Green Twin Test: For those who want to wear their green credentials on their sleeves, both Honda and Toyota have models worth considering, writes Paddy Comyn
BEING A green motorist might not be the top priority for most struggling to see the purchase of a new car in January, but one benefit of the CO2-based tax system is that there are incentives to buy hybrid technology, a technology that has advanced greatly from the first crude examples seen at the end of the last decade.
While we are all waiting for the promise of full electric vehicles, hybrids offer the most useable access to the electric car world at the moment.
Toyota was at the forefront of the hybrid revolution and the Prius, the car synonymous with the genre, is now coming to Ireland in its third guise. With three generations to get this car right, it would appear that the latest Prius is a better prospect than ever before. But Honda has been pursuing Toyota closely in the race to get this technology into the mainstream, and the Insight is their latest offering. We put these two green rivals to the test.
STYLING
Insight * * *
Prius * * * *
Stand far enough back and you may be hard pressed to tell the difference between the two. Aerodynamics appear to be the main reason for the pretty identical profile. These cars have excellent drag coefficients – vital for the extraordinary fuel economy figures these cars are capable of. In the case of the Prius, the peak of the roofline has been brought back towards the rear of the car more than in the previous version, serving to offer rear passengers improved headroom. The Prius has quite block like shapes on each of the front bumpers, reducing drag and, underneath, there are better aerodynamics than before. The Insight looks similar but not quite as robust, and slightly more like the older Prius’s styling. The Prius is the marginally better-looking car.
RELIABILITY and QUALITY
Insight * * *
Prius * * * *
In terms of reliability, these brands have a lot going for them, performing well in surveys. Toyota in particular has a strong reputation for quality and the Prius was a winner of the 2007 and 2008 JD Power customer satisfaction study. It was beaten into second place in 2009 by – you’ve guessed it – the Lexus RX, which uses similar hybrid technology. This is impressive, especially considering the complexity of the technology on offer in the car.
Honda, too, is a winner in the JD Power surveys, this year claiming second place overall. The Jazz came first in its class, with the Civic and CR-V second in theirs. The Insight should enjoy the same high standard and its technology has been used extensively already, so is tried and tested. The Prius has the edge when it comes to quality, with a much better cabin and superior plastics.
DRIVING
Insight * *
Prius * * * *
When it comes to driving, these cars do feel quite different. The Insight feels a little bit lighter. The interior is more aggressive than in the Prius and the lighter weight makes it feel a little sportier. You can shift gears using paddles, but these gear ratios are artificial. It is a noisier car and the CVT is quite vocal, without a very large electric motor helping out. The steering is also lighter than in the Prius, feeling more like an earlier Prius than the current one.
The Prius feels like a much more substantial car and feels like a more quality car, both in terms of quietness and feedback. The regenerative braking is quiet and the gear shifter works well. The interior is very space age, but it isn’t over the top. It will be loved by the techo geeks but is also user-friendly enough not to scare off the average buyer and user. Both the dashboard and interior are really very elegant.
ERGONOMICS and PRACTICALITY
Insight * * * *
Prius * * * *
It is virtually impossible to tell the difference between the two cars when it comes to interior space. Although the Prius sits on a longer platform and is longer overall, the legroom and headroom for both the front and rear passengers appear to be almost identical.
The Prius uses its extra length for a slightly bigger luggage compartment and the Prius is 180kg heavier than the Insight.
ENGINES
Insight * * *
Prius * * * * *
There is now a bigger difference between engines and power than if we had compared the old Prius to the Insight.
The new Prius uses a 1.8-litre petrol engine, up from the old 1.5-litre and 90 per cent of the hybrid drivetrain is new. Like the old car there are three model of drive: all-electric, petrol-only and petrol-plus, with help from the electric motor.
The new Prius can now drive 2km on electric power only up to speeds of 50km/h. The larger petrol engine has been added to improve high-speed cruising on motorways and revs less at speed. The 98bhp 1.8-litre petrol is boosted by the electric motor to 134bhp. There is a CVT gearbox, which is a little quieter than the one in the Insight.
In the Honda, with Integrated Motor Assist, there is a 1.3-litre four-cylinder with an electric motor where the flywheel would normally be. In the Honda the engine and electric motor are always connected, compared to the more variable connection in the Prius, which alloys the two to be separated a little easier. In the Insight, the electric motor can briefly power the car for low speed cruising and is also assists the petrol engine during acceleration. There is also a stop/start system.
RUNNING COSTS (ECONOMY, ROAD TAX and DEPRECIATION)
Insight * * *
Prius * * * *
The running costs for both of these cars are pretty identical. The Prius has the edge in terms of fuel economy with an outstanding 3.9l/100km on the combined cycle and this is also a figure that you would be likely to reach in town driving too, where there is greater opportunity to drive in EV mode.
The CO2 emissions of the Prius are also outstanding, at just 92g/km, making it the lowest in Ireland for now. The Insight can also manage 4.4l/100km on the combined cycle, which is very impressive, and CO2 emissions of 101g/km also place it in Band A, which means annual road tax of €104.
Both cars, being Hybrid, are subject to a VRT rebate of up to €2,500, a figure that is deducted from the price of the car at source.
EQUIPMENT and SAFETY
Insight * * *
Prius * * * *
The Honda Insight has not been officially released by Honda’s official distributors in Ireland, Universal Honda, but some Honda dealers have taken matters into their own hands and are offering the car as a private import with full warranty. The ES model is on sale at €25,950 and for that you get air conditioning, alloy wheels, vehicle stability control, cruise control, leather upholstery and a multi-function leather steering wheel.
A more basic model is likely to cost about €22,000 when it does come to Ireland officially.
The full details on the new Prius have yet to be released but it too will be expected to get a full host of equipment, similar to the previous versions, with climate control air conditioning, cruise control and, while pricing has yet to be revealed to us, it is expected to be around the €29,000 mark.
VERDICT
The Prius is the nicer of the two cars, but there is a note of caution in that the Insight, when it does become officially available, will possibly be a lot cheaper than the Prius.
As it stands, both of these cars are considered choices. There aren’t too many huge benefits to owners as they are both in Band A, but then again so are cars like the BMW 316d ES and €25,000 will get you a Skoda Octavia diesel, with similar performance and equipment.
For those who like to show their green credentials, these cars are ideal choices and out of these two, if budget allowed, we would have the Prius.
It looks, feels and drives better than the worthy Insight. However if the Insight, when it officially arrives in February costs as little as €23,000, it could be worth a very long look.
Factfile: Toyota Prius
Engine: 1,798cc 4-cylinder petrol, 27kW nickel-metal hydride battery, 134bhp, 142Nm
Transmission: five-speed manual
0-100km/h: 10.4 seconds
Top Speed: 180km/h
Economy: urban – 3.9 l/100km (72.4 mpg);
extra urban– 3.7 l/100km (76.3 mpg);
combined– 3.9 l/100km (72.4 mpg)
CO2 Emissions: 92g/km
Tax Band: A (€104 annual road tax)
Boot capacity: 445 litres
Price: €29,000 (est)
Factfile: Honda Insight
Engine: 1,339cc four-cylinder petrol, 10.3kW electric motor with 87bhp, 120Nm torque
Transmission: five-speed CVT
0-100km/h: 12.5 seconds
Top Speed: 181km/h
Economy: urban– 4.7 l/100km (60.1 mpg);
extra urban– 4.2 l/100km (62.8mpg);
combined– 4.4/100km (61.4 mpg)
CO2 emissions: 101g/km
Tax Band: A (€104 annual road tax)
Boot capacity: 408 litres
Price: €23,000 est. official Honda price