Honda Fit Hybrid: Not Fit for American Release?

The Honda Fit is a subcompact car, sold as the "Jazz" in some markets. Affordable, durable and backed by Honda's rock solid quality standards, the Fit may just be the best "value" car on the market.

For a subcompact car, the Honda Fit offers buyers a lot. Its fuel efficient 1.5-liter 16-valve four cylinder engine is paired with a 5-speed manual transmission. Optionally, a five-speed automatic transmission is available and comes with dual-mode paddle shifters with the Honda Fit Sport model. This engine is rated at 117 horsepower at 6,600 rpm and 106 foot-pounds of torque at 4,800 rpm.

Ample Storage Capacity

Powered by its front wheels, the Honda Fit has enough room to seat five and provides ample storage capacity, particularly when the rear seat is folded down. This four-door hatchback is at once roomy and stylish, demonstrating why the Fit is a strong seller in the ultra-competitive subcompact market.

One Fit model that makes a lot of sense and is already on sale in Japan is the Fit Hybrid. Honda's hybrid prowess rivals that of industry leader Toyota, but Honda has not been able to match Toyota's success thus far. Right now, the Insight and Civic Hybrid are the two hybrid models sold by Honda stateside. However, the Honda Fit Hybrid isn't sold in America and the Japanese automaker has not said when or if the model might appear.

That's too bad as the Honda Fit Hybrid would be the smallest and perhaps the most fuel efficient hybrid on the market. Currently, the Toyota Prius wins the fuel efficiency crown as it is rated at 51 mpg city, 48 mpg highway.

Inside Line Review

What we know about the Honda Fit Hybrid can be gleaned from enthusiast websites as well as in a carefully written "Inside Line" overview published in October 2010. That review was based on a test drive of the Fit Hybrid in Japan, a car powered by the same 1.3-liter engine used in the Honda Insight. As the publication's "first drive" review reported, the Fit Hybrid is 220 pounds heavier than the standard model and also carries a $4,000 price premium. That puts the Fit Hybrid in $20,000 territory, some $2,000 more than the Honda Insight.

Pricing alone should explain why this subcompact hybrid won't be crossing the Atlantic anytime soon. Honda doesn't want to create competition for its Insight and the Fit Hybrid simply doesn't offer equivalent fuel economy to the larger Prius. Honda also needs to upgrade its hybrid technology to offer a more fuel efficient alternative to Toyota technology. For now, Honda hybrid shoppers need to be content with the Civic and Insight, even if this subcompact hybrid isn't suitable for stateside retail.

Matthew C. Keegan is editor and publisher of "Auto Trends Magazine." Matt is also a contributing writer for Andy's Auto Sport and affiliated websites, an aftermarket supplier of quality auto parts including vertical doors and cat-back exhausts.

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Honda Insight Hybrid - Insight Passenger Vehicles

In 1999, the 2000 Honda Insight became the first hybrid car available in the U.S. Prior to its release, attempts at mass-producing environmentally friendly cars had focused on creating electric cars, as the hybrid technology of dual power systems was thought to be impractical. However, electric cars failed to meet the high expectations of consumers and so never made a break into the market.

Considered the most fuel efficient vehicle ever sold in America, this little two-seater gets nearly 70 miles per gallon.

Interest in the Insight was high in the first few years. As Honda and other manufacturers began to produce hybrid vehicles that looked more like standard vehicles (the Honda Civic Hybrid and Toyota Prius), the popularity of the Insight fell and in 2006, production was stopped completely.

What made the Insight different?

Being the first hybrid car on the American market made the Insight a novel product. It won many awards, ranging from the Sierra Club's Excellence in Environmental Engineering Award to International Engine of the Year. The Insight combined hybrid technology with a design that was based on being as fuel efficient as possible.

The breakthrough teardrop design of the Insight's body kept wind resistance to a minimum and the undercarriage was laid out in a way to keep the area as smooth as possible, further increasing the car's aerodynamic properties.

The body was made of aluminum alloy, making it much 47% lighter than a standard vehicle. Despite aluminum's light weight, this car was still extremely safe. In a crash, the front and back ends of the car were designed to absorb the impact and crumple, while the passenger area stayed rigid. The 2006 Insight received a four-star safety rating in front, side and roll-over crashes.

Unique tires were also created for the Insight to keep resistance to a minimum. However, since the car is no longer in production, some Insight owners are finding these tires and other replacement parts more difficult to come by.

