The Honda Insight does 48.8 mpg combined (47.3 city, 51.2 highway), which works out to about $787 a year in fuel at $3.20 a gallon and 12,000 miles. Engine choice matters more than you'd think: 1L 3-cyl Hybrid does 52.6 mpg while 1.3L 4-cyl Hybrid does 40.8 — a difference of $211 a year. Against other Hybrid cars it sits above the average of 29.8 mpg.
Every Honda Insight engine, compared
Gas mileage on the Honda Insight ranges from 52.6 down to 40.8 depending on which engine sits under the bonnet — a spread of $211 a year across 3 versions of the same car. Picking the right one often saves more fuel than picking a different car altogether. Yearly cost assumes 12,000 miles at $3.20 a gallon.
| Engine | Combined | City / Highway | Years | Fuel per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1L 3-cyl Hybrid | 48.1 / 59 | 2000–2006 | $730 | |
| 1.5L 4-cyl Hybrid | 55 / 49 | 2019–2022 | $738 | |
| 1.3L 4-cyl Hybrid | 39.8 / 42 | 2010–2014 | $941 |
What that actually costs
The Honda Insight burns a gallon every 48.8 miles, so 12,000 miles takes about 246 gallons a year. At $3.20 that is what the table below adds up to.
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| Cost per mile | $0.066 |
| Fuel per year | $787 |
| Fuel over five years | $3,935 |
| Against other Hybrid cars | −$502 a year |
| EPA's own estimate | $1,284 a year |
City or highway — who is this car for
The Honda Insight gives up 3.9 mpg the moment you leave the motorway — 51.2 out there against 47.3 in town, a 8% drop worth $62 a year. A wide gap punishes stop-and-start traffic; a narrow one means the car doesn't care where you drive it.
| Measure | Value | Reading |
|---|---|---|
| City | 47.3 mpg | $812 a year if you only drive in town |
| Highway | 51.2 mpg | $750 a year if you mostly commute |
| Gap | +3.9 mpg (8%) | Narrow — equally happy either way |
How the Insight changed over the years
The Insight peaked in 2003 at 53 mpg (48 city, 59 highway) and was at its thirstiest in 2011 at 40 — 13 mpg apart, or $235 a year in fuel between buying one year and the other. The 2022 car does 52. Jumps usually mark a new generation or a new engine; dips often mean a heavier body or added all-wheel drive.
| Model year | Combined | City / Highway | Engines offered | Fuel per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 55 / 49 | 1 | $738 | |
| 2021 | 55 / 49 | 1 | $738 | |
| 2020 | 55 / 49 | 1 | $738 | |
| 2019 | 55 / 49 | 1 | $738 | |
| 2014 | 40 / 42 | 1 | $937 | |
| 2013 | 40 / 42 | 1 | $937 | |
| 2012 | 40 / 42 | 1 | $937 | |
| 2011 | 39 / 41 | 1 | $960 | |
| 2010 | 40 / 43 | 1 | $937 | |
| 2006 | 48 / 58 | 1 | $738 | |
| 2005 | 48 / 58 | 1 | $738 | |
| 2004 | 48 / 58 | 1 | $738 | |
| 2003 | 48 / 59 | 1 | $725 | |
| 2002 | 48 / 59 | 1 | $725 | |
| 2001 | 48 / 60 | 1 | $725 | |
| 2000 | 49 / 61 | 1 | $725 |
MPG is a number. Dollars per year is the answer.
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How we count
This page rests on 16 EPA ratings of the Honda Insight — 3 engines across 2000–2022. The mileage is EPA's laboratory figure, unchanged; the yearly bill is ours, at 12,000 miles and $3.20 a gallon, against EPA's own estimate of $1,284. Full method.
Frequently asked questions
What mpg does the Honda Insight get?
48.8 mpg combined on average — 47.3 in the city and 51.2 on the highway, per EPA ratings across 2000–2022.
How much does a Honda Insight cost in fuel per year?
About $787 at 12,000 miles and $3.20 a gallon — roughly $3,935 over five years, or 0.066 dollars a mile.
Which Insight engine is the most economical?
The 1L 3-cyl Hybrid at 52.6 mpg, against 40.8 for the 1.3L 4-cyl Hybrid — a difference of about $211 a year.
Is the Insight good on fuel compared with similar cars?
Against other Hybrid cars it sits above the average of 29.8 mpg, computed across 1162 ratings.
Are these real-world Insight figures?
No — they are EPA laboratory ratings, the same ones printed on the window sticker, and EPA's own annual fuel estimate for the Honda Insight is $1,284 against the $787 we compute at 12,000 miles. Expect a little worse in practice: the spread between the 53 and 40 mpg versions of this car is smaller than the spread between two drivers of the same one.
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