The second-generation Honda Insight went on sale in 2009.
Honda introduced the redesigned Insight as a five-passenger, five-door hybrid, a major change from the original two-seat, three-door Insight launched in 1999. The second-generation car went on sale in Japan in February 2009, followed by other markets. In the United States, sales began on March 24, 2009, although Honda marketed it there as a 2010 model.
The new Insight was designed as a more practical and affordable rival to the Toyota Prius. It used Honda’s Integrated Motor Assist system, pairing a 1.3-liter gasoline engine with an electric motor and a nickel-metal-hydride battery pack. Unlike a full hybrid, the motor primarily assisted the engine rather than independently powering the car across a broad range of conditions.
The year can cause confusion because the U.S. model-year label says “2010,” while the vehicle actually reached American dealerships during 2009. Honda also announced the car earlier, at the 2008 Los Angeles Auto Show, but an unveiling or announcement is not the same as going on sale. In Japan, the second-generation Insight quickly became a major seller and was briefly the country’s best-selling vehicle.