Honda Insight simply not a city car?

Published Feb. 12, 2010 at 10:12 a.m.
Just not built for stop and go traffic

We've had a number of conversations on this blog as to whether Honda can ever mainstream their hybrid cars without adding full hybrid technology to their hybrid portfolio.

Obviously, all hybrids can offer fuel efficiency gains outside of tough urban traffic, however, in such conditions full hybrids, such as the Toyota Prius and the Ford Fusion hybrid, can achieve fuel economy numbers that simply blow away the competition.

In such conditions, however, the Insight lags.

"The lack of even a rudimentary purely electric mode seriously handicaps the Insight, especially in heavy urban traffic as I found out the fun way on my way home up main thoroughfare," notes MotorTrends Kirill Ougarov recently.

Isn't full hybrid technology essential for every hybrid maker?


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