The 2010 Honda Insight is an entry level, environmentally friendly car that’s targeted toward the younger, ecologically- and budget-conscious buyer who wants to save money and have better fuel economy. If you like the concept of the Prius, and want a pragmatic and practical way to save gasoline without paying a Prius price tag, the Insight may just be the car for you. Interestingly enough, Honda has had a previous car with the same name, but it’s completely unrelated to the current car bearing this name.

The 2010 Honda Insight is rated at 40 mpg in the city and 43 mpg on the highway, although some reviewers have reported getting up to 50 mpg on the highway. In addition, when compared to other hybrids, the Insight is easier to drive. There’s no reduction of torque when you accelerate from a stop or when you need to accelerate for passing. Shifting is seamless at higher speeds, unlike the Prius. One thing that contributes to the smooth drive of this car is the fact that the gasoline powered crankshaft never stops spinning, even when the electric motor is running. This means that when the car switches back and forth between gas and electric, the transition is much smoother, without the stereotypical coughing and sputtering that hybrids are known for.

Braking on the Insight is smooth, making for an easier blend with the entire hybrid system. Acceleration isn’t particularly quick or rapid, but it will serve you well on a daily basis. The ride quality is similar to that of other cars made by Honda, which certainly speaks well for the Insight.

And for all you techno-geeks out there, a display on the computer interface will even help you improve your mileage efficiency on trips into town. This display, known as Eco Assist, changes the background color of the speedometer as your gas mileage increases or decreases – you’ll see blue for fuel guzzling driving and green when you’re producing lower levels of emissions and consuming the least amount of fuel. Think of this as Honda’s next step towards making driving for fuel efficiency a fun process.

The engine, timing, and fuel injection are almost completely controlled electronically, giving a quiet feel to the car, but sacrificing some of the excitement of driving for higher fuel economy. Of course, if you’re buying an Insight, fuel economy is probably a higher concern for you than high performance driving.

The Insight has a unique look and hybrid power train, but don’t think you’ll have to break the bank to get one. Honda is planning for a list price beginning around $20,000 or less – thousands less than the price of the Prius, while matching its performance.

Lest you think the Insight is perfect, there are two issues with this car. First, the back seat is very small – as in “not fit for normal sized people” small – though Honda says it will seat five adults comfortably. Then again, you aren’t buying this car to chauffeur around the football team – you’re looking for fuel efficiency, and that the Insight can deliver. Second, at high speeds you can expect to hear a lot of road noise, but this is typical for any Honda.

**Safety tests have not yet been completed for this car.