2019 Honda Insight first drive review: The 55-mpg Civic

The Honda Perception is again, although it has extra in frequent with a Civic than it does with the 2 prior generations of its namesake.

Honda selected to revive the Perception identify for quite a lot of causes. The principle intent is to attract connections between this new, American-assembled Perception and the first-generation mannequin that beat the ever present Toyota Prius to the US market again in 1999. Within the eco neighborhood, the Perception identify has some road cred.

Nevertheless, the brand new Civic roots have benefits of their very own. The brand new Perception is a standard sedan, reasonably than some wedge-shaped hybrid hatchback. It seems to be like a “regular automotive” and Honda thinks this can grant the Perception broader enchantment.

We lately took to the roads round Minneapolis, Minnesota in a completely loaded 2019 Perception Touring to see how “regular” it truly is. True to its roots, Honda’s little hybrid continues to be a bit of bizarre.

Two-motor hybrid powertrain

The Perception is powered by a smaller model of Honda’s third-generation, two-motor hybrid system. It includes a compact 1.5-liter Atkinson-cycle gasoline engine that produces 107 horsepower and 99 pound-feet of torque. However this engine does not really drive the wheels more often than not. As a substitute, the 1.5-liter mill principally spins a small motor-generator that recharges the Perception’s 60-cell lithium-ion battery pack and juices a second, bigger 129-horsepower electrical propulsion motor that sends 197 pound-feet of torque to the entrance wheels.

A “lock up clutch” can interact to ship torque from the gasoline motor on to the pushed wheels, however solely throughout very mild cruising at freeway speeds or once you completely mash the throttle. Working collectively, complete system output is said at 151 horsepower and 197 pound-feet of torque — not a lot completely different from what the propulsion motor does by itself.

As a result of the gasoline engine is not linked to the wheels, there’s an odd, CVT-like impact to the drive. You press the gasoline pedal and listen to the engine rev, nevertheless it’s out of sync with the ensuing acceleration. The be aware simply type of climbs after which hangs discordantly. Nevertheless, the e-motor is far more responsive than a standard repeatedly variable transmission may ever hope to be, so you do not really feel any lag between your toe on the pedal and what you sense on the seat of your pants.

In different phrases, round city, the Perception sounds laggy, however feels responsive and torquey like an EV. It is very nice, and in addition actually awkward, nevertheless it does not take lengthy to get used to this sensation. By the tip of my second day of testing, I solely actually seen the engine sound weirdness underneath onerous acceleration. Nevertheless, like an EV, the Perception tends to expire of steam at very excessive speeds, the place it could possibly really feel a tad underpowered.

General, the Perception returns stable efficiency — particularly at metropolis speeds the place the e-motor is in its aspect. Extra importantly, it guarantees gas economic system that is proper up there with the perfect of its class.

As much as 55 mpg

The EPA estimates the 2019 Perception LX and EX fashions ought to return a formidable 55 mpg metropolis, 49 mpg freeway and 52 mpg mixed. The heavier, top-level Touring mannequin brings these numbers down barely, to 51 metropolis, 45 freeway and 48 mpg mixed. At their greenest, the Hyundai Ioniq Blue and Toyota Prius Eco simply barely edge out the Perception with claims of 58 and 56 mixed mpg, respectively. The Perception may not supply best-in-class numbers, nevertheless it’s among the many greatest.

The Perception options 4 drive modes: Regular, Sport, Econ and EV. There’s not a lot distinction between Regular and Econ — the default setting is already fairly eco-tuned — and EV is of restricted use outdoors parking heaps and driveways given the Perception’s small battery pack. The Sport setting has good sharpening of the throttle response, however there’s a gas economic system price. Sport mode additionally pipes electronically generated fake engine noise into the cabin when accelerating, which simply attracts consideration to the aforementioned off-putting sound. This sound “enhancement” feels completely pointless.

Paddle shifters are normal — odd for a automotive that solely options two single-speed transmissions — however they don’t seem to be used to alter gears. Quite, the paddles are used to toggle between three ranges of regenerative braking. In order I approached a cease signal or started a coast downhill, I may fiddle the paddles to set an applicable quantity of regen. It isn’t fairly the one-foot driving that you just get with many pure EVs, however I discovered the function novel and pretty helpful.

Drive modes and paddles are good to toy with however I did not find yourself needing any of that to succeed in the 52-mpg mark throughout my testing. I simply left the Perception in its Regular drive mode and drove it like a standard automotive and good gas economic system simply type of occurred — no tips or hypermiling mandatory. That’s, maybe, probably the most spectacular a part of this complete bundle.

Is that you just, Civic Hybrid?

Beneath the principally distinctive sheetmetal, the third-generation Perception is predicated on the present Honda Civic. The wheelbase and monitor are the identical, size and width are related and each automobiles use the identical MacPherson strut entrance and five-link rear suspension.

