GREEN CHOICE

Honda Insight

Name: 2012 Honda Insight
Brand: Honda

EPA MPG: 41 mpg

Owner Reported MPG:

EPA MPG: 41 mpg

Owner Reported MPG:

RECALL ALERT: There are 8 recalls on this vehicle. Learn More.

There are 8 recalls on this vehicle. Learn More.

RECALL ALERT: There are 8 recalls on this vehicle. Learn More.

There are 8 recalls on this vehicle. Learn More.

Reliability Details

Owner Satisfaction Details

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Road Test

The second generation Insight seats five and gets excellent fuel economy, but it's a noisy car with a stiff ride and clumsy handling. The aerodynamic roofline impedes access. A hatchback design makes it versatile, but that's one of few saving graces.

2012 Sedans & Hatchbacks Reliability

This Car

100

0 - 100

Honda Insight

vs. Similar Cars

Chevrolet Cruze

Honda Civic

Honda Fit

Hyundai Elantra

Kia Soul

See All Models Reliability

Crash Tests

IIHS Front Moderate Overlap

Good

IIHS Front Small Overlap, Driver

IIHS Side Crash

Good

NHTSA Overall Crash

NHTSA Overall Frontal-Crash

NHTSA Overall Side-Crash

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Crash Tests

IIHS Front Moderate Overlap

Good

IIHS Front Small Overlap, Driver

IIHS Side Crash

Good

NHTSA Overall Crash

NHTSA Overall Frontal-Crash

NHTSA Overall Side-Crash

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Honda vs. Other New Car Brands

