Honda has officially released the new Insight.The Insight is much cheaper than the Prius by a few grand. The lower MSRP earns the 2010 Insight the title of most affordable hybrid in the U.S. 

A great feature on the new Insight is an ECO assist that will help educate the driver to become more efficient.  It improves performance through the ECON™ button, which controls certain functions of the car, and gives feedback through an ECO scoring system that lets you monitor driving performance as well as gives more incentive to drive green.The integrated motor assist helps out the puny hybrid engine by giving it a horepower boost via and electric motor.   This system in the next generation hybrids from Honda are greatly improved and result in reduced weight, cost savings, and greater cabin space. The Insight also has an i-VTEC® engine equipped with a CVT (continuously variable transmission).The Insight has some great accessories that can be added onto the base model such as: a Blue Tooth six-speaker sound system, rims, vehicle control assist, F-1 inspired paddle shifters, and a navigation system. The Toyota has been the reigning king of the hybrid market for years now, but with the low price of the Insight, Honda is aiming to take away that title. 

Opposed to the Insight is the Prius with a 160-hp 1.8L engine and features three different driving modes. These 3 modes are the Power Mode which increases the performance of the Prius, the ECO mode which makes fuel economy the #1 proirity, and finally a EV mode which stands for Electric Vehicle.An accessory on the Prius that is aimed at driver safety is called the precollision system.The Pre-Collision System is similar to the intelligent cruise control found in other cars which will apply brake pressure if your car get too close to the car infront of you. The Prius also includes a new touch sensor system on the steering wheel to ensure safe driving.

Even though the Insight has won the batlle of the price tags, the Prius still has a better MPG rating.Right now the MPG ratings for the new Insight are at 40 MPG in the city and 43 MPG on the highway, and the Prius comes in at 48 MPG city and 45 MPG on the highway.Traveling more than 20,000 miles in only 365 days (when gas is .50 a gallon), you would spend 19 in fuel on the Insight and 86 on the Prius. At this rate it would take over 25 years to recover the cost you spent on a Prius where yearly gas savings are concerned.  So although the Prius gets better gas mileage; the Insight overcomes that hurdle by having such a low MSPR!

NewHybrid Cars in Southern California, or buy a Used Prius Hybrid.  See great deals on the New toyota Prius in Northern California.