The Perception is only a bit extra spacious, with 97.6 cubic ft of passenger house in comparison with the Civic sedan’s 95.zero, however I believe that is largely because of differing dashboard designs. Extra fascinating is that the Perception matches the Civic’s trunk house at 15.1 cubic ft. A smaller battery for this technology has allowed Honda to maneuver the 60-cell unit out of the trunk and underneath the rear seats. This implies there isn’t any battery bump and that the Perception retains the identical rear seat trunk pass-through because the Civic.

The Perception’s engineers made a couple of tweaks to the Civic’s platform and suspension. The cabin is quieter because of elevated sound deadening, a retune of the rear suspension and, in fact, the quieter hybrid powertrain. On the highway, the Perception largely rides and handles like its sibling. The hybrid is a hair extra snug and softer across the edges however not by a lot, and nonetheless manages to really feel lots nimble in most conditions, regardless of being about 150 to 230 kilos heavier, relying on trim.

Customary Honda Sensing driver aids

The Honda Sensing suite of driver support applied sciences is normal on all Perception fashions, and that is nice information. Meaning even the bottom LX mannequin comes with adaptive cruise management with low-speed following, ahead collision warning with collision mitigation braking, lane-keeping steering help with highway departure mitigation and visitors signal recognition. Additionally normal is a rear-view digital camera with a dynamic trajectory overlay that strikes with the steering wheel to indicate a predictive path when reversing.

Improve to the EX or Touring mannequin so as to add Honda’s LaneWatch digital camera system, which fills the infotainment show with a view into the blind spot on the passenger facet when the suitable flip sign is activated. I am not the largest fan of this technique — I would reasonably simply have a traditional always-on blind spot system with easy warning lights that work on either side — however I suppose the digital camera is best than nothing.

HondaLink infotainment

EX and Touring fashions additionally step as much as a big Eight-inch HondaLink infotainment system, changing a reasonably primary 5-inch show audio setup within the LX. I like the position of this bigger show, which type of blends the trendy popped-out pill look with a pleasant, low placement on the dashboard that is straightforward to succeed in whereas driving. And like Honda’s latest fashions, the Perception includes a true quantity knob, reasonably than the horrible capacitive swipe zone discovered within the Civic.

The infotainment software program jogs my memory of a extra colourful, easier-to-read model of Volkswagen’s present cabin tech, with its giant, icon-based residence display screen and normal Android Auto and Apple CarPlay compatibility. The similarities cease there, because the Honda system goes on to function a excessive degree of customization, permitting drivers to reorganize all the residence display screen and to retailer the three mostly used capabilities on a shortcut bar that is all the time seen on the high of the display screen.

Touring fashions additionally add onboard navigation. It is fairly good software program, however after the visitors system did not account for the varied roads and exits closed because of in depth building round my Minneapolis staging space, I ended up defaulting again to the extra correct Google Maps by way of Android Auto to get me residence in a well timed method.

The “Hyperlink” a part of HondaLink refers back to the onboard 4G LTE connection (subscription required) that powers a collection of native apps for audio streaming and extra, in addition to enabling Wi-Fi hotspot connectivity for passengers’ cell gadgets.

Lastly, a big colour show shares the instrument cluster with a standard bodily speedometer. With a scroll wheel on the steering wheel, I used to be capable of fly by a variety of details about economic system, driver support options, infotainment and extra. No, it is not as gee-whiz as VW’s full Digital Cockpit, however I used to be nonetheless impressed.

The un-hybrid

The powertrain sounds bizarre and takes some getting used to, however I actually loved the way in which the 2019 Perception felt on the highway. Civic-sharp dealing with and a wholesome dose of electrical torque mix with lofty however simply achievable gas economic system estimates, all wrapped up in good-looking sheetmetal.

For probably the most half, the Perception simply blends in with different automobiles. There are solely three or 4 “hybrid” badges on the outside. There isn’t any battery bump within the trunk. There isn’t any bizarre starship eco-car design. This can be a automotive that does not rub its inexperienced automotive cred in anybody’s face. I can respect that, and I believe consumers will, too.

The 2019 Honda Perception will begin at $23,725 (together with $895 vacation spot cost) for the bottom LX with Honda Sensing, 55 mpg metropolis and a satisfactory cabin tech setup. $24,995 steps you as much as the EX with the excellent Eight-inch HondaLink infotainment and keyless entry: the candy spot within the lineup for worth.

The all-in Touring mannequin tops the road, including bigger 17-inch wheels, navigation, an influence moonroof, dual-zone local weather controls, leather-trimmed and heated energy entrance seats and extra for a nonetheless reasonably priced $28,985. However keep in mind, it’s going to additionally price you a couple of mpg because of the elevated weight.

The 2019 Honda Perception arrives in dealerships later this month. It could resurrect a earlier moniker, however this well-rounded newcomer is a Civic Hybrid by some other identify.

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