Four Fuel Sippers: 2009 Honda Fit Sport, 2010 Ford Fiesta, 2010 Honda Insight, 2009 Volkswagen Jetta TDI

2010 Honda Insight

The new Honda Insight's obvious competitor is the Toyota Prius, but when you climb inside and take in its panoramic view and hard plastic dash, the first car to come to mind is the Fit. No coincidence here, as the Insight borrows quite liberally from Honda's entry-level offering, including most of its suspension bits. This allows Honda to offer a nicely packaged hybrid for almost four grand less than a Civic with similar technology.

It's hard to argue with the results. The Insight betters the Fit's already impressive combined fuel economy by 12 mpg while sacrificing only 19 hp and gaining 17 lb-ft of torque. The Insight also preserves a good deal of the Fit's utility, despite having much of its floor taken up by batteries. The seatbacks fold completely flat and the high tail provides clearance for tall items.

Behind the wheel however, the Insight is a bit of a letdown, as it feels every bit like a heavier, less responsive Fit. The 1.3-liter four-cylinder and 10-hp electric motor work hard around town, which wouldn't be all that bad if the Insight wasn't also saddled with a slower steering rack and a CVT-automatic instead of the Fit's wonderful manual. The Insight is still better than most hybrids we've driven, but doesn't reward the driver as much as the other cars in this test. At least there is some payback on the highway, where the Insight is quiet and reasonably stable.

The choice of interior materials also disappointed us. With navigation, our Insight listed for $23,770, but except for the easy-to-read digital speedometer, the cabin didn't feel much different or more expensive that of the much cheaper Fit. It certainly did not compare well with the posh environs of our $23,090 Jetta TDI.

Despite those complaints, the Insight lives up to the promise as an inexpensive hybrid that offers real fuel-efficiency gains. Particularly in its base, $20,510 form, it makes an ideal choice for economy-conscious shoppers who have previously shied away from hybrids because of their premiums. Those willing to spend a bit more in search of driver involvement and refinement should read on.