What if a hybrid was more than just a hybrid? If ordinary was extraordinary?

Ingeniously, the Honda Insight goes against the hybrid grain to deliver a hybrid without the hard-to-operate bits and one that's more like a regular, everyday car. It's a new kind of hybrid.

What if being good could also be fun?

They don't call the Insight a playful hybrid for nothing. Honda's Eco Assist system shows you how fuel efficiently you're driving. When you drive economically, flowers within the dash display begin to grow and, at the end of each journey, you're awarded an ECO score for good driving.

A powertrain to fall in love with

Compact and lightweight, Honda's Integrated Motor Assist (IMA) hybrid technology harnesses energy normally wasted when you brake and puts it to good use. IMA reduces the work required by the petrol engine while providing you with more lively acceleration.

The IMA system is made up of many components, but at its heart is the low-friction 1.3 litre i-VTEC engine.

What if cars were powered with love and emitted happiness into the atmosphere?

If concept cars were now a reality? The Insight brings those dreams one step closer as the latest addition to Honda's hybrid family. The Honda Insight is the pinnacle of the evolution of Honda hybrid technology.

Honda's hybrid technology

Known as Integrated Motor Assist (IMA), Honda's hybrid technology is made up of multiple components that all play the same game – provide a winning performance that is ecologically sound.

The 1.3 litre i-VTEC engine acts as the main power source. It is coupled with a 10 kilowatt, ultra-thin electric motor, which adds power while generating electricity on its own. This stunning powertrain is rounded off with a lightweight, compact battery and a Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT) to provide you with responsive acceleration in the city and confidence-inspiring performance on the highway.

What is Eco Assist?

Who said games were just for kids? Now it's the driver's turn to have some fun. Take your driving to the next level with Honda's Eco Assist. Part system, part game, Eco Assist is designed to show you how fuel efficiently you're driving, while encouraging you to be good!

It's the dashboard that's your key to winning. You'll notice the digital speedometer change colours as you drive. Green means you're being good, and blue means you could be doing better. It gives you live feedback on how you're driving as you're driving.

And when you're done, Eco Assist will let you know how you're going with your overall, long-term, fuel-efficient driving, giving you an Eco score that hopefully you'll be proud of.

Everything you need, right before your eyes

The most important parts of the Eco Assist system are right in front of your eyes; there really was no better place to put them. There are a couple of things you will notice. First up, the colour of the digital speedometer changes as you drive. No, it's not letting you know its mood, but rather giving you feedback on how economically you're driving.

When it turns a nice shade of dark blue, it means your driving isn't so nice at all; you're consuming excess fuel with the way you're driving.

When it turns light blue, you're doing alright. Not great, just alright. You're consuming a relatively normal amount of fuel as you drive.

When the lights are green, keep doing what you're doing. You're driving with fuel efficiency in mind.

Using ECON Mode helps to keep you in the green by optimising certain settings, such as the air conditioning, for more economical driving.

Boot space

When you lift the hatch, you'll be surprised that such a generous cargo space can fit in a car this size. But 408 litres of boot space is just the beginning. Fold flat the rear seats and create even more storage space – 584 litres to be exact. And for those special items, there's a concealed compartment beneath the floor. It's the boot that keeps on giving.

Dual Zone dashboard

Sitting perfectly in your line of vision is the Insight's Dual Zone dashboard. It's clear the designers put a lot of thought into this dash. It's been split in two: on the top you have the digital speedometer with the Multi-Information Display below. It's everything you need, right in front of your eyes.

Fall in love with style

The Insight goes beyond aesthetics to deliver a hybrid that is not only economical, but looks good too. A seriously sleek and cutting-edge design means that no matter the viewing angle, you’re instantly attracted to the Insight.

Appealing aesthetics that serve a purpose

As pleasing as the Insight’s exterior is, there are always brains behind the beauty. Extra boot space? You got it. The split-level rear window brings a sporty edge while helping to enhance rearward visibility. The aerodynamic lines let the Insight slip easily through the air, helping with fuel efficiency. A distinctive front grille blends seamlessly into the headlight clusters and, at the same time, maximises airflow.

What if as we drove a protective bubble kept us safe?

Translucent and tough, it politely bounces us off other cars upon impact and cushions everyone with a gentle hug. Sadly, this isn't the case… yet. In the meantime, we've employed an array of safety features for the Honda Insight with one thing in mind – be the bubble.

ANCAP 5-star rating

The Honda Insight has been rated one of Australia's safest cars, having achieved the maximum 5-star rating in independent crash testing from ANCAP. The Insight is a shining example of Honda's commitment to overall vehicle safety, complementing Honda's long-standing in-house safety testing which seeks to improve real world safety.

Front, side and curtain airbags

The Insight is equipped with a comprehensive set of 6 airbags as standard. Upfront airbags protect the driver and passenger in more ways than one. Not only do they provide cushioning in the event of a collision, they're also designed to minimise any injury that could be caused by the airbags themselves. Full-length curtain airbags round off the Insight's impressive airbag package.

Inline 4 cylinder SOHC 1.3 litre i-VTEC and Integrated Motor Assist (IMA)

Cruise control

'CVT' automatic transmission with Grade Logic Control

Electronic Power Steering (EPS)

Steering wheel-mounted paddle shift controls

15" alloy wheels

Body coloured bumpers and door handles

Body coloured power door mirrors

Halogen headlights

Rear park assist

AM/FM radio, single CD with MP3 compatibility

Bluetooth® phone system

Cargo blind

Climate control air conditioning

Eco Assist and ECON button

Multi-information display

Tilt and telescopic steering

USB connectivity

60/40 fold down rear seats

Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) with Electronic Brake-force Distribution (EBD)

Dual front, side and full length curtain SRS airbags

Honda G-Con technology

Keyless entry and immobiliser

Vehicle Stability Assist (VSA) with Traction Control

Features over and above the VTi:

16" alloy wheels

Auto on/off headlights

Driver and front passenger seat back pocket

Door mirror with side indicators

Front fog lights

Leather-wrapped steering wheel

Rain sensing automatic front wipers

Satellite navigation system with SUNA Live Traffic Updates integrated Bluetooth® phone system, reversing camera and DVD player.