What is replacing the Honda Insight?
The Civic Hybrid now fills the role the Insight used to play in Honda’s lineup, with the Insight badge effectively retired in the United States and the hybrid technology folded into the Civic family.
As Honda shifts its strategy toward electrification, the demand for a compact, fuel-efficient hybrid sedan has been addressed by embedding hybrid capability in the Civic rather than maintaining a separate Insight model. This article outlines what changed, how the replacement works, and what buyers should know across markets.
Replacement in the United States
The following points explain how the replacement has materialized in the U.S. market.
- The Civic Hybrid now serves as Honda’s primary compact hybrid, taking the place the Insight occupied on dealer lots and in marketing.
- The hybrid system powering the Insight is carried forward in the Civic Hybrid, utilizing Honda’s two-motor hybrid architecture (often referenced in context as i-MMD) integrated with the Civic platform.
- The Insight badge was retired for new-model year vehicles in favor of the Civic’s hybrid branding; buyers seeking a new Honda hybrid today generally choose the Civic Hybrid rather than an Insight.
- For buyers exploring the used market, you may still encounter remaining Insight examples from earlier model years, but new Insight models are not actively sold in the U.S.
In practical terms, the Civic Hybrid is the direct replacement for the Insight in the United States, reflecting Honda’s broader push to consolidate hybrid offerings under its most popular compact model.
Key takeaways for buyers
If you’re shopping for a new Honda hybrid today, start with the Civic Hybrid as the replacement for the Insight. If you specifically want the Insight badge, be prepared to search the used market where legacy inventory may exist but new Insight models are not offered. Honda’s strategy centers on delivering efficient, scalable hybrid technology through the Civic platform while expanding electrified options in its broader lineup.
Global perspective and market variations
The replacement of the Insight with Civic-based hybrids is not uniform across every region; different markets reflect Honda’s global electrification strategy in nuanced ways.
- Global naming and branding: In most markets, Honda markets the hybrid variant as the Civic Hybrid (or its regional equivalent), with the Insight badge rarely used for new models.
- Regional hardware and branding: European and some Asian markets often refer to the Civic’s hybrid version using the e:HEV branding, while in the U.S. the badge is Civic Hybrid rather than Insight.
- Legacy inventory: Older Insight models may still appear in some used-car listings in certain regions, but new Insight production has largely ended in favor of the Civic-based hybrid platform.
Overall, Honda’s strategy across markets emphasizes a single, scalable hybrid platform under the Civic umbrella, with the Insight nameplate largely phased out in favor of broader electrification within the Civic lineup.
Summary
The Honda Insight has been replaced by the Honda Civic Hybrid in major markets, most notably the United States. Honda’s hybrid technology, once offered under the Insight badge, is now integrated into the Civic lineup, reflecting a global shift toward a unified, electrified compact-car strategy. For buyers, this means choosing between the Civic Hybrid as the primary option for a new Honda hybrid, while the Insight badge remains largely a part of automotive history or the used-car market rather than a current-new-model choice.
Is there a 2025 Honda Insight?
In April 2022, Honda announced that the Insight would be discontinued after the 2022 model year, with production ending in June.
What car replaced the Honda Insight?
Honda Civic Hybrid
The Honda Civic Hybrid is the direct successor to the Insight. Honda has reintroduced it as part of its strategy to electrify its lineup. Built on the same platform as the standard Civic, this hybrid model delivers similar fuel efficiency of the Honda Insight but with a more familiar nameplate and broader appeal.
Why is Honda Insight being discontinued?
The Honda Insight was discontinued due to a strategic shift to focus on hybrid versions of its core models, like the Civic and CR-V, and changing customer preferences. By discontinuing the standalone Insight, Honda could streamline its hybrid lineup and increase production volume for its more popular and mainstream hybrid offerings.
Here are the key reasons for the discontinuation:
- Focus on core models: Honda decided to concentrate on hybrid versions of its most popular models, such as the Civic and CR-V, rather than a dedicated hybrid model. The Insight was replaced by a new Civic Hybrid.
- Streamlined hybrid lineup: The move was part of a larger strategy to make hybrid technology more accessible and to simplify the brand's product offerings.
- Changing customer preferences: Customer preferences were shifting towards more fuel-efficient SUVs and away from a dedicated hybrid sedan like the Insight.
- Low sales relative to other models: The Insight sold in much smaller numbers compared to models like the Civic, making it less economically viable to continue producing as a standalone model.
- Opportunity to increase hybrid volume: By making the Civic and Accord hybrid, Honda expects these models to represent a much larger portion of their sales mix, helping them meet their electrification goals.
Is the Honda Insight basically a Civic?
The 2022 Honda Insight is the spiritual successor to the Civic hybrid. With a similar size and shape as Honda's compact sedan but an efficient gas-electric powertrain under the hood, the Insight is like a Civic that's quieter at low speeds and and delivers better mpg.