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Owner Reports

Owner Satisfaction Owner Satisfaction

2000

2001

2002

2003

2004

2005

2006

2007

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

2013

2014

2015

2016

2017

2018

2019

2020

2021

2022

2023

2024

Driving Experience

Comfort

Value

Honda vs. Other New Car Brands

See How All Brands Stack up

Honda vs. Other New Car Brands

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Crash Tests

IIHS Front Moderate Overlap

Good

IIHS Front Small Overlap, Driver

IIHS Side Crash

Good

NHTSA Overall Crash

NHTSA Overall Frontal-Crash

NHTSA Overall Side-Crash

See All Ratings & Specs

2012 Small sedans/hatchbacks Ratings

2012 Honda Insight

$4,875 - $6,275

EPA MPG 41 mpg

Road test

Reliability

Owner Satisfaction

2012 Chevrolet Cruze

$4,125 - $4,825

EPA MPG 26 mpg

Road test

Reliability

Owner Satisfaction

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EPA MPG 29 mpg

Road test

Reliability

Owner Satisfaction

2012 Chevrolet Volt

$4,400

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Owner Satisfaction

2012 Dodge Caliber

$3,700 - $4,375

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Road test

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Owner Satisfaction

2012 Ford Fiesta

$2,850 - $4,050

EPA MPG 31 mpg

Road test

Reliability

Owner Satisfaction

2012 Honda Civic

$4,275 - $8,800

EPA MPG 31 mpg

Road test

Reliability

Owner Satisfaction

2012 Honda Civic Hybrid

$ NA

EPA MPG 44 mpg

Road test

Reliability

Owner Satisfaction

2012 Honda Fit

$6,500 - $7,850

EPA MPG 31 mpg

Road test

Reliability

Owner Satisfaction

2012 Hyundai Accent

$4,375 - $4,825

EPA MPG 31 mpg

Road test

Reliability

Owner Satisfaction

2012 Hyundai Elantra

$5,000 - $5,275

EPA MPG 32 mpg

Road test

Reliability

Owner Satisfaction

2012 Kia Forte

$3,950 - $5,025

EPA MPG 30 mpg

Road test

Reliability

Owner Satisfaction

2012 Kia Rio

$4,025 - $4,525

EPA MPG 31 mpg

Road test

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Owner Satisfaction

2012 Kia Soul

$4,325 - $5,300

EPA MPG 25 mpg

Road test

Reliability

Owner Satisfaction

2012 Mazda 2

$5,050 - $5,275

EPA MPG 29 mpg

Road test

Reliability

Owner Satisfaction

2012 Mazda 3

$4,150 - $6,475

EPA MPG 32 mpg

Road test

Reliability

Owner Satisfaction

2012 Mitsubishi Lancer

$3,050 - $16,650

EPA MPG 25 mpg

Road test

Reliability

Owner Satisfaction

2012 Nissan Cube

$3,575 - $4,875

EPA MPG 29 mpg

Road test

Reliability

Owner Satisfaction

2012 Nissan Sentra

$3,950 - $4,625

EPA MPG 29 mpg

Road test

Reliability

Owner Satisfaction

2012 Nissan Versa

$3,425 - $4,425

EPA MPG 33 mpg

Road test

Reliability

Owner Satisfaction

2012 Scion xB

$6,500 - $7,100

EPA MPG 24 mpg

Road test

Reliability

Owner Satisfaction

2012 Scion xD

$6,100 - $6,475

EPA MPG 28 mpg

Road test

Reliability

Owner Satisfaction

2012 Subaru Impreza

$5,200 - $13,175

EPA MPG 30 mpg

Road test

Reliability

Owner Satisfaction

2012 Suzuki SX4

$3,100 - $4,275

EPA MPG 25 mpg

Road test

Reliability

Owner Satisfaction

2012 Toyota Corolla

$7,250 - $7,725

EPA MPG 29 mpg

Road test

Reliability

Owner Satisfaction

2012 Toyota Matrix

$6,850 - $7,650

EPA MPG 24 mpg

Road test

Reliability

Owner Satisfaction

2012 Toyota Prius

$8,000 - $8,725

EPA MPG 48 mpg

Road test

Reliability

Owner Satisfaction

2012 Toyota Prius C

$7,025

EPA MPG 50 mpg

Road test

Reliability

Owner Satisfaction

2012 Toyota Prius V

$8,075

EPA MPG 42 mpg

Road test

Reliability

Owner Satisfaction

2012 Toyota Yaris

$5,275 - $6,525

EPA MPG 32 mpg

Road test

Reliability

Owner Satisfaction

2012 Volkswagen Golf

$5,500 - $10,825

EPA MPG 26 mpg

Road test

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Owner Satisfaction

2012 Volkswagen Jetta

$4,375 - $5,625

EPA MPG 27 mpg

Road test

Reliability

Owner Satisfaction

See All Small sedans/hatchbacks Ratings

Features & Specs

4-door hatchback

2 front, 3 rear

Front

1.3-liter 4 hybrid (98 hp)

In most cases, automotive warranties are based on the vehicle identification number (VIN), and the warranty will be valid regardless of ownership. The dealership can tell you exactly how much warranty is left.

Read more about extended warranties

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Model History

2019-2022

2019 Redesign Year

The Insight returned as our fuel economy champ among cars that don't have to be plugged in, thanks to its 54 mpg overall in our tests, which is two mpg better than the Toyota Prius. Based on the Civic sedan, the Insight has the same strengths and weaknesses. The ride is comfortable, its handling is secure but mundane, and the rear seat is relatively roomy. But the Insight suffers from a very low stance, which hurts getting in and out. The driver's seat is short on lower back support, and the controls are somewhat tricky, including the fussy, push-button gear selector. The car can loaf around on electric power alone at very low speeds but when the gas engine awakes when more power is needed, it's loud. Standard advanced safety systems include forward collision warning and automatic emergency braking. For 2022, blind spot warning and rear cross traffic warning come standard.

2010-2018

2010 Redesign Year

Honda directly targeted the Toyota Prius with their second-generation Insight hatchback. Introduced for 2010, the car was considerably less expensive than the larger Prius, but turned out to be a half-hearted effort. Gas mileage of 39 mpg overall isn't up to the standards of other small hybrids. Driving the Insight is no prize either, as it is slow and noisy. Base LX versions lacked electronic stability control; emergency handling was a handful. Stability control became standard for 2012 on all Insights. Interior fit and finish are lacking, rear visibility is difficult, and the back seat is cramped. The Insight was discontinued after the 2014 model year.

2000-2009

2000 Redesign Year

As the first hybrid on the market, the Honda Insight posted the best fuel economy we had seen at the time; with 51 mpg overall; a record that stood until the 2016 Toyota Prius came along. But this flyweight two-seater really makes you pay for that efficiency when it comes to livability and drivability. The ride is barely tolerable and the car is very noisy. Acceleration is reasonable against the clock, but in everyday driving, it requires a lot of shifting of the manual transmission to keep up with traffic. Rear visibility is poor. Note that the Insight is not equipped to carry children, since the passenger-side airbag has no shut-off switch. Antilock brakes are standard, but driving the Insight feels vulnerable on a crowded highway because it is so small, light, and slow. Overall, the Insight is little more than a commuter runabout. Hybrid battery failures are fairly common. Production for this generation lasted until 2006.