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Honda Insight

America's first gasoline-electric hybrid wore aluminum and cut through the air with a 0.25 drag coefficient.1

Researched November 2, 2026 from 34 sources

Also called

  • sissy InsightDoug DeMuro's joke for the second-generation Insight's five seats and four-cylinder engine.23

At a glance

0100200
72–151 hpPower
0100200
172–193 km/hTop speed
07501,500
835–1,396 kgWeight

The coral arc spans the family, from its mildest version to its wildest.591012

Engine
G1: 1.0 L I3 IMA; G2: 1.3/1.5 L IMA; G3: 1.5 L I4 two-motor; G4: EV48910
Layout
Front-wheel drive; front-engine in hybrid generations34
Gearbox
G1: 5-speed manual/CVT; G2: CVT; G3: clutch-coupled direct drive36911

The story

Honda created the original Insight as a real-world hybrid testbed. Its aluminum two-seat coupe grew into a five-seat hatchback, then a sedan, before the name returned on an electric crossover in 2026.34

1999: America's first gasoline-electric hybrid19992001: CVT joins the five-speed20012006: First-generation production ends20062009: Five seats, 98 hp and a lower-cost mission20092011: Insight Exclusive borrows from the CR-Z20112014: Second production hiatus begins20142018: 151-hp sedan replaces the hatchback20182026: Electric crossover returns with 535 km2026 Honda CR-X (first generation): 1983–1987Honda CR-X (second generation): 1987–1991Honda EV Plus (ZA1): 1997–1999ZA1Honda J-VX: 1997Honda VV prototype: 1999Honda Insight (first generation) (ZE1): 1999–2006ZE1Honda Insight (second generation) (ZE2/ZE3): 2009–2014ZE2/ZE3Honda Insight (third generation) (ZE4): 2018–2022ZE4Honda Insight (fourth generation): 2026–present 198519901995200020052010201520202025
GenerationsBefore and afterMilestones1347919202122
Show the numbers
YearWhat happened
1983–1987Honda CR-X (first generation)
1987–1991Honda CR-X (second generation)
1997–1999Honda EV Plus (ZA1)
1997Honda J-VX
1999Honda VV prototype
1999–2006Honda Insight (first generation) (ZE1)
2009–2014Honda Insight (second generation) (ZE2/ZE3)
2018–2022Honda Insight (third generation) (ZE4)
2026–presentHonda Insight (fourth generation)
1999America's first gasoline-electric hybrid
2001CVT joins the five-speed
2006First-generation production ends
2009Five seats, 98 hp and a lower-cost mission
2011Insight Exclusive borrows from the CR-Z
2014Second production hiatus begins
2018151-hp sedan replaces the hatchback
2026Electric crossover returns with 535 km
  1. 1999

    America's first gasoline-electric hybrid

    Japan gets the IMA hybrid in November; North America follows in December. It pairs a lean-burn 1.0 L triple with a 144 V nickel-metal-hydride battery.13

  2. 2001

    CVT joins the five-speed

    The CVT earns SULEV versus the five-speed's ULEV. Original EPA highway ratings: 57 mpg for CVT, 70 mpg for the manual without A/C.3

  3. 2006

    First-generation production ends

    First-generation production ends in September after 17,020 worldwide sales. The name stays off the production line until 2009.35

  4. 2009

    Five seats, 98 hp and a lower-cost mission

    The second generation returns as a five-door family hatchback, using a 1.3 L four-cylinder IMA hybrid to make hybrid ownership more affordable.367

  5. 2011

    Insight Exclusive borrows from the CR-Z

    Japan gets a 1.5 L i-VTEC IMA version with a specially tuned CR-Z engine and seven-speed paddle-shift mode.8

  6. 2014

    Second production hiatus begins

    The five-door's run ends; the next Insight arrives in 2018 with a sedan body.3

  7. 2018

    151-hp sedan replaces the hatchback

    The 2019 model adopts two-motor hybrid drive. EPA combined ratings are 52 mpg for LX/EX and 48 mpg for Touring.39

  8. 2026

    Electric crossover returns with 535 km

    Japan sales start April 17. The fourth-generation EV crossover claims 535 km of WLTC range, with availability limited to 3,000.4

Every generation

  • Honda CR-X (first generation)
    Honda CR-X (first generation)1983–1987
  • Honda CR-X (second generation)
    Honda CR-X (second generation)1987–1991
  • Honda EV Plus
    ZA11997–1999
  • Honda Insight (first generation)
    ZE11999–2006
  • Honda Insight (second generation)
    ZE2/ZE32009–2014
  • Honda Insight (third generation)
    ZE42018–2022
  • Honda Civic Hybrid
    Honda Civic Hybrid
  • Honda Insight (fourth generation)
    Honda Insight (fourth generation)2026–present

Power over the years

From 73 hp to 151 hp in 19 years.

