- Honda is celebrating 25 years of hybrid sales in America as the Insight was launched in December of 1999.
- The model was originally rated at 61 mpg city and 70 mpg highway.
- While the Insight never really caught on, 25% of Honda sales now come from hybrids.
Toyota is nearly synonymous with hybrids, but Honda is celebrating a major milestone as their first hybrid was launched in America 25 years ago. It was the futuristic Insight, which embraced aerodynamics and electrification.
While the original model wasn’t exactly practical, it carried an EPA rating of 61 mpg city and 70 mpg highway. Despite the passage of time, Honda noted the first-generation Insight “remains America’s most fuel-efficient non-BEV ever.”
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However, it’s important to note the EPA “periodically updates its methodology to account for changes in vehicle technologies, driver behavior, and/or driving conditions.” This helps to explain why the government now says the 2000 Honda Insight returns 49 mpg city, 61 mpg highway, and 53 mpg combined.
Those are far less impressive numbers, but they’re still pretty remarkable especially when you consider the 2025 Civic Hybrid is rated at 50 mpg city, 47 mpg highway, and 49 mpg combined. So how was the company able to achieve this 25 years ago?
By going all out and creating an aerodynamically optimized two-seater with a lightweight aluminum body as well as partially covered rear wheels. The latter helped to give the Insight a drag coefficient of 0.25.
Those are still interesting attributes, but the car was more notable for having a hybridized powertrain that consisted of a 67 hp (50 kW / 68 PS) 1.0-liter three-cylinder engine, a 13 hp (10 kW / 14 PS) electric motor, and a small nickel-metal hydride battery. They were joined by a five-speed manual, although later versions also offered a continuously variable transmission.
While the Insight never really caught on, despite getting three generations, it was the “first mass production hybrid-electric vehicle ever sold in the United States.” However, it was overshadowed by the Toyota Prius, which continues to survive today.
That being said, the Insight’s legacy continues as 25% of Honda sales are hybrids. The CR-V was the best-selling hybrid in America last year, while the Accord was the most popular hybrid sedan. Furthermore, about 40% of Civic customers go hybrid.
