Is the Honda Insight a good used hybrid?

Yes, with conditions. The 2020 Insight is roomy and well equipped, and NRCan rates it at 4.9 L/100 km combined. Before you buy, confirm that all six Transport Canada recall campaigns on the 2020 model are done, especially the cold-weather DC-DC converter fix, and ask a hybrid-trained technician to check the battery's health.

Which uses less fuel, the Insight or the Corolla Hybrid?

The Corolla Hybrid. NRCan rates it at 4.4 L/100 km city, 4.5 highway and 4.5 combined, against 4.6, 5.3 and 4.9 for the Insight. On our shared test route, the Corolla returned 3.9 L/100 km and the Insight 4.7. The gap is widest on the highway, where the Insight burns about 18 per cent more.

Did Honda make earlier versions of the Insight?

Yes, two. The first Insight was a 2000 two-seater. The second, a 2010 to 2012 Insight hatchback, was a short-lived five-door liftback that used Honda’s Integrated Motor Assist hybrid system with a 1.3L engine. The third generation tested here is Civic-based and arrived for 2019. In Canada, NRCan lists it through the 2021 model year.

2020 Honda Insight vs Toyota Corolla Hybrid Comparison Test

Sami Haj-Assaad

2020-04-22 · 8 min read

2020 Honda Insight vs Toyota Corolla Hybrid Comparison Test

Affordable and efficient

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The 2020 Toyota Corolla Hybrid wins this Honda Insight vs Corolla Hybrid test. It uses less fuel, costs less, and has a smoother hybrid powertrain. The Honda Insight hybrid fights back with 25 per cent more horsepower, a bigger trunk and a roomier back seat.

While the Insight is an excellent car, it's just an average hybrid.

Key Takeaways

NRCan rates the 2020 Corolla Hybrid at 4.5 L/100 km combined, against 4.9 for the Insight EX and Touring. The Insight burns about nine per cent more fuel.
The Insight makes 151 hp and 197 lb-ft to the Corolla Hybrid's 121 hp, yet never felt stronger.
The Corolla Hybrid started at $24,790 in 2020 and the Insight at $28,490, a $3,700 gap before options.
Transport Canada lists six recall campaigns for the 2020 Insight, including a DC-DC converter that can shut down in cold weather.
NRCan lists the Insight only through the 2021 model year, and Honda's 2025 Civic Hybrid now fills its spot.

How We Selected These Two Compact Hybrid Sedans

Hybrid tech is better and cheaper than ever. That paved the way for the 2020 Toyota Corolla Hybrid, an ultra-efficient take on the quintessential economy car. It's also the perfect foil for the 2020 Honda Insight.

Both are compact sedans that hide their hybrid hardware in a normal body, unlike the Toyota Prius. We drove both on the same mixed route and scored eight categories.

Quick Comparison: Honda Insight Hybrid vs Toyota Corolla Hybrid Specs

	2020 Honda Insight Touring	2020 Toyota Corolla Hybrid
Engine	1.5L four-cylinder, two-motor hybrid	1.8L Atkinson-cycle four-cylinder hybrid
Combined output	151 hp, 197 lb-ft	121 hp
Battery	Lithium-ion	Nickel-metal hydride
Transmission	e-CVT (two-motor hybrid, no conventional automatic)	CVT
NRCan city/hwy/comb.	4.6 / 5.3 / 4.9 L/100 km	4.4 / 4.5 / 4.5 L/100 km
Our test route	4.7 L/100 km	3.9 L/100 km
Trunk	416 L (428 L in base model)	371 L
2020 base MSRP	$28,490 (Touring $32,490)	$24,790 (Premium Package $26,790)
Price as tested	$34,545	$28,560

Sources: NRCan Fuel Consumption Ratings; Toyota Canada (April 2, 2019); AutoTrader reviews and pricing news. Accessed Oct. 8, 2026.

The Insight's base trunk is about 15 per cent bigger. The Corolla's highway rating is about 15 per cent lower.

Top Choices: How the Insight and Corolla Hybrid Scored

The Toyota won five of our eight categories and tied the other three.

Powertrain: Toyota Hybrid Synergy Drive vs Honda's Two-Motor System

The Toyota Corolla pairs its 1.8L engine with a small electric motor and a nickel-metal hydride battery. The engine and Hybrid Synergy Drive system come from the Prius, though Toyota’s own Prius had largely moved to lithium-ion batteries. It's not as limp as 121 hp sounds. There's a good spurt of torque off the line, and the system warms up quickly, so the gasoline engine shuts off sooner and more often.

