The hybrid market is in a weird place right now. Consumers aren't buying them like they used to, back in the early 2010s. Some of this is due to gas-only vehicles achieving better fuel economy at a lower price, but the popularity of big SUVs and pickups in a cheap-petrol world has pushed buyers away from hybrids. On top of that, there are more pure electric vehicles in today's market, so many folks who might have gone hybrid ten years ago are now choosing to ditch the gas station altogether and are plugging in.
Meanwhile, the hybrids that are on the market have just gotten better and better. The Insight is a great example. It's been, effectively, three different cars. The first-gen was a hypermiler's special, but impractical for everyday owners. The second-gen was a capable Prius competitor that didn't really catch on. The third-gen is all-Honda, drawing on the brands pragmatic, unostentatious DNA while dropping an excellent hybrid drivetrain into the platform.
The MPGs are a true selling point: 45 highway/51 city/48 combined (the Insight does better in town because it can favor the electric motor at lower speeds). Honda estimates annual fuel costs at a mere $800.
The 0-60 mph time is relatively sluggish at about nine seconds, but CVTs aren't noted for serving up much pop when accelerating. Despite that, power delivery and torque are smooth, so I didn't feel disadvantaged when merging or passing. You have Eco, Sport, and an all-EV mode available, and the latter is good for poking around a slow speed for short distances. Sport basically peps up the acceleration, while Eco maximizes MPGs.
As a Prius owner, I enjoy motoring around my suburban enclave and never having to buy gas. But I'm not crazy about long freeway journeys. Not so with the Insight, which has a demeanor that's halfway between Honda's compact Civic and mid-size Accord. If you park it on 65 and let the adaptive cruise control do its thing, you have a dandy, fuel-sipping highway chariot.
Handling is typically Honda: crisp without being overly heavy or sporty. Hondas have always been the best mass-market cars to drive, and the Insight is no exception. This is no BMW, obviously, but it's miles above what Toyota serves up.