55 mpg Rated 2019 Honda Insight Reveal at the NYIAS

A day I have been waiting for… For years.

Wayne Gerdes – CleanMPG – March 26, 2017

2019 Honda Insight

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The all-new 2019 Insight will make its global debut at the 2018 New York International Auto Show (NYIAS), tomorrow! The new Insight, launching at Honda dealerships nationwide in early summer, joins the Clarity and just-launched 2018 Accord Hybrid as the fifth new Honda electrified vehicle introduced over the past year.

The Insight is touted to be "priced" between the Civic and Accord in Honda's passenger car lineup. The Insight is unique as a premium compact sedan and fuel efficiency competitive with the Toyota Prius and Hyundai Ioniq HEVs. The new Insight is powered by Honda's third gen two-motor hybrid system, Insight's 151 net system hp combines with a lightweight structure to deliver the best power-to-weight ratio in its class as well as up to 55-mpg in the city.

2019 Honda Insight Design

The 2019 Honda Insight is highlighted by Honda's signature vertical "flying wing" grille and fascia, low-profile LED headlights and taillights, small radius character lines and a coupe-like profile.

Inside, the new Insight features a soft-touch instrument panel with real stitching, ergonomically sculpted seats, a 7-inch TFT color digital driver's meter, available heated and leather-trimmed seating and an 8-inch Display Audio touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

The new Insight's wheelbase (106.3 inches) – same as the current Civic - and packaging efficiency yields best-in-class rear legroom of 37.4 inches, along with a spacious 15.1 cu.-ft. of trunk space that rivals the Civic, Corolla, and Elantra. The placement of the Li-Ion Traction battery beneath the rear seats allows for a fold-down rear seat (60/40-split on EX and Touring trims) to maximize cargo- and people-hauling flexibility.

2019 Honda Insight Trims

The 2019 Honda Insight will be available in LX, EX and Touring trims. Standard features on all include full LED headlamps, LED DRLs and taillamps, 16" alloys, heated side mirrors, a 7-inch TFT digital driver's meter, push-button start, a 6-speaker audio system, Bluetooth, Pandora compatibility and a folding rear seat.

The EX adds proximity key entry, two additional speakers, SiriusXM and an 8-inch Display Audio touchscreen.

The Touring adds 17” alloys, LED fog lamps, rain-sensing wipers, power roof, LED side-mirror turn signals, perforated leather seating, heated front seats with 8-way power for the driver and 4-way power for the passenger, dual-zone auto climate, Navi, Honda HD Digital Traffic, 4G LTE Wi-Fi with mobile hotspot capability and Wi-Fi-enabled over-the-air system updates, next-generation HondaLink subscription services, a 10-speaker premium audio system, and HomeLink Remote System.

2019 Honda Insight Interior

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2019 Honda Insight Body and Chassis

The Insight shares its basic platform with the award winning 10th-gen Civic plus numerous updates to further improve ride quality, cabin quietness and efficiency. The body features Honda's Advance Compatibility Engineering (ACE) body structure. An aluminum hood reduces weight, while additional sound insulation in the engine bay, front fenders, front firewall, and front and rear floor further quiets the cabin. I suspect this was added to remove the high speed two motor hybrid system drone?

The Insight's new chassis is designed to provide a more refined driving experience. It utilizes struts up front and multi-link out back with liquid-sealed compliance bushings at both ends on the Touring. The Insight also features variable-ratio dual-pinion electric power steering. Braking is provided by an electro-servo brake system, which combines efficient regenerative braking and mechanical (friction) braking to bring it to a halt.

2019 Honda Insight Powertrain

The all-new Insight is powered by the third generation of Honda's two-motor hybrid system, featuring an efficient atkinsonized 1.5L I4, a powerful electric propulsion motor, and Li-Ion traction battery. Total system output is 151 hp and a whopping 197 lb.-ft. of torque. Like the Accord hybrid, under most conditions, the Insight operates as a series hybrid in which the gasoline engine, connected to the generator motor, produces electricity that is supplied to either the electric propulsion motor and/or the 60-cell Li-Ion traction battery.

The Insight features NORMAL, ECON, and SPORT driving modes.

In normal mode, the Insight is capable of all-electric driving for distances up to a mile. During higher speed operation a lock-up clutch connects the engine to the drive axles to provide the most efficient operation during highway and freeway driving.

2019 Honda Insight Safety Technology

The 2019 Honda Insight will include the Honda Sensing suite of advanced safety and driver-assistive technologies as standard equipment, which includes Forward Collison Warning (FCW), Collision Mitigation Braking System (CMBS), Lane Departure Warning, Lane Keeping Assistance System, Road Departure Mitigation, Adaptive Cruise Control with Low-Speed Follow – not fully stop and go capable – and Traffic Sign Recognition. Insight EX and Touring trims will include Honda LaneWatch, and all trims will have a multi-angle rearview camera. No mention of Rear Cross Traffic Alert (RCTA) was provided. A feature that I am quickly becoming a huge proponent of.

2019 Honda Insight Manufacturing

The Insight will be manufactured alongside the Civic and CR-V at Honda's plant in Greensburg, Indiana. The hybrid battery unit will be assembled at the company's Marysville Auto Plant in Ohio, with the 1.5L ICE manufactured by Honda's Anna, Ohio engine plant, which also produces the engine for the Ohio-made 2018 Accord Hybrid.

This one is surely going to be the highlight of the 2018 NYIAS imho.

 

Hi Alster:

Probably just before consumer availability this summer as a guess. Honda is really touchy about releasing EPA results on their latest offerings until they are practically driving on the road.

Wayne

 

The Civic needs that center stack, I prefer buttons over touchscreen interfaces for operating the climate control.

 

Hi Carcus:

Good guess and probably close to the target MSRP. My concern is the LX trim will be contented similar to the base level Ioniq Blue/NIro FE which do not offer much. If that price is accurate, it is great to see the safety equipment standard at possibly $1k below the Ioniq SEL hatch.

With the EX Accord hybrid costing $29,780 to start, I suspect the 19 Insight will come in more along the lines of a 2018 Prius III at $27,630 including D&H. That is a lot of scratch for a base trim compact nowadays. Almost double what I paid for the 2018 Elantra Eco in fact.

Wayne