2009 Honda Insight tops Consumer Reports Most-Reliable List

2009 Honda Insight tops Consumer Reports Most-Reliable List

Jennifer Knightstep October 28th, 2009 Jennifer Knightstep By Jennifer Knightstep Author October 28th, 2009
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October 28th, 2009 Consumer Reports, long respected by consumers for its unbiased analysis of everything from vacuum cleaners to children’s toys to cars, has published its list of the most reliable (and unreliable) vehicles. Overall, the results are stunning — five of the top eight most reliable family cars were hybrids, and topping that short list is the Honda Insight. Though in its first year on the market, the Insight led the pack of reliable hybrids, finishing well ahead of the popular Toyota Prius, the best-selling hybrid in the U.S. Aside from the Insight, the other four hybrids that made the grade were the Ford Fusion Hybrid, Mercury Milan Hybrid, Nissan Altima Hybrid, and Toyota Camry Hybrid. Great news, considering that there were no hybrids on the list last year. But Consumer Reports adds a caveat. Just because a vehicle ranks high on their new car reliability list does not mean they necessarily recommend it. Their report, which measures their subscribers’ experiences with 1.4 million vehicles, as well as their own testing, finds that the Insight, though extremely reliable, is “sluggish,” so they do not recommend it. Lest you think Consumer Reports is just biased against hybrids, note that also in this reliable-but-sluggish class are the non-hybrid Toyota Yaris and the Volvo S40. Will the third-gen Prius top the list next year, or will the Insight win again? Can the Ford Fusion hybrid gather some steam and beat them both? We’ll see in 2010. Source: Consumer Reports
2010 Honda Insight

2010 Honda Insight

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Consumer Reports, long respected by consumers for its unbiased analysis of everything from vacuum cleaners to children’s toys to cars, has published its list of the most reliable (and unreliable) vehicles.

Overall, the results are stunning — five of the top eight most reliable family cars were hybrids, and topping that short list is the Honda Insight. Though in its first year on the market, the Insight led the pack of reliable hybrids, finishing well ahead of the popular Toyota Prius, the best-selling hybrid in the U.S. Aside from the Insight, the other four hybrids that made the grade were the Ford Fusion Hybrid, Mercury Milan Hybrid, Nissan Altima Hybrid, and Toyota Camry Hybrid. Great news, considering that there were no hybrids on the list last year.

But Consumer Reports adds a caveat. Just because a vehicle ranks high on their new car reliability list does not mean they necessarily recommend it. Their report, which measures their subscribers’ experiences with 1.4 million vehicles, as well as their own testing, finds that the Insight, though extremely reliable, is “sluggish,” so they do not recommend it. Lest you think Consumer Reports is just biased against hybrids, note that also in this reliable-but-sluggish class are the non-hybrid Toyota Yaris and the Volvo S40.

Will the third-gen Prius top the list next year, or will the Insight win again? Can the Ford Fusion hybrid gather some steam and beat them both?

We’ll see in 2010.

Source: Consumer Reports


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Posted in: 2009, Honda, News, Insight


Comments (7 total)

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  1. By  jan #1, Posted: 10/29/2009

    Beautiful! I'll buy one just as soon as it is a plug-in version I can charge with my star powered home ... sluggish is the way auto makers have behaved for the past 50 years - that long ago my family and I were already driving cars which got 30 plus MPG ... I'm not very impressed ...

  2. By N Riley #2, Posted: 10/29/2009

    Quoted from the article: "Consumer Reports, long respected by consumers for its unbiased analysis of everything from vacuum cleaners to children’s toys to cars, has published its list of the most reliable (and unreliable) vehicles."
    ------------------------------
    I am a CR subsCriber and all I have to say about that quote is: "YOU HAVE GOT TO BE KIDDING ME!". There is nothing unbiased about many of CR's reports. Dependability ratings are based on subscriber responses and we know that is biased. This, of course, is only the opinion of someone who has been a CR subsdriber longer than many of the readers here have been alive.

  3. By N Riley #3, Posted: 10/29/2009

    I might also add that I have owned (and still do) several Honda cars over the last twenty years. While I don't agree that CR is unbiased, I do agree that Honda makes one of the best vehicles on the road and that includes every model they sell. American vehicles are just now starting to really catch up with the quality of the Japanese vehicles. Today you can find quality at your local GM, Ford or Chrysler dealership. Although all three still have many problems to overcome. Today if I were shopping for a new car or truck it would almost certainly be one made by GM or Ford with a slighter possibility of one from Chrysler.

  4. By yvette #4, Posted: 10/29/2009

    I bought my 2010 Insight EX 3 weeks ago and simply love it. I took a 120 mile trip and got 45.1 MPG. I traded my 2007 Pilot which I also felt was a great automobile but did not need all the room and gas was an issue.

  5. By omnimoeish #5, Posted: 10/30/2009

    Yeah, this suprises me because I thought CR hated the Insight.
    According to autoblog, it ranked 21 out of 22 tested vehicles because the handling and everything was terrible. I was really surprised they say its so reliable.
    5 out of 8 of the most reliable vehicles were hybrids. I'd say hybrids have definitely put all of the worry wort fears to rest about reliability. I still don't understand how the Chevy Malibu is still selling when it costs the same as 2010 Prius, has the same 0-60 time, has the same passenger capacity, more cargo capacity, is more reliable, and gets twice the gas mileage.
    I guess people really don't like the "weird" looks or they just are trying to buy American.

  6. By  r4i #6, Posted: 11/11/2009

    the price for a fully loaded insight with navi is $23,770. Great vehicle. I guess Honda didn't realize the influence of fuel efficient driving also promotes safe driving environment for everyone.

  7. By  r4i #7, Posted: 11/11/2009

    I guess the price for a fully loaded insight is $23,770. Great vehicle.

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