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Jeremy Clarkson calls Honda Insight "Biblically terrible"
2010 Honda Insight - Click above for a high-res image gallery
Though the Honda Insight has been in the public eye for less than a year, the inexpensive hybrid has already attracted its fair share of attention. The Insight is seen as a big competitor for the Toyota Prius, and the five-door hatchback has been viewed by many as a step toward making the world a more ecologically friendly place. That's all well and good, but if you listen to Jeremy Clarkson, the Insight is a royal hunk of junk.
Clarkson recently reviewed the Insight, and he threw enough insulting jabs at Honda's inexpensive hybrid that his article could be easily confused for a Don Rickles routine. He starts by calling the Insight "bibically terrible." Comparing a hybrid to famine, floods, plagues and rivers of blood will go a long way towards giving the reader an understanding of where he stands regarding hybrids in general and the Insight in particular.
The master of on-screen automotive highjinks says that to duplicate the sound of the Insight's 1.3-liter petrol engine, "you'd have to sit a dog on a ham slicer." If that doesn't sting, he adds: "It's the first car I've ever considered crashing into a tree, on purpose, so I didn't have to drive it any more." The seats? "Designed specifically, it seems, to ruin your skeleton." And there's a lot more where that came from.
In short, Clarkson hates the Insight, but you've probably gathered that by now. He also points out the fact that the Volkswagen Golf diesel in the UK gets better fuel economy than the Insight, and we're guessing he'd find the oil burner considerably more fun to drive. Make your way to the Times Online to check out Clarkson's full review – if only for some much needed Monday morning comedy. Hat tip to Niterider.
Gallery: ABG First Drive: 2010 Honda Insight
[Source: Times Online]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 9)
Brent Schmidt 12:07PM (5/18/2009)
Hmmmm Do I show this to the car salesmen here at the Honda dealership I'm at right now waiting for my mom's Accord to be finished working on? I think it'd be kinda funny...
I test drove one on Saturday while I was here and yeah it gets good gas, but that's about it. Didn't have any emotion driving it at all, unlike the Prius I got a chance to drive out in Chicago a couple weeks back.
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Amit 12:15PM (5/18/2009)
Jeremy Clarkson is a frigin moron...
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Bloke 12:17PM (5/18/2009)
"Jeremy Clarkson is a frigin moron..."
I love it when people chastise others while simultaneously displaying a distinct inability to spell.
hypermiler 11:37AM (5/18/2009)
But Prius handles worse than Insight. I am sure Clarkson doesn't prefer Prius over Insight, or does he?
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JDM Life 11:44AM (5/18/2009)
Really?
Really?
Your really talking about handling with these two cars? come on...
Metar 12:10PM (5/18/2009)
Clarkson, in most of his reviews for The Times, dislikes better-handling cars.
Reviewing anything from Jags to hot-hatches, he always claims the "Sport" settings, or the sportier optional suspensions, are horrendously uncomfortable, and always says he'd rather leave it in Comfort mode.
MikeW 12:36PM (5/18/2009)
The Prius should have a better tire/wheel selection
205/60 15 (on 6x15)
205/55 16 (on 6.5x16)
205/50 17 (on 7x17)
It has
195/65 15 (on 6x15)
215/45 17 (on 7x15)
JZeke 12:37PM (5/18/2009)
I don't think the Prius handles worse anymore (worse being relative). Both Insideline and Automobile have proclaimed the 2010 on 17s is actually entertaining. Automobile went on to say that the 2010 was actually almost AS FUN as a Miata on twisty roads in and above Napa valley. FWIW, it looks better too finally.
Randy 12:47PM (5/18/2009)
Wait for the Ford Fiesta people! It's coming soon!
why not the LS2LS7? 2:19PM (5/18/2009)
Randy:
The Fiesta is much smaller than either of these cars and uses more fuel. They don't compete with each other.
Frylock350 3:59PM (5/18/2009)
@JDMLife,
I've read reviews of minivans that compare handling and even drag race them.
Quantumphysics 4:20PM (5/18/2009)
I liked the look of this car more than every other Honda but the 2009 Accord Coupe. Too bad it apparently sucks so badly.
Then again, I'd never buy a Honda in my life anyway.
tekd 7:03PM (5/18/2009)
The Civic Hybrid was always much worse to drive than the Prius as far as any semblence of handling and acceleration went. It's ridiculous to see the number of weird Insight fanboys on Autoblog making ridiculous claims that the Insight is somehow going to be less boring because it's from Honda and the Prius is from Toyota. In reality, the Honda hybrids are much more dull because they have unacceptably craptastic powertrains.
Bloke 11:37AM (5/18/2009)
In terms of pricing, the Insight is a big step in the right direction for petrol-electric hybrids, but with the sheer wealth and plethora of good, modern diesels in the UK and European arenas, hybrids in these markets still don't make a great deal of sense. Whatsmore, if the Insight drives as lifelessly as most Japanese family cars, then it'll only attract further reviews like Clarkson's.
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jeffzekas 8:18PM (5/22/2009)
Hello, first let me say: Clarkson's appeal (or lack thereof) has nothing to do with being British, but, rather, with his rather direct and (sometimes) abrasive personality... he is, however, quite witty and intelligent... as an American of British descent, I would agree that the irony of British humour does, many times, escape most Americans (but not all Yanks... note the popularity of Monty Python and Eddy Izzard in the US). The fact is, Jeremy represents ALL OF US WHO LOVE CARS FOR THE SAKE OF CARS... that is, automobiles as objects of beauty and speed, not merely staid transportation... which is why the Alfa Brera was beloved (but not recommended) over the Audi TT and Mazda RX-8... the Japanese and Germans can TECHNOLOGICALLY make an excellent vehicle, but soul, style and beauty will always trump technical perfection! And Jeremy? One word: Brilliant! He captures, in words, what many of us are afraid to say aloud, in this "politically correct" world... I mean, who WANTS a car which is ugly and horrible to drive? Not I, nor anyone I know who is an enthusiast! Bravo, Jeremy Clarkson! And, Sir Bloke, do not take the flaming you receive on this site with much concern: it is all a lot of noise, "signifying nothing". regards, jeff
hex311k 11:38AM (5/18/2009)
the batteries are so expensive they have to cut corners somewhere i guess....(everywhere else?)
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mike 11:38AM (5/18/2009)
the only thing biblically terrible is the size of Clarkson's ego. He spent a whole 2 lines of that review talking about the actual car, and the rest of it is 3 pages of meaningless dribble. Yeah I love Top Gear, too, but Clarkson is getting to me. Why even post this trash?
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David 11:47AM (5/18/2009)
I'm sure most car's seats aren't designed for pillow-esque slobs like him.
Sam 11:56AM (5/18/2009)
Guess it wont be going to america then before the seats get a redesign?
phoenix 11:38AM (5/18/2009)
"It's true... it's funny because it's true..."
Now, if TG would just get back on the air already!
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