Honda Insight simply not a city car?
Just not built for stop and go trafficWe've had a number of conversations on this blog as to whether Honda can ever mainstream their hybrid cars without adding full hybrid technology to their hybrid portfolio.
Obviously, all hybrids can offer fuel efficiency gains outside of tough urban traffic, however, in such conditions full hybrids, such as the Toyota Prius and the Ford Fusion hybrid, can achieve fuel economy numbers that simply blow away the competition.
In such conditions, however, the Insight lags.
"The lack of even a rudimentary purely electric mode seriously handicaps the Insight, especially in heavy urban traffic as I found out the fun way on my way home up main thoroughfare," notes MotorTrends Kirill Ougarov recently.
Isn't full hybrid technology essential for every hybrid maker?
Labels: fuel economy, Honda, honda insight hybrid, Hybrid Vehicles
posted by Dahcredyns at
7:12 AM
16 Comments:
In bumper-to-bumper traffic Honda's don't fare that well, due to the lack of pure electric mode at low speeds.
I have similar issue in my Honda Civic Hybrid, which has the same mild hybrid system.
Auto-stop really doesn't save much gas in stop-n-go traffic. You don't stay stopped long enough to gain much savings. Plus I find during extended stop-n-go traffic the battery runs out and the engine kicks back on.
BUT.....
In basic city traffic, Honda hybrids do quite well.
I have a basic city commute that doesn't get bogged down in bumper-to-bumper traffic. I'm averaging 42-45 mpg in that type of traffic.
and that's great fuel economy, which is why honda should continue onward with its current hybrid powertrain.
i just think a full hybrid option would provide a serious uptick in hybrid sales.
I agree.
Full hybrid is the next step for Honda.
Honda will continue to play second-fiddle to Toyota with only mild hybrids in their inventory....
But Toyota's patents make that tricky. If I'm not mistaken, Ford actually has to pay licensing fees to Toyota for their hybrid system. Korean media have reported on the Toyota patents being a major stumbling block for Korean built full hybrids.
that's a good point, alcatholic, but that's always the way it is with technology.
still, i know ford, minimally, pays much less in licensing fees to toyota than they used to with their updated hybrid drive found in the fusion versus that found in the escape.
also, from my understanding ford's hybrid limitations have much less to do with licensing fees and much more to do with battery issues.
thats really a good article and i think habrid cars is next option for honda .can the honda able to really well in matter of hybrid cars
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Indigo incarnates
I'd hardly call 40 MPG "bad" city mileage. The only cars that beat the Insight for city mileage se the Prius and Fusion hybrids, and they are much more expensive.
Indigo incarnates
I'm picking up my new Honda Insight LX on Monday. Yay! The dealer is selling it for $17,500 so essentially I am getting a hybrid for the same price as a Fit Sport. Whoo-hoo!
Indigo,
Write a post about how you like your Insight. I'm thinking of getting one as well.
Indigo Incarnates
Once we've had it a full week, we can write about it. :)
Good for you Indigo.
If Honda had offered these vehicles at $17,500 to begin with, they would have sold a lot more of them...
At $17,500 the Honda Insight really is the "hybrid for everyone".
Indigo Incarnates
My monthly car payment is $6/month less than the Scion xD! Whoo-hoo! The Accord gave me a good run for the money and didn't owe me a dime by the time I traded it in.
You are right that $17,500 would make the Insight a "hybrid for everyone". It was a hybrid for me at that price!
My first drive back from the dealer (30 miles of mixed highway/city) yeilded 51 MPG!
I hope it can keep up with Prius!
Indigo,
A few easy tips to squeeze the most mileage out of a Honda hybrid.
1. Increase your tire pressure. Stay on the higher end of the recommended pressure for your tires.
2. Never ride close to the car in front of you. Always try to leave a large gap. When the traffic slows in front of you, simply lift off the gas pedal, but don't hit the brakes. Every time you hit the brakes, you have to use gas to regain that momentum.
3. Try to time the traffic lights so that you don't come to a stop. Most cities time their traffic lights so that if you go the speed limit you can catch the lights green. Once again, every time you come to a stop you have to use gas to regain that momentum. Pay no attention to all thoose other cars racing by as you will see them again at the next stop light.
4. You get better mileage at 65 mph than at 75 mph.
5. You get better mileage at 55 mph than at 65 mph..
These tips work for non-hybrid drivers as well, but when you follow these rules in a hybrid you are doubly rewarded....
Indigo Incarnates
thanks for the advice. Yes, there is a huge difference between 65 MPH and 75 MPH. On a 10-hour drive in the Scion xD, I was able to get 43 MPG highway mileage by driving no faster than 62 MPH, leaving the AC off, and being careful with accelerating and braking.
I've thus far kept the Insight at under 60 MPH (and getting about 50 MPG doing so.) The type of driving that is ruinous for fuel economy is reflected in my morning drive today. It was 24 degrees and I had blast the defogger for five full minutes before I could drive anywhere. That 2.5 mile trek netted me 28 MPG. I can only imagine how badly the Accord must have performed!
Indigo Incarnates
The Insight-II has been a really interesting drive so far. The fuel economy has a much wider range than what the sticker indicates. However, the EPA average of 41 MPG is reasonably correct (I averaged 42 MPG thus far.)
I seem to be getting 32/City and 51/Highway. Needless to say, that beats my old car by a considerable margin. I have gotten as high as 61 MPG over a 30-mile stretch of highway by hypermiling the crap out of the car. I can't do that all the time, but it was a noteworthy accomplishment.
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