Consumer Reports – December 2018

THE INSIGHT IS the new

fuel-economy leader in CR’s

testing. Its 54 mpg overall is

the best of any non-plug-in

hybrid we’ve tested and beats

the Toyota Prius by 2 mpg.

But despite that victory, the

Insight trails the Prius in

many ways.

The Insight is dragged down

by some of the same quirks

that plague other Hondas,

including the Civic, the car the

Insight is based on.

Its hybrid powertrain is

i ne in all-electric mode and

at stop-and-go speeds. In fact,

the Honda is quicker than the

Prius. But when pushed hard,

the engine ramps up with a

loud drone.

There are other frustrations.

Honda’s push-button gear

selector requires too much

attention to use. The EX

trim’s 8-inch touch-screen

infotainment hub has small

on-screen buttons and lacks

a tuning knob. And the

car’s low stance makes it a

challenge to enter and exit.

There are positives beyond

the Insight’s fuel economy.

The comfortable ride does a

good job of soaking up bumps.

Plus the rear-seat room is

generous for a compact sedan,

and the battery doesn’t steal

any trunk space.

Forward-collision warning

and automatic emergency

braking are standard.

The Insight lacks a blind-

spot-warning system; instead,

it uses Honda’s LaneWatch,

which only of ers video

showing the passenger side of

the car instead of both sides.

Yes, the Insight costs less

than the Prius, and its better

mileage will save drivers

some money. But overall, we

still think a Prius is worth the

extra expense.

WITH ITS NEW Corolla

Hatchback, Toyota has created

a car for budget-minded driving

enthusiasts who appreciate

excellent fuel economy.

Our testers were pleasantly

surprised by the Corolla’s

tied-down handling. It’s fun

and predictable through

corners, and the steering

conveys a sense of precision

and control. Although the

car’s ride is on the stif side—it

doesn’t smooth out bumps

very well—it’s still on a par

with most of its peers.

Our tested model managed

an impressive 36 mpg overall,

several mpg better than most

competitors. But the engine

has to be pushed hard to i nd

real power, and it gets loud

and raspy when that happens.

The infotainment screen

and controls are easy to

use, and Apple CarPlay and

Amazon Alexa integration

ROAD-TEST SCORE 69

HIGHS Fuel economy, ride

LOWS Gear selector, controls, front-

seat comfort, low stance

POWERTRAIN 151-hp, 1.5-liter

four-cylinder hybrid engine;

continuously variable transmission;

front-wheel drive

FUEL 54 mpg on regular fuel

PRICE AS TESTED $24,995

ROAD-TEST SCORE 66

HIGHS Handling, fuel economy,

controls, braking

LOWS Ride, engine noise, tight

rear seat

POWERTRAIN 168-hp, 2.0-liter

four-cylinder engine;

continuously variable transmission;

front-wheel drive

FUEL 3 6 mpg on regular fuel

PRICE AS TESTED $24,26 3

COMPACT HYBRIDS

Honda

Insight

A New MPG

Champion

COMPACT CARS

To y o t a

Corolla

Hatchback

Affordable and Agile

OVERALL

SCORE

70

OVERALL

SCORE

72

come standard. Alexa allows

owners to prompt functions

such as starting the car and

adjusting the climate system

from inside their house.

Android Auto isn’t available.

The front-seat bolsters hug

the driver nicely, but only the

top XSE trim includes lumbar

adjustment. Getting into the

very tight rear seat is a chore.

The angle of the windshield

pillars hurts front visibility,

and the chunky roof pillars

limit the rear view.

Forward-collision warning,

automatic emergency braking

with pedestrian detection,

daytime cyclist detection, and

lane-departure warning with

steering assist come standard.

Blind-spot warning is optional.

Fans of the Corolla should

take note: This sporty little

hatchback previews

the coming redesigned

2020 sedan.

Roa d Report

PHOTOS: JOHN POWERS/CONSU

MER REPORTS

60 CR.ORG DECEMBER 2018