2010 Honda Insight a Top Safety Pick By IIHS

By John Voelcker

John Voelcker

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2010 Honda Insight

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It may be subcompact in size, but the 2010 Honda Insight hybrid just got handed a big award.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety has awarded the 2010 Honda Insight EX its "Top Safety Pick" designation, which it bestows on vehicles that do the best job of protecting their occupants in front, rear, and side crashes.

"Fuel economy and safety have always been part of Honda's DNA," said Honda executive Erik Berkman. "The Insight EX is a great example of an affordable vehicle that receives a high rating for safety."

The 2010 Insight is the least expensive hybrid vehicle sold in the US, coming in at a base price of $20,400 including delivery. The EPA rates it at 40 miles per gallon city / 43 mpg highway, for a combined rating of 41 mpg.

In our drive report on the 2010 Honda Insight, we got a very respectable 42.2 miles per gallon on hilly roads north of New York City. And early anecdotal evidence says it's almost impossible to get less than 35 mpg in the Insight.

Helped by a government program that heavily subsidizes very fuel-efficient vehicles, the 2010 Insight has sold well in Japan. Here in the US, though, the 2010 Toyota Prius outsells it more than two to one.

And Toyota is planning to compete with the Insight on price, too. The company announced it will offer a base model Prius in the US for just $21,750--though fully loaded versions reach as high as $35,000. That model, however, has not yet been finalized.

If you'd like to know more about how the 2010 Honda Insight stacks up to the Toyota Prius, our sister site AllAboutPrius.com ran a five-day series comparing the new Insight to the outgoing 2004-2009 Prius model:

Part I: Toyota Prius vs 2010 Honda Insight: Kyle's Unique Comparison Test

Part II: Toyota Prius vs 2010 Honda Insight: Kyle Drives Each One

Part III: Toyota Prius vs 2010 Honda Insight: Kyle Considers Interior Space

Part IV: Toyota Prius vs 2010 Honda Insight: Kyle Compares Gas Mileage

Part V: Toyota Prius vs 2010 Honda Insight: Kyle on the Cool Factor

2010 Honda Insight - 57 mpg

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2010 Honda Insight

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