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Japanese carmakers have been on a bit of a renaissance trip in recent years. Toyota is resurrecting iconic nameplates by bringing back the Celica as a mid-engine racetrack tool as well as the Stout pickup truck, which could spawn a new Subaru Brat too. Those are only a few of the many examples. Honda has been doing something similar, but at a slower pace. The Honda Prelude is also making a comeback with a very clever hybrid powertrain and a next-generation Honda/ Acura NSX could lead to a mid-engine Nissan GT-R.
All these developments promise exciting future for Japanese car companies, Honda included. But the company's older models are equally as desired, if not more, due to their proven tech and dependability. I stumbled upon a very good example with one of Honda's humbler models – the first-generation Insight.
Recently, in the Facebook group, Mileage Impossible, David Andrew, the proud owner of said Honda Insight, posted a photo of the odometer, showing the 982,554 miles. The owner did a very long caption, describing his vast experience with the humble Japanese hatchback, which he doesn't plan on changing anytime soon. Here's some of what he says:
“Miles appreciation/update post. Today, after months of lacking the motivation, I decided to jump back into this project. The first step was figuring out why it was burning so much oil, and my theory was busted rings or a cracked piston or something catastrophic internally. It drives well but struggles to idle and has a crazy amount of blowback out the valve cover, which is kind of expected at 980k. So, I finally did a compression test today to see which cylinder was dying…. And it returned 180psi almost exactly on all 3 cylinders… I posted about it in the insight group, and everyone agrees the solution to reach a million is to install a catch can or air/oil separator, then just keep a close eye on the oil level and keep chugging.”
The original Honda Insight is still ahead of its time
The first-generation Honda Insight is the brand's first hybrid vehicle. It is also one of the very first hybrid cars, second only to the 1997 Toyota Prius, which beat Honda to the hybrid game by two years.
Honda's formula of lightness and efficiency is low-key what everyone wants from a good daily driver. The Insight's streamlined design features fluid lines and covered rear wheels, which contribute to a drag coefficient of 0.25. Moreover, depending on which transmission you have and whether the Insight features air conditioning (yes, that was an option), the curb weight is as little as 1,847 pounds (up to 1,964 pounds for the CVT version with A/C). Dave's car has the CVT transmission, as suggested by the dashboard.
The Insight's formula is so effective that even today owners are replicating the design like on this custom-built Honda Civic EG that features design cues from the Insight. Upon its debut, the 1999 Honda Insight was rated at 61 MPG (EPA) on the highway and 53 MPG combined. The minimalistic dashboard of this high-mileage Honda Insight shows an average fuel economy of 52.6 MPG, which confirms the EPA ratings.
Not built for performance, but built to last
You may not think much of the 1.0-liter, normally aspirated, ECA, inline-three engine, but the fact that this Honda Insight still runs almost perfectly despite the mentioned by the owner blowback from the valve cover, testifies for Honda's ability to make a car that can last. To make things better, Honda recently announced that OEM parts for its iconic sports cars will resume, following other Japanese carmakers like Toyota, which, through a partnership with TOM's Racing, unveiled production of revised variants of iconic engines like the 2JZ.
The Insight’s 73 combined horsepower will not impress, nor will the e-motor with 13 horsepower and 36 pound-feet, which contributes to the great mileage. What might impress you is that at nearly a million miles, all three cylinders show 180 Psi (12.41 bar, which is more than the factory claimed 10.8:1 compression ratio).
A higher-than-usual compression ratio can be caused by carbon buildup, normal wear and tear on the piston rings, or problems with the head or valvetrain. A bad valve-cover gasket cannot result in a higher-than-normal compression ratio, but the deviation is fairly small in this case.
Final thoughts
I think now more than ever, it is important for people to have a reliable personal transport that's easy and cheap to maintain. This million-mile Honda Insight is a true champion, and I completely understand why David, the owner, is not in a rush to change it.
Out of any car out there, a Honda is one of the more likely cars to reach such mileage without serious repairs. Even so, that's not a small fit, especially for a tiny 1.0-liter, three-cylinder engine. What do you think about Dave's million-mile Honda? Do you have a similar car story? If so, I'd love to hear about it in the comment section below.
Dimitar Angelov's automotive interests made him an expert in a wide variety of vehicles. Japanese brands like Toyota are closest to his heart, although performance cars in general are his favorite segment, which is why he is constantly on the lookout for the best deals on the market. Dimitar Angelov's car passion and knack for the written word led him to complete a Master of Arts in Media and Communications, and classic car restoration. Dim is happy to get behind the wheel of any car and share his impressions. You can follow Dimitar on X, Linked-in, Instagram, and Facebook.
Image source: David Andrew via Facebook (main image), Honda Insight press release (in-text image)
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Comments
The first model year for the…
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The first model year for the Honda Insight was 2000, not 1999.
After a pair of CRX Hondas, I was blown away by this car when I saw the prototype at the auto show in Detroit in 1999. I ordered it the next day and waited 13 months before Honda brought it all the way from California to Michigan by itself in a small, enclosed truck.
I liked the first one so much that I also bought the last gen-1 Insight I could order in 2006; I was a happy, hypermiling Insight driver for 20 years.
The 1.0-liter Honda Insight engine with its small boost from its hybrid motor put out 72 HP, which was enough in a 1,900-pound all-aluminum car (built on the same production line as the aluminum NSX).
Getting to 60 in about 10.5 seconds, my 5-speed Insight was quicker than my 1959 Austin Healey 100-6 and nearly as quick as my 1979 Mazda RX-7.
The Insight's lightweight 3-cylinder engine (with its magnesium oil pan) won International Engine Of The Year in 2000 and the best economical engine award in 2000, 2001, and 2002.
Yes, the first model year…
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In reply to The first model year for the… by John (not verified)
Yes, the first model year was 2000, but technically, the Insight came out in 1999. True about the magnesium oil pan, too.