Third-generation Honda Insight and Clarity PHEV

After two failed attempts to challenge the Toyota Prius, the Honda Insight hybrid has returned and this time as a four-door saloon that blends style with ecology that makes it unique in every single way but unlike its failed predecessors, the new Insight doesn't really want to pick fights with the Toyota Prius. Instead, it wants to take on a different approach now as a four-door saloon that serves as the successor of the old Civic Hybrid from the distant past.

2019 Honda Insight

2019 Honda Insight

Priced from 3,261,600 to 3,826,570 Japanese Yen, the third-generation Honda Insight departs from being a Prius fighter its predecessors failed to attempt and instead, because it's now a Civic-sized hybrid sedan, it wants to take on the likes of the Corolla Axio Hybrid, which is shockingly cheaper than the Insight but because the Toyota Corolla Axio's reached its prime, the new Insight's ready to shine and judging from every angle, the new Insight really is a concept turned reality as it draws inspiration from the concept car as seen from the 2018 NAIAS and just as we thought that the Insight might end up being an American-only model, we'd be dead wrong because it's already arrived in Japan and it's here to stay.

2019 Honda Insight interior

While the Insight's exterior is very Civic-influenced to give it a more coupe-like approach at every angle, the driver-focused interior is far beyond the competition and while it works like it means it, the comfort is pretty much feels like every family car in the world and while the rear legroom's surprisingly spacious enough for six-footers to breathe their legs out, the trunk space is pretty ample enough for someone who can jam through numerous thrift shop hauls while leaving some room for some minor grocery shopping treats. Interesting.

2019 Honda Insight

The new Insight features a third-generation Sport Hybrid i-MMD system, a two-motor hybrid system that combines the new 109PS 1.5L Atkinson-cycle petrol engine and a powerful 96kW electric drive motor, allowing this car to run as a series hybrid, as an electric, or as a petrol-powered car. This hybrid setup is capable of delivering the new Insightt a WLTP-based combined fuel economy of up to 28.4km/L.

Apart from the hybrid powertrain, the new Insight's body and chassis is actually an improved version of the one used from today's Honda Civic and while this is not essentially a fun-to-drive car like most Japanese hybrids possess, the new Insight is surprisingly comfortable and quiet and when armed with the Honda Sensing suite of advanced driver safety features, the journey home never felt so safe and secured and this could be the ideal family car you wouldn't want to let your eyes off.

The Insight really is a classy hybrid with loads of tech in it and as an alternative to the Civic, which doesn't have a hybrid variant from its previous eight-generation model, for the regular joes rather than speedo boys who like to keep the Civic anyway, this is an everyday car that you can really take it with you for work or for play. However, if you need more than the Insight, consider its another alternative if you consider planning extra trips.

2019 Honda Clarity PHEV

2019 Honda Clarity PHEV

This is the new Honda Clarity PHEV and while this is based on the Clarity Fuel Cell, what's different between the two cars is the powertrain because while the normal Clarity Fuel Cell is an FCEV car much like the Toyota Mirai, the Clarity PHEV uses an LEB-H4 1.5L iVTEC Atkinson Cycle engine combined to an 135kW electric motor and li-ion battery made for plug-in use.

2019 Honda Clarity PHEV interior

2019 Honda Clarity PHEV interior

Running as a hybrid, this has a combined fuel efficiency, by WLTP standards, of 24.2km/L but using its full capabilities as a plug-in hybrid vehicle, it has a class-leading PHEV combined fuel efficiency, by WLTP standards, of 101km. Consider how many places you can get into whereas the new Insight can't. But with all that distance comes with the price because the Clarity PHEV is priced at 5,880,600 Japanese Yen and that over two and a half million more than the new Insight. But let's not mince words for the time being.

In the end, if you want a luxurious compact hybrid sedan that behaves like a normal family car fit for everyday use, try the Insight, but for further journeys, consider the new Clarity PHEV for a change.

Photo: Honda Motor Co. Ltd.