- Honda introduces a new base model of the Insight hybrid.
- The new model is priced $1,600 lower than the previous entry-level Insight.
- The Insight now starts nearly $5,000 lower than the Toyota Prius.
TORRANCE, California — Saying it wants to make its hybrid technology more affordable, Honda on Tuesday announced it is slashing the price of the 2011 Honda Insight by $1,600, courtesy of a new "value-oriented" base model. The move gives the 2011 Insight a $4,850 price advantage over the base 2011 Toyota Prius II model.
The new base model, dubbed "Insight," is a somewhat stripped-down version of the hybrid with "unique seating fabric" and an audio system with just two speakers. The base 2011 Insight starts at $18,950, including a $750 destination charge. The 2010 Insight LX starts at $20,550, including shipping.
The 2011 Insight is on sale now. It is a carryover model that comes equipped with a 1.3-liter four-cylinder engine and a 10-kilowatt electric motor.
Honda said the 2011 Insight LX gains features, including cruise control, a USB audio interface, center armrest storage console and floor mats.
Inside Line says: Could this be the start of a Japanese-hybrid price war? — Anita Lienert, Correspondent
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se_riously says:
01:19 PM, 12/02/2010
@ hondalvr4life
I'm glad that you conceeded that the $7K price difference you quoted earlier was an exaggeration.
Regarding name recognition, there's no question it exists. And while your image of Prius owners is not favorable to your own persona, it is apparently favorable to many other people. How else do you explain:
1) Toyota selling this year 125,289 Prius's through November versus 19,325 for the Insight?
2) The need for Honda to slot a model below the LX, despite the low sales figures?
I dunno.... Perhaps the Toyota design suits the 6 out of 7 buyers, despite the higher price and bad press from all the recalls?
To clarify, I am neither a Honda or Toyota lover although my family owns both brands, neither of them a Prius or an Insight. I do, however, blog occasionally on misinformative or biased posts (the $7K price difference is an example).
hondalvr4life says:
09:44 PM, 12/01/2010
@ se_riously
"The question for buyers is whether or not that $2,600 is worth more quiet, room, power, name recognition, and slightly better fuel economy versus driving dynamics."
Like I said, buyers who are interested in the Insight don't care about carrying passengers bc this will be their commuter car. They may carry one more person but it won't be used as a family car. The Insight really isn't that noisy, I play my music loud anyways so I don't notice noise that often. MPG is a little better in the Prius but I can sacrifice that for sporter driving dynamics... 40/43 is still excellent. Besides most drivers do better than that anyways, I think the EPA severely under rated the Insight, it should be around 45/50.
LOL NAME RECONIGTION? when someone tells me they drive a prius I immediately think they must be a boring, safe, lame, tree hunger. I love great gas mileage as much as the next guy but why should I sacrifice fun for fuel economy? I should be able to have both.
accordguy0325 says:
06:49 PM, 12/01/2010
DGS4 says-
""""Honda's only answer is to further cheapen a car that is already too cheap to begin with? "We can't beat them on quality and feature set, so let's beat them on price with the cheapest model we can make!""""
Can't beat them on quality ? How about being named the most reliable automobile manufacturer by Consumer Reports and having the best resale value.
I don't recall Honda producing cars with sticky gas pedals or faulty electronics that caused many injuries and death.
Toyota did ! Way to go Toyota ! The bigger you are - the harder you fall.
se_riously says:
05:42 PM, 12/01/2010
hondalvr4life says "I can get a fully loaded Insight EX for $23 grand while the Prius V is $30 grand."
A Prius III with Navigation and backup camera on carsdirect.com with no negotiation whatsover for $23,495 while a Insight EX w/ Nav is $20,858. So the REAL price difference, when comparably equipped, is $2,600 and not the $7,000 that you suggest. The question for buyers is whether or not that $2,600 is worth more quiet, room, power, name recognition, and slightly better fuel economy versus driving dynamics.
miamifan1 says:
04:57 PM, 12/01/2010
how many prius get sold vs the insight? toyota must be laughing at this.
hondalvr4life says:
04:53 PM, 12/01/2010
@ iancar
What you just proposed is a 2011 Honda Civic DX-VP, albiet its price is a bit higher but thats what you just told Honda to do... lol The Insight is supposed to be the alternative prius, not just a cheaper one. Sure its smaller on the inside but for people who don't need to carry a lot of people its the better choice. The Insight is for people who like their hybrid to drive like a regular car and handle like a Civic or Fit. The Prius is soo isolated from the road that its no surprise that most Prius drivers are people who could careless about driving. People who like to drive, drive Honda's while Toyota is the isolated drive. I could care less that a Prius gets slightly better gas mileage. I can get a fully loaded Insight EX for $23 grand while the Prius V is $30 grand. The only thing Honda needs to do with the Insight is put the CRZ's 6MT in it and introduce a sportier model with larger rims and tires. Honda's has also been on the sportier side and they should just imbrace that with all their vehicles.
tehnighthawk says:
07:47 AM, 12/01/2010
@jhinsc
I'm 6'3 and have plenty of room in the car for 3 other passengers. Unless your whole family is morbidly obese, I dont see a need for more room. It also holds 2 people and a fairly large item very well.
I will have to say the 6 MT would be a nice addition to the lineup. And a no-brainer now that everything already exists in the CRZ
nwng says:
07:41 AM, 12/01/2010
stick the 6mt in there, do away with some of the fancy eletronics and drop it by another grand. I don't know who has this idea that you need all the electronic doodads inside your car to remind yourself you're driving a hybrid. A touch screen that controls all the functions does not make the car more efficient, just more expensive.
jhinsc says:
06:27 AM, 12/01/2010
Wow, I wonder if the new base model is even noisier than the LX or EX? Beyond the noise issue, I just couldn't get over the fact that it's so much smaller inside than a Prius. You get what you paid for. It would make the perfect car for a student - can't go too fast and can't carry too many people!
northsparrow says:
06:14 AM, 12/01/2010
Clearly THE place to get your car redesigned is the IL forum.
I just want to voice my support for all those advocating the idea of ditching the CVT , hybrid clap trap and dumbed down rear suspension. Replace them with a small gas engine (or maybe the diesel Honda sells in Europe) , a manual transmission and a decent rear suspension. This would give you a very satisfactory high mileage car. Oh well, we can all dream.