The MPG Battle Heats Up: 2019 Honda Insight Promises 55+ MPG [News]

Honda is unveiling the production version of the 2019 Insight at the New York Auto Show

Back in December, Honda revealed it was bringing back the Insight nameplate after a four-year absence from the market. Then, at this year’s Detroit Auto Show, we got our first look at the prototype model in the flesh. With the New York Auto Show just around the corner, the company’s ready to reveal the production version of the 2019 Honda Insight.

What’s more, Honda promises at least 55 MPG in the city – one more than Toyota’s star hybrid child, the Prius.

The final model still looks like the version we saw in Detroit, and it has the same 1.5-liter Atkinson-cycle engine and electric motor. That combination produces 151 horsepower and 197 lb-ft of torque. That’s reasonably punchy, but performance isn’t the name of the game here, is it? Honda’s promising around 55 MPG in the city, which is a marked improvement on the old model’s 41 city MPG. Mind you, the previous Insight also used nickel-metal hydride batteries, while this new one packs a 60-cell lithium-ion unit instead.

As far as size, it’s between the Civic and the Accord

The 2019 Honda Insight shares its platform with the Civic, so its 37.4 inches of rear legroom and its 15.1 cubic feet of cargo space resemble its non-hybrid stablemate. It also includes the Honda Sensing suite, which includes Collision Mitigation Braking, Lane Departure Mitigation and Adaptive Cruise Control, among other active safety features.

Three trim levels are available in the 2019 Honda Insight: LX, EX and Touring. LX models get LED lights, a 7-inch display in the instrument cluster, heated side mirrors and 16-inch alloys. Move up to the EX, and you get all that plus an 8.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto support. You also get keyless entry and satellite radio. Finally, the top-spec Touring gets heated seats and mirrors, rain-sensing wipers and a 4G LTE hotspot.

The 2019 Honda Insight will go on sale this summer, joining the Clarity and Accord hybrid models nationwide. Pricing isn’t available just yet, but we’ll let you know closer to the release date, when Honda reveals more information.

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