Blog / Detail

Honda takes its revenge on Toyota

Posted by Hootan Mahallati | May 11, 2009 | In green honda news toyota

Many of you may not know that Honda was in fact the first manufacturer to offer a hybrid vehicle in the United States. However, perhaps suffering from its slightly impractical body style, the first Insight was not a commercial home run, paving the way for the Toyota claiming all the hybrid goodwill.

Honda recently released its completely redesigned Insight, hoping for better luck this time around. Well, at least in its home market of Japan, the Honda Insight is now the best-selling vehicle, having sold 10,841 units this April. No, not the best-selling ‘hybrid’ in Japan, but in what is a first, the best-selling car period. Surely, Honda regards this headline-making milestone as a bit of automotive poetic justice.

Although the Insight looks very similar to the Toyota Prius in overall design, it is smaller, cheaper and is regarded as the more sporty of the two. It is also slightly less fuel-efficient. Toyota will launch its third-generation of Prius in Japan in a few days and is reportedly lowering its price in order to take the fight to Honda in this ever-growing battle of the hybrids. As things stand now, here are how the two rivals stack up against each other in the price and efficiency categories:

2010 Honda Insight
MSRP: $19,800
MPG: 40/43 City/Hwy

2010 Toyota Prius
MSRP: $22,000
MPG: 51/48 City/Hwy

First-generation Honda Insight

[Source: Autocar]

3 Comment(s)

Ryan Kuder | posted 1 year, 2 months ago

I really like the Insight. Although, it does look a lot like the Prius. I've been driving a Civic for the past 9 years and you can pretty much weld the hood shut and put 150k miles on it with no problems. Insight is definitely in the consideration set for whenever we get around to replacing the Civic.

Abrahim | posted 1 year, 2 months ago

I love honda's comeback, but the prius' 51/48 mpg is still a pretty tempting "pro"

Hootan Mahallati | posted 1 year, 2 months ago

Honda will improve rapidly now that this model is selling better. Toyota has the lead on spreading the technology throughout its and Lexus' range though, so Honda still has some catching up to do...The two of them are going to be duking it out for a while, all great for the industry.