How do Honda Insights Get Such Good Mileage Ratings?
Honda Insight hybrids consistently rate higher for hybrid fuel economy than other green cars on the market. The Honda Insight mileage rating in the city is 60 mpg, and it can get up to 66 mpg on the highway, according to the EPA. The 2000 Insight still ranks as one of the EPA’s most efficient gasoline-fueled vehicles ever.
But what makes Honda Insight mileage a gold standard?
Honda Insights are Constructed to be Lighter
The Insight is a small car already, and its aluminum frame helps reduce its overall weight. This means that Honda can install lighter, smaller engines that still perform at the level you’d expect from a gas powered car. On average, Insights weigh about 500 pounds less than even the lightest Honda Civic Hybrid.
Insight Engines are Small But Efficient
The engine component only weighs 124 pounds, but its small size doesn’t keep it from packing a punch. The car’s small electric motor, powered by a hybrid battery, allows the Insight to accelerate from 0-60 mph in only 11 seconds.
When the electric motor is running, the vehicle’s horsepower is boosted, which is actually especially effective at lower engine speeds. The electric motor adds a significant amount of torque power when the engine is running at lower speeds, giving it the feel and speed range of a much larger vehicle.
Insights Use Advanced Aerodynamics
The back of the Insight is narrower than the front, in a classic teardrop shape, to maximize aerodynamics, and the rear wheels and parts of the car’s underside are covered by sleek bodywork and plastic panels. As a result, the car’s drag coefficient is much more favorable, making the Insight one of the most aerodynamic modern cars around.
Fuel efficiency isn’t the only reason to look into a hybrid like the Insight. Drivers have saved up to $3,400 dollars in taxes through state incentives, and some insurance companies offer discounts to hybrid car owners, since research has shown they’re less likely to be involved in accidents.
Honda Insight mileage ratings have only continued to improve with each new model, so if you’re looking for fuel efficiency and related benefits, an Insight might be the car for you.