050100150200 20002005201020152020 hp 2000 · 73 hp · 1.0 IMA, five-speed manual2010 · 98 hp · 1.3 IMA hatchback2019 · 151 hp · 1.5 two-motor hybrid 151 hp 1.5 two-motor hybrid 73 hp 1.0 IMA, five-speed manual
6910
Show the numbers
YearHorsepowerModel
2000731.0 IMA, five-speed manual
2010981.3 IMA hatchback
20191511.5 two-motor hybrid

Versions

10 versions worth knowing, with their power.

  • Standard

    5-speed manual (first generation)

    2000–2006

    73 hp

  • Standard

    CVT (first generation)

    2001–2006

  • Standard

    Base (second generation)

    2011–2014

    98 hp
  • LX (second generation)

    Standard

    LX (second generation)

    2010–2014

    98 hp

  • Standard

    EX / EX with Navigation (second generation)

    2010–2014

    98 hp
  • LX (third generation)

    Standard

    LX (third generation)

    2019–2021

    151 hp

  • Standard

    Touring (third generation)

    2019–2022

    151 hp

  • Special

    EX Black Style (third generation)

    2020

  • EX Prime Style (third generation)

    Special

    EX Prime Style (third generation)

    2020

  • Limited

    Honda ON Limited Edition (EV)

    2026

How to spot one

Look for

  • First generation: rear wheels partly disappear beneath aerodynamic spats.510
  • First generation: a teardrop body tapers to a rear track 110 mm narrower than the front.310
  • Second generation: a five-door fastback with a horizontal bar splitting the rear glass.313
  • Third generation: flying-wing grille, slim LED lamps and chrome trim on a coupe-like sedan.9
  • Third generation: headlight side markers take inspiration from HondaJet winglets.12

Year by year

  1. 2004

    The first generation trades its gray interior for beige and makes a CD player standard.318

  2. Late 2011 (Japan)

    The Japanese refresh gives the regular Insight newly shaped front and rear bumpers.8

  3. 2019

    The third generation adopts a four-door sedan body, a flying-wing grille and slim LED lights.39

  4. 2020

    EX Black Style goes from 17- to 18-inch wheels; new EX Prime Style wears a spoiler-free trunk lid.17

  5. 2021

    Radiant Red Metallic joins the sedan's exterior colors.15

  6. 2026

    The fourth generation switches to a battery-electric crossover SUV body.4

Don’t confuse it with

  • Photo of a Honda Insight
    Insight
    Photo of a Toyota Prius
    Toyota Prius

    Toyota Prius

    For the second-generation hatchback, check the cabin: Insight uses a conventional instrument panel and shifter.36

  • Photo of a Honda Insight
    Insight
    Photo of a Honda Civic sedan
    Honda Civic sedan

    Honda Civic sedan

    Third-generation Insight has a flying-wing grille, slim LED lamps and a short trunk lid on a Civic-like silhouette.3911

  • Honda CR-X

    Both share Kammback styling; the original Insight's rear-wheel spats provide a quick clue.1019

Against its rivals

Prices

Value today $3.2K–$17.7K3618

Price when newAuction saleValue today
$0$10K$20K$30K 200020052010201520202025 Value today: $3,200–$17,700 2000 · $20,700 · US manual, estimated as tested2010 · $20,510 · US base, LX2010 · $22,010 · US base, EX2010 · $23,810 · US base, EX with navigation2019 · $23,725 · US base, LX2019 · $24,995 · US base, EX2019 · $28,985 · US base, Touring2021 · $22,930 · US LX MSRP, excluding destination2022 · $25,210 · US EX MSRP, excluding destination2022 · $29,240 · US Touring MSRP, excl. destination 2013 · $3,850 · 2000 Insight manual, Fort Lauderdale2024 · $8,000 · 2010 EX, 27k miles, BaT2025 · $23,500 · 2000 five-speed, 14k miles, BaT2025 · $4,700 · 2000 JDM CVT, mileage unknown, BaT2026 · $6,550 · 2000 five-speed, 94k miles, BaT $23.5K BaT, 2025
312131415293031323334
Show the numbers
YearPriceAmountDetail
2000Price when new$20,700US manual, estimated as tested
2010Price when new$20,510US base, LX
2010Price when new$22,010US base, EX
2010Price when new$23,810US base, EX with navigation
2019Price when new$23,725US base, LX
2019Price when new$24,995US base, EX
2019Price when new$28,985US base, Touring
2021Price when new$22,930US LX MSRP, excluding destination
2022Price when new$25,210US EX MSRP, excluding destination
2022Price when new$29,240US Touring MSRP, excl. destination
2013Auction sale$3,8502000 Insight manual, Fort Lauderdale
2024Auction sale$8,0002010 EX, 27k miles, BaT
2025Auction sale$23,5002000 five-speed, 14k miles, BaT
2025Auction sale$4,7002000 JDM CVT, mileage unknown, BaT
2026Auction sale$6,5502000 five-speed, 94k miles, BaT
2026Value today$3,200–$17,700

The rest of the story is in the app

The full file tells why each version matters, the legend behind the car and what to check before buying one.

