At the 2009 Detroit Auto Show, both Honda and Toyota introduced their all-new 2010 editions of the Insight and the Toyota Prius. Both claimed that the new models were larger and more fuel efficient..

Which car is bigger?:

2010 Honda Insight is smaller than the Toyota Prius. The all-new designed Toyota Prius rides on the same wheelbase as the second-generation model (106.3 inches). This makes it larger than the 2010 Insight by about six inches. While the roof is the same height, the peak roof height has been shifted back almost four inches. The move gives the Prius a more wedge-like shape for improved interior room

Winner: Prius

2010 Prius

2010-honda-insight

Which car is bigger from inside?

Insight offers 85 cubic feet of passenger volume with another 15.9 cubic feet of cargo room. Compared to this, Toyota Prius offers 93.7 cubic feet of passenger volume and 21.6 cu ft of luggage are.

Winner: Prius

Which is more powerful?

The Insight’s hybrid powertrain uses a 98-horsepower 1.3-liter four-cylinder with what engineers call Integrated Motor Assist. This is the electric motor (rated at 10 kilowatts, or about 13 horsepower) that occupies the space (and helps provide the functionality) of a traditional continuously variable transmission. Toyota Prius offers 98-horsepower 1.8-liter four-cylinder engine running on the ultra-efficient Atkinson cycle. The engine’s extra size enables it to make more torque (105 lb-ft).

Winner: Prius

Which is more fuel efficient?

For Insight, the fuel economy, while not yet certified, is expected to be 40 mpg city, 43 mpg highway. Even though the 2010 Toyota Prius is slightly larger and carries more features than the outgoing car, its combined mpg rating is expected to increase to 50 mpg, up from 46 mpg for the 2009 model.

Winner: Prius

2010 Prius Interior

Which car has better Safety Features?

The 2010 Honda Insight provides a complete range of safety and convenience features, including six airbags and electronic stability control. Prius also offers tons of safety features including Enhanced Vehicle Stability Control (VSC) Anti-lock Brake System (ABS) with Electronic Brake-force Distribution (EBD) and Brake Assist, Driver and front passenger front seat-mounted side airbags and front and rear side curtain airbags

Winner: Tie

Which car has better convenience Features?

Insight offers power interior features (windows, door locks, etc.), automatic climate control, and a 160-watt audio system. Options include the Honda Satellite Linked Navigation System with voice recognition and Bluetooth HandsFreeLink system. These features were never even considered for the original Insight, but are required to make a car attractive to the mainstream automotive buyer who likes a full complement of equipment.

Prius also is loaded with great and useful features like CFC-free automatic climate control with dust and pollen filtration mode, humidity sensor and air filter, JBL® AM/FM/MP3 6-disc CD changer with eight speakers, integrated satellite radio capability and hands-free phone capability via Bluetooth, Voice-activated touch-screen DVD navigation system, XM NavTraffic® capability, hands-free phone capability and music streaming via Bluetooth® and integrated backup camera

Winner: Prius

2010 Honda Insight

Which is more expensive?

Finally the decision point! The Insight starts at $19,800 and tops out at $23,100. By comparison, the Toyota Prius starts around $23,000 and the touring model can sell for more than $25,000!

Winner: Insight

Final Verdict:

Some of us will make a choice between these two cars based solely on superior fuel economy. But if you’re really interested only in the contents of your wallet, some careful assessment of the cost/benefit equation will be illuminating.

It turns out the additional $3,000 required for the privilege of owning a Toyota Prius instead of an Insight can buy a lot of fuel. At today’s fuel prices, the actual monetary savings earned by the Prius’ edge in fuel economy is minusculeminiscule, working out to a paltry $70 per year. Paying off the Prius’ extra tariff in sticker price with the savings in fuel purchases would require more than 40 years.

Even if fuel prices were to leap to $5 per gallon, a Toyota Prius owner would have to drive his car for nearly 250,000 miles just to break even. These calculations use the EPA combined fuel economy numbers — plug in the higher fuel-economy results we measured and the payoff period is measured in lifetimes.

This simple math exercise demonstrates how deceptive a 5-mpg difference can be. Among fuel-sippers like these, this is one occasion where it doesn’t pay to be green. It turns out that the 2010 Honda Insight’s emphasis on affordability as well as fuel economy puts more dollars in your pocket than the 2009 Toyota Prius.

Winner: Honda Insight!!

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