2019 Honda Insight Debuts In Production Form, Gets 151hp And 55mpg City

Honda has announced that the 2019 Insight will celebrate its global premiere at the New York Auto Show in its final production version.

Under its sleek design, the new Insight uses Honda’s third generation two-motor hybrid powertrain, featuring a 1.5-liter petrol engine that runs on the Atkinson cycle combined with an electric motor and a lithium-ion battery pack.

The combined output of the new powertrain is 151hp and 197lb-ft of torque, with Honda claiming best-in-class power-to-weight ratio, as well as an estimated 55-mpg in the city.

“The Honda Insight shows consumers that the efficiency of a hybrid car doesn’t mean sacrificing style, refinement or performance,” said Henio Arcangeli, Jr., senior vice president of American Honda Motor. “The Insight is another symbol of a new era in the evolution of Honda electrified vehicles, where customers can have everything they want with no compromises.”

3 Driving Modes, including Sport

The driver will be able to choose between three driving modes –Normal, Econ and Sport. In addition, all Insight models will feature what steering wheel-mounted selectors which offer three different levels of regenerative braking, depending on driving conditions. Honda claims that the 2019 Insight hybrid will be capable of all-electric driving for short distances of roughly a mile.

The new 2019 Honda Insight shares its basic platform architecture with the 10^th-generation Civic but the former gets many engineering enhancements in order to offer better ride quality and NVH levels.

Honda promises a comfy interior

The 2019 Honda Insight rides on a 106.3-inch long wheelbase, which according to the company gives it best-in-class rear legroom, with 37.4 inches. Trunk space is rated at 15.1 cu.-ft, which is comparable to non-hybrid midsize models.

The interior features premium soft-touch materials, an instrument panel with real stitching and ergonomic seats, among others. The driver’s instrument binnacle hosts a 7-inch digital display while the 8-inch infotainment system comes with Apple Car Play and Android Auto.

Honda’s Sensing suite of safety and driver’s assistance technologies is also present, with the 2019 Insight getting Forward Collison Warning, Collision Mitigation Braking System, Lane Departure Warning, Lane Keeping Assistance System, Road Departure Mitigation and Adaptive Cruise Control with Low-Speed Follow and Traffic Sign Recognition as standard in the entry-level models.

On sale in the U.S. this summer

The latest electrified model of the Japanese carmaker will be positioned between the Civic and the Accord in Honda’s lineup, when it arrives in dealerships nationwide in early summer, with pricing to be announced.

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