2010 Honda Insight Price To Start at $19,800, Plus Delivery; Sales Start March 24
It's not the $18,995 some were hoping for, but Honda Motors released official pricing for the 2010 Honda Insight compact hybrid this morning and it is, as promised, under $20,000 -- if you don't count the $670 delivery and handling fee that is tacked on to each and every one.
Official starting price for the base LX model will be $19,800 when Insight sales begin March 24. The real starting price, including that destination charge, is $20,470.
Still, that's $2,250 less than the present price leader, Toyota's Prius ($22,720 including its $720 destination charge -- pricing for the 2010 Prius, which goes on sale in June, hasn't been released yet) and "brings the cost of entry for hybrid technology within closer reach of an entirely new car-shopping audience," according to Dick Colliver, executive vice president of American Honda Motor Co.
The Insight EX, next step up, starts awith an MSRP of $21,300 ($21,970) and a navigation package bumps that to $23,100 ($23,770).
All of the cars are five-seat, five-door hatchbacks powered by a 1.3-liter gas engine and Honda's integrated motor assist hybrid drive system that combine to deliver fuel economy that's EPA-rated at 40 miles per gallon in the city, 43 mpg on the highway and 41 miles a gallon in the combined city-highway circuit.
Range on a 10.6-gallon fill-up is around 400 miles.
Standard features include a driver-selectable "Econ" mode that modifies throttle control, transmission programming, air-conditioning and other energy-consuming systems for peak efficiency, and an Eco-Assist driving information center that provides information about power use and battery charge status that can help drivers modify their driving style to maximize fuel economy.
All trim levels come standard as well with front, front-side and side curtain airbags; antilock braking; continuously variable transmission; tilt and telescoping steering; automatic climate control system; power windows and locks and a four-speaker AM/FM/CD stereo system (with auxiliary input).
The EX adds cruise control, paddle shifters on the steering wheel, an upgraded stereo, a center console, alloy wheels and other goodies.
EX models with navigation also provide hands-free Bluetooth telephone connection and steering-wheel-mounted phone and navigation controls.
- Posted by
- John O'Dell March 10, 2009, 8:04 AM
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- Honda, Hybrid
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- 2010 Honda Insight Pricing, Hybrids
I know this isn't about the Insight specifically, but why do some automakers include the destination charge in their MSRP and others don't? Seems to me that if you can't get out of paying it, it should be quoted in MSRP. Otherwise an automaker could say "Starting at $1,000, with a $1,200 brake system fee, a $500 fuel tank fee, a $600 windshield fee..." etc.
I'm not excited about the Insight's pricing. It appears to me the Prius offers far more car for the money....for anyone to whom driving dynamics are not a priority (which is probably most hybrid drivers).
greenpony...shhhh, don't give 'em ideas! Actually, it is all about marketing, and I'm not sure anyone does include destination in MSRP. I know I'm always having to look it up. And they used to have what amounted to a brake system fee...back when ABS was an option on most cars. I think the pricing rule is that basic ingredients and mandated safety stuff has to be included in base price, rest can be shown as part of package, or an option, or pretty much however the manufacturer wishes to list it.
I think Honda has dropped the ball on this one. The price does not make it very attractive. I was planning on buying an Insight. I need speed control and that price puts the Insight about the same price as the base Prius; which is ALOT more car. Even the Ford Focus in the mid 15's looks better with it's 35 mpg hwy. I will wait and see what the 2010 Prius stats are; and there seems to be alot of new stuff just around the corner.