The Honda Insight is a two-seater built from 2000 to 2022 over 3 generations. Most were assembled in Japan — 62.4% of those on record. Between 2001 and 2022 it grew 72 cm longer and gained 530 kg. Engines offered: Hybrid. Worth buying? It holds up well, with the usual caveat about model years at 4.0/5 — and the year you pick matters far more than the badge (best and worst years →).
What the Insight is
The Honda Insight is a two-seater that Honda built from 2000 to 2022 — 23 model years. Our measurements put it at 3 generations, the current one starting in 2019. It has been offered with Hybrid power. Its closest siblings in the Honda range: S2000, del Sol, CR-Z.
Where the Insight is built
A badge says where the company is registered; the VIN says where the car was bolted together. We counted the first three characters — the manufacturer identifier — across 479 Insights on record.
| Assembled in | Share | VIN starts with | Years seen |
|---|---|---|---|
| Japan | JHM | 2000-2014 | |
| the United States | 19X | 2019-2022 |
Check your own: the first three characters of a Honda VIN decide which of these 3 lines your Insight belongs to. What every character in a Insight VIN means →
Got the full 17 characters? A free VIN check on a Honda Insight adds what the decoder can't see: open recalls, theft and total-loss records, and the safety ratings for that exact build.
Insight generations, and what changed
These boundaries are not copied from a brochure — they fall out of the measurements. Where the Insight's length or wheelbase jumps between consecutive model years the platform changed: a facelift moves a bumper by centimetres, a new generation moves the whole car — for the Insight that gives 3 distinct generations below.
| Generation | Length | Wheelbase | Weight | vs previous | Weight change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2001-2006 | 394 cm | 240 cm | 852 kg | - | - |
| 2010-2013 | 438 cm | 256 cm | 1235 kg | +44 cm | +383 kg |
| 2019-2022 | 466 cm | 270 cm | 1382 kg | +28 cm | +147 kg |
Between 2001 and 2022 the Insight gained 72 cm in length (+18.3%) and 530 kg in weight (+62.2%). Cars did not so much grow as thicken — crash structures, airbags and equipment weigh more than the metal they replaced, and on the Insight that is 530 kg against 72 cm. Full dimensions by year →
Honda Insight tire size, oil type & owner specs
The fitment Insight owners look up most — tires, wheels, oil and batteries. Exact wheel and tire sizes decode from your VIN or the driver's door-jamb placard; the universal items are listed below.
Exact tire, wheel, oil grade, capacity and battery group are added per trim and model year — decode your VIN above for the factory fitment. Universal items shown as-is.
What engines does the Honda Insight have? Power & range
The Honda Insight is offered with 1 powertrain — 1.5L 4-cyl Hybrid. Here's the lineup by engine, transmission and drivetrain — 1 for the Honda Insight, against one or two on most rivals.
| Engine | Displacement | Transmission | Drive | Fuel |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hybrid | 1.5L · 4-cyl | CVT | FWD | Regular |
Horsepower, torque and fuel-tank size decode from your VIN — exact figures vary by engine and trim.
Source: EPA fueleconomy.gov (engines, drivetrain, range, charge time). Horsepower & torque from NHTSA vPIC on VIN decode.
The Insight by the numbers
What the federal and market records say about the Honda Insight. Each line opens the full breakdown by year.
| Topic | Insight | Detail |
|---|---|---|
| Recalls | 65 campaigns | NHTSA, all years |
| Owner complaints | 577 filed | What breaks and when |
| Reliability | 4.0 / 5 | Best and worst years |
| Crash safety | ★★★★★ NHTSA | Frontal, side, rollover |
| Insurance | $1,470/yr | Estimated full coverage |
| Used value | 204 listings | What it sells for now |
Frequently asked questions
What kind of car is the Honda Insight?
The Insight is a two-seater, built from 2000 to 2022 across 3 generations. Engines offered: Hybrid.
Where is the Honda Insight made?
Across 479 cars in our records the split is: Japan (62.4%), the United States (37.6%). The first three characters of a VIN identify the plant's manufacturer and country — that is where these shares come from, not from a press release.
How many generations does the Insight have?
3 by our measurements, the latest starting in 2019. We draw the boundaries where length or wheelbase jumps between model years — a facelift moves a bumper, a new generation moves the whole car. Over its life the Insight grew 72 cm longer and gained 530 kg.
What is the Honda Insight warranty?
New models carry 3 years / 36,000 miles basic cover and 5 years / 60,000 miles on the powertrain. Worth knowing: across our complaint records the typical car reaches the halfway point of its faults at five years, so most repairs land after the basic warranty ends.
Is the Insight reliable?
It scores 4.0/5 in our data. The honest answer depends on the year far more than the model — see the best and worst years, and when this car starts to break.
How do I check a specific Insight?
This page describes the model; it cannot tell you whether that car has an open recall or a branded title. Run its VIN against the records — free, and matched to the exact production run.
More in Honda
| Model | Years | Recalls | Best MPG | ForCar score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Honda Civic | 1981–2026 | 412 | 49 mpg | 4.0/5 |
| Honda Accord | 1981–2026 | 415 | 48 mpg | 4.0/5 |
| Honda CR-V | 1997–2026 | 177 | 40 mpg | 4.0/5 |
| Honda Pilot | 2003–2026 | 197 | 23 mpg | 4.0/5 |
| Honda Odyssey | 1995–2026 | 206 | 22 mpg | 4.0/5 |
| Honda Fit | 2007–2020 | 94 | 118 mpg | 4.0/5 |
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