Honda Insight (1999–2006)

Hybrid

Background

The Honda Insight is a hybrid electric car manufactured and marketed by Honda. Its first generation is a two-door, two-seat liftback (1999–2006) and its second generation is a four-door, five-seat liftback (2009–2014). In its third generation, it is a four-door sedan (2018–2022) and in its fourth generation, it became a four-door crossover SUV (2026–present). It was Honda's first model with Integrated Motor Assist system and the most fuel efficient gasoline-powered car available in the U.S. without plug-in capability for the length of its production run.

Text adapted from “Honda Insight” on Wikipedia ↗ · CC BY-SA 4.0 ↗ · retrieved 2026-07

Specification

Produced: 17,020 units
Engine: 1.0L ECA1 inline-3 gasoline + Integrated Motor Assist (IMA) electric motor
Power: 73 hp
Weight: 838 kg
Fuel: gasoline · hybrid
Displacement: 1–1.5 L · 3/4 cyl
Fuel economy: 40–53 mpg combined — EPA 2000–2022

Still on UK roads

8,100

licensed vehicles · 2025

2014 ▼ 15% since 2014 2025

Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0 · DVLA VEH0124 ↗

Notes

First-generation (ZE1) Insight: Honda's first production hybrid and the first mass-market hybrid sold in the US, launched Nov 1999 to compete with the Toyota Prius. Lightweight aluminum two-seat liftback body; held the record for most fuel-efficient EPA-rated gasoline car in the US until 2015. ~17,020 units sold worldwide before the original ended in 2006 (the nameplate was later reused for unrelated 2nd/3rd-gen hybrids and a 2026 EV).

Production years

1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006

Sources

Wikipedia ↗Wikidata ↗ WIKIDATA · DVLA · EPA · LIMITED_EDITION_RESEARCH confidence: high

Research sources (1)