  • Versions

    • Why each of the 10 versions matters

  • Legend

    • 12 stories from its legend
    • “Seven months ahead of the Prius”
    • “The first hybrid to top Japan's sales chart”

  • Generations

    • The story of each of the 10 generations

  • Market

    • 6 things to check before buying one
    • Where prices are heading, and why
Read the full file in SPOT

SPOT is free on iPhone. Full car files come with SPOT Plus.

Sources

Every fact on this page links to the source it rests on.

See all 34 sources
  1. Honda Insight -- Introduction hondanews.com
  2. Here's What Happened When I Went Hypermiling In A Honda Insight jalopnik.com
  3. Honda Insight - Wikipedia en.wikipedia.org
  4. Honda to Begin Sales of All-new Insight EV | Honda Global Corporate Website global.honda
  5. Honda Insight (Mk1, 1999-2006) icon review | Auto Express autoexpress.co.uk
  6. 2010-14 Honda Insight | Consumer Guide Auto consumerguide.com
  7. All-New Insight Makes European Debut in Valencia | Honda Global Corporate Website global.honda
  8. Honda to Begin Sales of Refreshed Insight Hybrid Model in Japan New Insight Exclusive with 1.5-liter engine joins lineup | Honda Global Corporate Website global.honda
  9. 2019 Honda Insight Press Kit hondanews.com
  10. What to Buy: 2000–2006 Honda Insight caranddriver.com
  11. 2019 Honda Insight Long-Term Test: Reliability, Repairs, Efficiency caranddriver.com
  12. First Drive: 2019 Honda Insight motortrend.com
  13. 2010 Honda Insight EX Long-Term Road Test Wrap-Up - Review - Car and Driver caranddriver.com
  14. 2022 Honda Insight On Sale Now hondanews.com
  15. 2021 Honda Insight Adds Blind Spot and Cross-Traffic Assists to Roomy, Refined and Efficient Hybrid Package hondanews.com
  16. Is the Honda Insight Reliable? We Spent a Year in One to Find Out motortrend.com
  17. 「INSIGHT」をマイナーモデルチェンジし発売 | Honda 企業情報サイト global.honda
  18. 2000-06 Honda Insight | Consumer Guide Auto consumerguide.com
  19. Honda CR-X - Wikipedia en.wikipedia.org
  20. Honda EV Plus - Wikipedia en.wikipedia.org
  21. Honda J-VX - Wikipedia en.wikipedia.org
  22. Honda Insight Killed; New Accord, Civic, CR-V Hybrids Are Coming caranddriver.com
  23. 2019 Honda Insight vs. 2020 Toyota Corolla Hybrid caranddriver.com
  24. Packaging Honda’s all-new Insight - Mobility Engineering Technology mobilityengineeringtech.com
  25. VTEC Academy | Insights into Speed vtec.academy
  26. Be Cool -- eventually | Grist grist.org
  27. Gran Turismo for PSP® - List of featured cars gran-turismo.com
  28. Gran Turismo 6 - List of featured cars gran-turismo.com
  29. Tested: 2000 Honda Insight caranddriver.com
  30. 2000 Honda Insight | Fort Lauderdale 2013 | RM Sotheby's rmsothebys.com
  31. No Reserve: JDM 2000 Honda Insight for sale on BaT Auctions - sold for $4,700 on July 28, 2025 (Lot #202,391) | Bring a Trailer bringatrailer.com
  32. 14k-Mile 2000 Honda Insight 5-Speed for sale on BaT Auctions - sold for $23,500 on October 19, 2025 (Lot #215,594) | Bring a Trailer bringatrailer.com
  33. No Reserve: 27k-Mile 2010 Honda Insight EX for sale on BaT Auctions - sold for $8,000 on September 13, 2024 (Lot #162,573) | Bring a Trailer bringatrailer.com
  34. No Reserve: 2000 Honda Insight 5-Speed for sale on BaT Auctions - sold for $6,550 on October 12, 2026 (Lot #268,036) | Bring a Trailer bringatrailer.com
  • hondanews.com
  • jalopnik.com
  • en.wikipedia.org
  • global.honda
  • autoexpress.co.uk
  • consumerguide.com
  • caranddriver.com
  • motortrend.com
  • mobilityengineeringtech.com
  • vtec.academy
  • grist.org
  • gran-turismo.com
  • rmsothebys.com
  • bringatrailer.com

Photo credits

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