Brian: I wanna review the Honda Insight
Rachel: No, I wanna do it.
Brian: I saw it first.
Rachel: No! I saw it first.
Brian: Please? Can I do it? I'll be your best friend.
Rachel: I already have a best friend.
Brian: Well, can we both do it?
Rachel: Fine. But I'm not typing.

The Honda Insight is the answer to that eternal question, "When is Honda going to make an electric car that saves gas, drives quickly, and looks really ugly?" With fuel power enough to allow 65 miles to the gallon, surely the Insight will move fast enough so that you won't have too look at it for too long. Its manual transmission will have you shifting in your pants.

The upside of the Insight is its use of technology. Its hybrid system couples the new 1.0 liter 3-cylinder engine with an electric motor for a more efficient ride. This system allows the vehicle to get up to 70 miles per gallon, using regular unleaded gasoline.

It has a 10.6-gallon gas tank, and no external power supply is needed for recharging. The batteries are recharged by forward momentum captured during braking. Pretty cool, huh?

The Insight's aluminum body and frame are 47-percent lighter than a comparable steel body, according to Honda.

One thing that we noticed about the Insight is that there is no back seat. Most of the room in the back is reserved for the electric system, leaving little room for your weekend luggage.

Right now, the Insight is available in a whopping three colors. New Formula Red, Silver Stone Metallic, and Metallic Baby Vomit. Hopefully, as the electric hybrid car becomes more prevalent on the roads, they'll come out with more tolerable colors.

Overall, we were impressed with the technology but disappointed with the design. After all, any car can move forward. It's the appearance that makes all the difference.

Click to visit more visuals of the Insight from Honda.

Name: jeff
Major: car buff since birth
Comments:
Take the following example. You have just gotten onto the interstate and you are accelerating comfortably in the Insight; not quickly but comfortably. Well, there are two tractor trailers coming up behind you at about 75 mph. They can't stop immediately and they can't speed up immediately for the 25 tons they both weigh. The meager engine(s) the Honday Insight has/have will not help you get away and could cause an accident. Also, one may have to pull into traffic and not wait for a gap in the flow. The main idea behind a powerful engine isn't bruteness or something to make the women go nuts. I would much rather be driving a gas guzzling monster than something like this because 1) parts will be easier to find; 2) it is larger and therefore safer and 3) it moves. One does not cut beef with a dull knife. The other cars on the road are going to have a hard time slowing down so the Insight can meander to 60 miles an hour. Ford Festivas and Geo Metros have caused accidents because of their severe lack of horsepower. GM created a good car in response to the electric idea, the EV1, but people did not respond very well because it could only be leased. The EV1 was actually a decent performer (0-60 in 8.5, which is better than quite a few internal combustion vehicles) and had many amenities, not to mention size advantages. A vehicle does not have to get to 60 in less than 6, I never said that. I know mine doesn't :). A vehicle needs enough power to accelerate safely, which small, underpowered cars such as this do not do.

Comments:
why does a vehicle have to get to 60 in less than 6? It may take longer to get up to 60, but as long as it will do 60, what's the problem? And, think of the environmental aspect. Not as much wasted fuel and pollution. Would you rather accelerate fast or kill the earth. Let's try to think globally, people. Personally, I think it's a cool car..I'd like to test drive one..what do you say, Mike? :)

Name: jeff
Comments:
yeah, but i would not take that thing on the highway. goodness, what is the 0-60 on that little box? the fuel mileage is great, but it needs some get-up-and-go. my best guess is somewhere around 13 seconds to get to 60. That is NOT safe, at all.

Name: jenn
Comments:
I don't think it looks that ugly, but I still don't think I would buy it based on it's looks. Sucks that it doesn't have a backseat or much trunk space.

Name: jeff
Comments:
it looks like someone chewed up a Chevy Metro and then spit it out...