2019 Honda Insight Touring

Honda’s pitch for their new Insight hybrid is rather simple: It’s not meh.

The Insight nameplate has been with us for nearly 20 years. Originally it was attached to a three-door, two-passenger hybrid that could be ordered with a real stick shift. It was fun and torquey. It wasn’t meh at all.

The second-generation 2009-’14 Insight was a more traditional five-door sedan. And the name returns for 2019 on a car that’s more or less a hybrid Civic.

We tested the top-of-the-line Insight Touring. It retails for $28,090 and features a combined EPA fuel economy rating of 48 mpg.

"clicks on name 'touring' expecting a wagon; leaves disappointed"

I didn't even know a 2nd generation 09-14 Insight even existed. Must have been Meh indeed to not ever even notice one here in commuter-ville.

Edit: upon looking it up, I guess I have seen them but never cared enough to even realize what they actually were. 1st gen Insight is totally distinctive and I always notice them. The 2nd gen just looks like a Prius without all the goofy styling cues.

This new one looks fine. I actually makes me happy that it looks like any other car. I hate the "our hybrid has to look weird so everyone knows you're not driving a dirty normal car" thing. 

So the internet tells me the base Insight is $23k. That seems like a bargain if you're into that whole gas saving thing. I think the Clarity plug in is cooler, but it's also $10k more. 

Will a Subaru flat six fit in the back of this one? If not, I'm not interested.

I've already seen two of these on my daily commute and they look good in person.  Its the right mix of Accord and Civic styling rolled into one.

I like it, which I'm afraid is why it won't do well for Honda.  If I was shopping a daily driver, this would be a the top of my list because it doesn't "look" like a hybrid.  Agreeing with Margie on this one that the styling is nice and simple without the hybrid "smugness". 

Wow. They nailed the rear end styling. Much better looking than the accord. 

I didn't even know a 2nd generation 09-14 Insight even existed. Must have been Meh indeed to not ever even notice one here in commuter-ville.

Yeah, I've driven them and they're boring. Pretty much not better than a Prius in any way other than feeling Honda-ish if you're into that. I spent a couple years before the 2g insight planning to buy a Fit Hybrid when it 'finally got here'. It never did, and we got that Insight instead.  

Unlike the last Insight, this one is actually different enough from a Prius that it won't draw all those direct comparisons that the Prius would win anyway. This thing is fairly pretty and much faster than a Prius while being fairly 'stealth' about its hybridness. I think a lot of people who wouldn't like other hybrids will like this one. 

I think this will pull sales from the Civic and the Accord.  If I was forced to buy a Civic that was not a Sport, Si or Type-R, I would skip straight to this.  No weird looks, same great Honda controls and ride, and close to 50 mpg.  Wish it had the hatch though, or a mini A7 hatch.