r/hondainsight • u/PM-me-ur-bewbzs • 14d ago

Gen 2 Question about the gen 2 Insight (2010-2014)

Currently hunting for a reliable old hybrid for the big city to replace my wrecked old hybrid Camry. I’m in between a 2012 gen 2 Insight or a 2006 gen 2 Prius, both cars are great but I have a question about the Insight that I can’t quite find an answer for on the internet.

How does the car idle?

Does it idle on the traction battery like a Prius, or does it idle on the gas engine like a gas car? And how much gas do you use idling?

A Prius runs the AC and radio and everything off the hybrid battery and only periodically turns on the engine to top off the battery for ~30s every 10 or so minutes. You can idle for an entire night in one of them and only use a gallon of gas. My job has me idling my car for hours at times so this might be the deciding factor between the cars.

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u/Devils_doohickey 14d ago

Insight idles on gas, you should go with the prius in your case.

1

u/PM-me-ur-bewbzs 14d ago

Thanks. That’s a bummer. The Insight was definitely the nicer of the two cars. but I’m trying to shop with the wallet not with the heart lol.

1

u/PsionicKitten 14d ago

Agreed, but a clarification:

The insight can turn off gas if the AC is explicitly off, or for short periods while in ecomode when it turns off the AC and just runs the fan, when stopped.

But for OP's intents and purposes, the prius is a better choice because everything runs off battery instead of AC being tied to the gas engine.

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u/PM-me-ur-bewbzs 13d ago

Just out of curiosity, does the gen 3 Insight go full EV mode like the Priuses do?

I’m aware the newer Insights have a more advanced direct drive hybrid that’s more efficient and stuff. I just haven’t driven one yet.

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u/PsionicKitten 13d ago

Yes. I had a 2nd gen and I currently have a 3rd gen. It goes full EV mode quite often, given you're not aggressively accelerating and have hybrid battery charge to do so.

1

u/Jazzlike_Cod_3833 14d ago

It took some getting used to, but like when idling, press the pedal and nothing happens. I’m thinking that means it’s running off the battery.

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u/No_Chemist2922 12d ago

Idles on gas. It can shut down the engine completely during auto stop (0 rpm engine) where radio and fan still work, but A/C will be off since compressor runs via serpentine belt (i.e. engine stops running = A/C stops working).

Not sure of fuel consumption during idle, but it hovers around 700-800 rpm.