Being one of the first hybrids in the U.S., educating drivers on how the technology worked was key. One of the ways the Insight did this was with digital dashboard displays that showed the driver how their MPG fluctuated as driving conditions changed. This was meant to keep the driver involved and engaged with how their car was performing.

Buying a used Honda Insight.

You can find a used Insight ranging in price from $14,000-$20,000. Honda also has a certified selection of pre-owned hybrid vehicle Insights on their website. Another great source to start searching for used Insights is automotive.com. If you own one of these small, green two-door hatchbacks and you're searching for Honda Insight parts or accessories, I would recommend you try eBay Motors. Since this model is now discontinued, if you're thinking about buying a used Insight, especially one with high miles, make sure you do your homework to avoid any problems you might have finding parts and/or local service. I don't expect that you will have any issues with either one.

Jeff Carey is a green vehicle enthusiast who manages a portfolio of more than 60 hybrid and electric blogs. Learn more and subscribe to his monthly newsletter at http://www.hybridkingdom.com/.

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Insight Into the Honda Insight

The Honda Insight is a hybrid car that represents something automotive analysts understand to be true: the car is as much innovative as it underscores a missed opportunity by Honda.

Honda introduced the two seat Insight to the U.S. market just ahead of the Toyota Prius in 1999. Both cars had been on sale in Japan for a few years, but the Insight beat the Prius to the market by a matter of months. This would be the only time that the Insight finished ahead of the Prius as the latter now is the best selling hybrid model in the world.

Ultra High MPG

That first generation model was sold from 2000 to 2006 and offered outstanding fuel economy, even better than what the Toyota Prius offered. However, with a polarizing body style and room for just two passengers and cramped room at that, not enough people embraced a car despite its 60 plus highway mpg rating.

The original Insight was powered by a 1.0-liter three cylinder engine paired with a five-speed manual transmission. Later year models also offered an automatic transmission, but that option dropped fuel economy considerably, by at least 10 mpg on the highway. Throughout its first model run, the Honda Insight featured a nickel-metal hydride battery system.

Crash Concerns

In an effort to save weight, much of the original Insight's body is made of aluminum with plastic used for its front fenders. This car met America's rigorous crash test requirements, but it barely afforded occupants the protection needed to withstand a crash with a large vehicle. Some common concerns with the car is that it fell short in the handling department when crosswinds were present, a concern of any driver passing over a bridge or being passed by a semi for that matter. Still, if you managed the car right, upwards of 70 mpg on some trips was possible enthusiasts contend.

To compensate for the Insight's shortfalls, Honda brought to the market a pair of additional hybrids including an Accord hybrid and a Civic hybrid, the latter which is still available. The Accord Hybrid delivered 31 mpg on the highway, which isn't much to talk about, but it also retained all of its power as offered in its 3.0-liter V-6 engine. The Civic hybrid managed 45 mpg on the highway and offered room for five. No wonder the Insight did not survive beyond 2006.

After a gap of three model years, Honda decided to bring to the market an all-new dedicated hybrid, a sub-$20,000 alternative to the pricey Prius. This car, offering seating for up to five, rolled out in 2010 and was given the Insight name. And that is where the similarity ends.

Insight Generations

The current generation Honda Insight is as much as $5,000 less than the Toyota Prius, but city and highway fuel economy are lower, by as much as 10 mpg lower around town. Still, with a 1.3-liter four cylinder engine and continuously variable transmission, the current Insight is light years ahead of the original model in terms of performance, interior room and handling.

This model also uses a nickel-metal hydride battery pack, offering a maximum 98 horsepower up from the 73 horsepower offered in the 2006 Honda Insight. Of interest, this car automatically shuts off the air-conditioning at red lights or extended stops to conserve energy. But, it also features a cheap interior, sub-par handling, cramped headroom for rear seating passengers and higher levels of road noise than what many would find acceptable.

Is the Honda Insight a good deal? Perhaps if you do a lot of driving around town. But, on the road, its fuel economy is barely above the Hyundai Elantra, a model that can be had for thousands less. The Insight is a missed opportunity for Honda, a company that usually has plenty of foresight to anticipate and understand consumer trends.

Matthew C. Keegan is editor and publisher of "Auto Trends Magazine." Matt is also a contributing writer for Andy's Auto Sport and affiliated websites, an aftermarket supplier of quality auto parts including coilovers and Pontiac Firebird seats.

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