Lik

From a purely financial point of view, hybrids are generally not a good idea. Cost of the car itself is easily significantly higher than comparable models. The better gas mileage doesn't work in your favour unless you do a ton of city driving (b/c that's where they get the best mileage). A few years ago, the Vancouver Sun did a gas-powered vs hybrid comparison of multiple vehicles, and in only 1 out of 6 or 7 cases, the hybrid was cheaper to operate over a 5 or 6 years span.

From an environmental point of view, the manufacturing process of the nickel- or lithium-based batteries are not that environmentally friendly either, and battery disposal will be an issue 8 - 10 years down the road as well. (And we haven't taken battery replacement costs into account yet.)

The only situation where hybrids make sense are as taxis. They do a ton of city driving, and that's where the forte of hybrids lie. Regenerative braking dramatically reduce operation costs. But not many of us are taxi drivers.

-Lik

Lik

The Honda Insight has been a complete sales flop. It is utterly inferior to the Prius, and is little better than the Fit. Because of its sales failure, you might be able to get it with some discounts. But there has to be a reason for the car to do this poorly. You gotta ask yourself if you want to be stuck with that reason for however long you keep the car.

-Lik

Lik

That's the thing, the Insight is already $4k cheaper than the cheapest Prius, and people are still willing to fork out that extra for the Prius. Doesn't that tell you something?

Between the Insight and the Fit, I'd pick the Fit any day of the week. But if I were looking at the Fit, I'd also be looking at a few other cars in the same class as well.

-Lik