Why does the Prius garner so much attention while the Honda Insight (second generation) wallows along in relative obscurity in the Hybrid world? Is it marketing? While not a fan of either visually, the Insight is less hideous looking. And Honda seemed to avoid the wide-spread, public recall bug that recently plagued Toyota yet I still see very few of them on the road. I see 10 Priuses to every Insight if not more. I just wonder why that is? Confusion that the Insight is the same as the old 2 seat one? IDK.

Prius


Insight

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1980 300TD-China Blue/Blue MBTex-2nd Owner, 107K (Alt Blau) OBK #15
'06 Chevy Tahoe Z71 (for the wife & 4 kids, current mule) '03 Honda Odyssey (son #1's ride, reluctantly) '99 GMC Suburban (255K+ miles, semi-retired mule) 21' SeaRay Seville (summer escape pod)

The Insight used to be the "ugly duckling" of the hybrids, with the wheel skirts and somewhat "fish" inspired styling.

Over the last 3 days I drove a Prius rental . . . interesting technology, but the driving feel is that it's just a small compact commuter car.

Funny also that you didn't mention the Ford Fussion Hybrid. It is taughted to have better milage than the Prius. I didn't know that Honda updated their Insight. It does look like the Prius though. So, now its the Japanese coppying the Japanese.
Tom

I think it's all down to marketing. Toyota didn't invent the hybrid, they invented the idea of getting people to actually buy them.


What's funny is that I parked next to a Gen2 Insight yesterday and I actually thought that it was a Prius until I saw the Honda badge. You know we're in trouble when the Japanese start to copy the Japanese.

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1982 300GD Carmine Red (DB3535) Cabriolet Parting Out
1990 300SEL Smoke Silver (Parting out)
1991 350SDL Blackberry Metallic (481)

"The thing is Bob, its not that I'm lazy...its that I just don't care."

The only reason I brought up those two was because they seemed so similar but for some reason one seems far more popular than the other.

The Fusion Hybrid, by the accounts I've read, seems to be a pretty decent car, as far as a hybrid goes. The same for the Civic Hybrid, even the Malibu (although it's a different set up IIRC). They just don't scream "Look how green I am" as loudly as the Prius, though. IF I were to buy one I'd probably go for the Fusion.

A diesel hybrid minivan, OTOH, I would be more likely to consider. I think the hybrid technology, which I'm not completely sold on, would be better suited to larger vehicles that could really benefit fuel mileage-wise. The capacity for battery packs is much larger, too.

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1980 300TD-China Blue/Blue MBTex-2nd Owner, 107K (Alt Blau) OBK #15
'06 Chevy Tahoe Z71 (for the wife & 4 kids, current mule) '03 Honda Odyssey (son #1's ride, reluctantly) '99 GMC Suburban (255K+ miles, semi-retired mule) 21' SeaRay Seville (summer escape pod)

So you can emit more smug out of a Prius.

A pin head at Yale actually told my friend who drives a jacked up 2500HD that he should buy a Prius like him and help the world. My friend responded that since his truck got 10mpg he is glad he is saving the gas for him.

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1999 SL500
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200

A few days ago, I went for an evening walk. All of a sudden I see this Prius coming down our residential (25 MPH speed limit) street like a rocket. My neighbor's car was parked on the street, on the opposite side of the street that neighbor had three cars parked. As a result, there was a rather narrow space between the cars to pass. The Prius is traveling at (estimated) 60 MPH and manages to squeeze between the two parked cars. I notice that his left rear light is out. He goes to the end of the street and turns left but forgets to turn his left turn signal on. These green people are impressive.

I don't know who came up with this phrase, but I do agree with it: 'American is an F-150 nation'. That almost sound like something Jeremy would say on 'Top Gear'.

But for the most part we are. America is a nation where we have work to do and the Pick-up truck is how a lot of it gets done.

But back to the question at hand... I would think it has to do with marketing. Honda likely has a waiting list for the Insight and does not need to advertise it. When they start stacking up on dealers lots Honda will spend a few bucks letting people know they are out there.

I looked at a Malibu 'hybrid' and was not that impressed. I liked the Malibu well enough, but the hybrid did not make me want to spend the extra money. The Fusion did seem like it was worth the money if I did a lot of city driving, but I don't. Almost all of my driving is long distance since I live in rural Oklahoma and if I am in town I only drive about 10 miles a week if that much.

Right now it is hard to beat an early 90's 300D for ride quality vs. cost per mile, but I am looking forward to seeing what a Volt is like in person.

And, of course, anything Mercedes comes out with will get the hardest look of all.

There is a pricey S-Class hybrid.

I am looking forward to an E-Class hybrid. The S-class cars I have driven all seem somewhat numb to me.

I am not saying they are bad for everyone, but I have not found them to my liking.

Marketing I'd guess. The Toyota still has superior fuel economy as well. I wonder if sales of the Insight jumped during the whole "unintended acceleration" debacle.

I love the old two seater Insights.. such cool cars.. and fun/involving to drive as well unlike the Prius.. most are equipped with a 5 speed stick shift and they are fairly fun to drive on a windy road due to their light weight. A good 500-600 pounds lighter than a Miata, which is a fairly light car in its own right.

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1985 CA 300D Turbo , 213K mi

Ding, ding, ding, winner winner chicken dinner (as Jive Turkey would say).

That's exactly the reason quoted in a recent survey of hybrid owners. The Prius with it's unique recognizable shape has become a green "smug" status symbol. The Civic hybrid looks like, well, just another Civic.

On the note about the one Prius screaming thru a residential section at 60 mph - I've noticed the same thing, that disproportionately Prius drivers tend to be utter DB's. And whenever I notice one behind me at a stoplight, I also have a disproportionate tendency to do a WOT takeoff and blow a cloud of black soot all over their green car.

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Just say "NO" to Ethanol - Drive Diesel

Mitchell Oates
Mooresville, NC
'87 300D 212K miles
'87 300D 151K miles - R.I.P. 12/08
'05 Jeep Liberty CRD 67K miles
Grumpy Old Diesel Owners Club

Yep, that's pretty much it.

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1982 300GD Carmine Red (DB3535) Cabriolet Parting Out
1990 300SEL Smoke Silver (Parting out)
1991 350SDL Blackberry Metallic (481)

"The thing is Bob, its not that I'm lazy...its that I just don't care."

The Prius is nearly as big inside as an SDL.

I love the rational design of the old insight.

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[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.

I own an 06 Prius and i get 45mpg street and 51mpg highway.The Insight does not do as well as the Prius.I think that because they both look alike people opt for the MPG's.