Used 2004 Honda Insight
Honda’s other gasoline/electric hybrid car is the Insight,
a model with ridiculous fuel ratings that will basically go
for a full day’s drive without needing to refuel. That helps
everyone—the environment, your pocketbook and future generations
of children.
The other fuel saver in the Honda stable is the Civic Hybrid,
which gets its design and many of its features from the family
of the same name. With the Honda Insight, however, the style
is as unique as the engine under the hood.
Just as you won’t find automobiles on the road using hybrid
engines, you won’t find them looking like the Insight either.
2004 sees the Insight’s distinctive aerodynamic rear fender
skirts remain. In addition to those distinct skirts, the Insight
has a whole page full of design features that help cut down
wind drag, thereby making it as fuel efficient as possible.
Under the Hood
There isn’t much speed to mention, just as there won’t be
many gas stations to visit. The unique engine under the hood
is a 1.0-liter, 3-cylinder gasoline model assisted by a battery-powered
electric motor. This unique configuration allows the car to
recharge the batteries when coasting or decelerating, so no
plug-in charging is required.
The Insight is offered with a traditional 5-speed manual
transmission or a continuously variable automatic transmission
(CVT). The latter is found on a few other Honda models, the
Civic Hybrid being one of them. It uses a belt-and-pulley
system to vary drive ratios as needed instead of conventional
gears.
The 2004 Insight is a front-wheel drive model. If you’re
a speed-junkie, you’re in the wrong place. The Insight produces
73 horsepower and 89 lb-ft of torque (79 lb-ft of torque with
CVT).
Besides low emissions, the other main purpose of the Insight
is an industry-leading EPA fuel economy. Insight models with
manual transmission get 60/66 mpg (city/highway), while those
with CVT get 57/56 mpg (city/highway).
Standard Features, Options Packages and Style
The interior isn’t like a desert, but it isn’t in the luxury
class either. Decadence isn’t exactly the Insight’s style.
All models receive power mirrors, windows and door locks,
an AM/FM/CD player, a trip computer, a rear defogger, a rear
wiper/washer and a driver’s storage compartment.
For a few extra dollars, you can fit the 2004 Insight with
air conditioning. It has automatic climate control so you
can keep your eyes on the road.
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