UPDATE 04/20: Toyota dramatically cuts Prius price
Honda has announced a verifiably true low price for the 2010 Honda Insight hybrid. Before the destination charge is added for American customers, the MSRP will be $19,800. Desiring more equipment, such as can be found in the Honda Insight EX, won't break the bank, either. Stability and cruise control along with alloy wheels can be found for $21,300. As a pseudo-mild hybrid, the Insight is more efficient on the highway than in the city. 43mpg plays 40mpg for urban cavorting. Indeed, the Insight's low price can be partially accounted for by one very famous competitor's ability to travel more miles on a gallon of gasoline - but at a higher initial price.
A well-rounded view is necessary, obviously. Keep reading for a traditional Wednesday GoodCarBadCar.net 3 To Beat in order to discover financially sound but GoodCar worthy vehicular possibilities in comparison with the 2010 Honda Insight.
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INSIGHT SHOULD/COULD BEAT TOYOTA PRIUS WITH $ AND ¢: As the obvious alternative to the Honda Insight, Toyota's Prius still isn't necessarily the obvious financial alternative. One must clearly take into account the Prius's ability to use 20% less fuel in the city while also recalling that it's highway advantage is limited to a negligible 7% efficiency increase. Not only that, but the Prius base MSRP is $22,000. Judging from initial reviews, the Insight is more fun in the corners - not a dynamics trait typically associated with the desires of hybrid drivers. If you think the Prius is a possibility for your family because of its economical advantage, make sure you base that on your driving habits and your historical odometer readings, not on anything a salesperson will tell you. In $ and ¢ terms only, the Prius will need to save you approximately $36.00 a month to break even after 60 monthly payments, taking into consideration the base MSRPs. For most drivers, that seems unlikely.
INSIGHT CAN BEAT HYUNDAI ELANTRA TOURING WITH MATHEMATICS: For $2,000 less than the price of a basic Honda Insight, Hyundai will sell you the much better-looking Elantra Touring. See, the Insight offers a surprising amount of space in its hatchback body, so it seems likely that potential buyers are interested in usability, not just walletability. Tempting though the Elantra Touring can be with the Hyundai Assurance program and nice alloy wheels and a wide array of standard equipment, the shocking numbers don't lie. While the Insight driver is pulling 0 gs on the highway on-ramp but sipping fuel, the Elantra Touring driver is zinging happily and using a gallon of fuel every 23 miles of city driving.

INSIGHT CAN BEAT HONDA CIVIC HYBRID WITH OVERT GREENNESS: Although changing gradually with scores of Toyota Camry Hybrid buyers, the desire of many gas-electric lovers is to look environmentally conscious as much or more than being environmentally conscious. The Civic Hybrid is more expensive to the tune of $3K-$4K or so and looks like... a Civic. Drive by in the Insight, and the Sierra Group will offer you a tip of the hat. Imagine for a second, though it may be a stretch, that a Civic Si sedan is mixed up with the Civic Hybrid. No more is this a tip of the hat but actually a wag of the finger. The Prius is successful for its efficiency, no doubt. But no less significant is its look - ugly, awkward, and happy to be the sty in the eye of every Hummer driver. Now Honda has a car that can do that, too. And it ain't the overpriced Civic Hybrid.