[RedDevil]

Originally Posted by Gasoline Fumes

I love Hondas, but I'd get a Prius over a Honda hybrid. Unless it's a 1st gen manual Insight!

For the same money, yes. But there's no such thing.

What stings me is that the Prius in the wild does not match its EPA numbers, while the Insight does. In practice the Insight matches the 2nd gen Prius and is only marginally thirstier than the 3rd gen, nowhere near the 20% the EPA numbers suggest.
Then there is the handling... the Insight feels more responsive and lists less in corners. Drivers car versus comfort.

All in all both the Insight and the Prius are very good cars. If you can bear them.

Baby Diesel should buy neither.
Buy a manual Fit (Jazz) instead.
A hypermiler can match or even surpass hybrid economy with those (see PaleMelanesian's fuel log!), they are cheaper anyway, but most of all the seats and roof are higher so it is much easier to fix and remove kid seats and their occupants.
Your back will be thankful.

The boot is large for a hatch and has a practical shape. Then there is the extra room under the rear bench; the floor runs flat to the rear as the fuel tank is under the front seats, so you can put 2 large bags there.
Or flip the bench up to move your 60" flatscreen or a pair of mountain bikes.

I would have bought a Fit Hybrid if the dealership had matched my reasonable bid. They did not and I followed up on an Insight that was ridiculously low priced, but at a Honda dealer so I had to assume they were serious. I own it now.

Anyway... get a Fit!