Honda has officially released the new Insight.Costing over ,000; the new Prius is a couple of grand more than the new kid on the block; the Insight. The lower MSRP earns the 2010 Insight the title of most affordable hybrid in the U.S. 

The Eco Assist feature will improve fuel economy be making sure that the driver does not accelerate too much and therefore waste gas.The ECO socring helps the drive to have a system that allows for the best fuel economy, which is related back to the operator in the form of a miles per gallon readout.The Insight uses the latest hybrid motor techniology called the IMA or integrated motor assist.   This system in the next generation hybrids from Honda are greatly improved and result in reduced weight, cost savings, and greater cabin space. The Honda sports a VTEC motor that is connected to an automatic 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. Those include ECO mode, which allows more of less pedal responsiveness for fuel economy, the EV mode that allows the vehicle to run only on battery power for ½ mile, and the Power Mode which increases pedal sensitivity for more responsive driving.An accessory on the Prius that is aimed at driver safety is called the precollision system.  This system comes equipped with a radar that constantly measures the distance of the car ahead and presumably adjusts brake pressure when probability of frontal collision is high. Toyota has added some buttons to the wheel to make the driving experience a bit more safe.

When it comes to price the Insight is hands down the winner, but the gas mileage rating is another story altogether.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), owning the Honda would cost 19 in gas per year and owning a Prius would cost 86 per year. Rolling around in a Toyota Prius will save over 50 gallons of gas per year as compared to the Honda, but it would take 27 years of driving to recoup the lower cost of the Insight.Ok the Prius gets way better fuel economy, yet the Insight makes up the difference with its low starting price!

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