get best economy at 35 mph, 1100 RPM, constant speed. It will
The Prius HSD has to compensate with its planetary gears and motors to get a 'constant' RPM that low, hence P&G benefit the Prius more.

I do like the sophistication of the Prius concept, but admire the IMA system for its relative simplicity and the way it compensates for the CVT's weaknesses while making good use of its benefits. It offers pretty much what a Prius offers for 3/4 of the price.
I hated autos and CVT's in particular so I avoided the Honda hybrids altogether until I lost heart trying to buy an economical small diesel I could live with. Test drove one on a whim - the rest is history.

Whatever you want to buy, drive it and drive it well!
Nothing worse than buying a car in a hurry to find it drives like a pig after you let the money go.
Nice as the Jazz hybrid was, there were noticeable handling differences between the ones my parents took for a spin; one of them fell through for just that.