The Honda Insight uses a 1.5L engine and a lithium-ion battery for 151 hp combined. Yet its acceleration never feels stronger than the Corolla's. It was slow to switch off its gas engine, and often refused EV mode because of temperature or climate settings.

Powertrain score: Corolla 8/10, Insight 7/10.

Driving Feel and Fuel Efficiency on Our Test Route

The Corolla's handling is surprisingly agile on its new architecture. Steering is a bit numb, and the braking can feel inconsistent, but the chassis never feels vague. The Civic-based Insight has a softer ride and lacks the Honda Civic's punch. Its 1.5L gets buzzy, and the noise spoils a quiet cabin when the e-CVT spins up the revs.

On the same route, the Corolla returned a real-world 3.9 L/100 km. The Insight managed 4.7.

Scores: driving feel, Corolla 7.5/10 and Insight 7/10; fuel efficiency, Corolla 9/10 and Insight 8/10.

Styling, Interior and Technology

The Corolla, formerly a car as noticeable as toast at a breakfast buffet, now has some flair. The Insight’s styling stays close to Honda’s other sedans. Inside, the Insight is more practical and spacious, though both cabins show a few hard plastics.

The Corolla Hybrid's Premium Package adds a heated steering wheel, heated rear seats and wireless charging, but the 2020 infotainment supported only Apple CarPlay. The Insight adds Android Auto and, on the Touring, leather, navigation and a sunroof.

Scores: exterior, Corolla 8 and Insight 7; interior, 7 each; technology, 7.5 each.

Compare the 2020 Insight and Corolla Hybrid Side by Side

Line up trims, specs, and features in one view.

Compare Vehicles

Strengths and Trade-Offs: Space, Safety and Battery Tech

Both share the same wheelbase, so packaging and equipment decide this one.

Honda Insight: More Power, Cargo and Rear Seat Room

The Insight has the bigger trunk and more legroom in the rear seat. AutoTrader's 2019 Insight Touring test drive still flagged tight rear headroom under the sloped roof. Honda Sensing is standard, with lane keeping assist and collision mitigation braking. The catch: its adaptive cruise control won't bring the car to a full stop, and a LaneWatch camera replaces true blind spot monitoring.

Toyota Corolla Hybrid: Lower Fuel Use and More Safety Tech

The Corolla Hybrid gets Toyota Safety Sense 2.0, with adaptive cruise control, lane departure alert, and automatic high beams. Blind spot monitoring is standard on the hybrid. The trade-off is space: its rear seats are tighter, and our 2020 Corolla Hybrid review measured 0 to 100 km/h in about 11 seconds.

Safety score: 8/10 each.

Costs and Ownership of a Used Insight or Corolla Hybrid

Fuel consumption, base price, and recall history are separate costs.

Original MSRP and 2020 Pricing

The 2020 Corolla Hybrid started at $24,790, and the Premium Package added $2,000. The Insight started at $28,490 and the Touring at $32,490, per our 2020 Honda Insight review. The 2019 launch price was $27,990, as AutoTrader reported when Honda priced the 2019 Insight hybrid.

Value score: Corolla 8/10, Insight 7/10.

Fuel Economy Ratings From NRCan

The NRCan fuel consumption ratings put the Corolla Hybrid at 4.4 L/100 km city and 4.5 highway. The Insight sits at 4.6 and 5.3. Highway drivers gain most from the Corolla.

Recalls and Battery Checks Before You Buy

The Transport Canada recall database lists six campaigns for the 2020 Insight. Three matter most:

A DC-DC converter that can shut down in the cold, so the 12-volt battery stops charging (2020).
Low-pressure fuel pumps that can fail and cut power (2021, 2023 and 2024 campaigns).
A passenger seat sensor that can fire the front airbags needlessly (2026).

The 2020 Corolla Hybrid has one campaign under its own name, for rear seat belts. Others filed under the Corolla name cover fuel pumps, block heater cables, and an airbag sensor. Run the VIN.

Then check the battery, which also recovers energy through regenerative braking. Our guide to buying a used hybrid puts typical hybrid battery life at 8 to 15 years.

Find Out What Your Current Car Is Worth

Trading in toward a used hybrid? Get a free valuation before you shop.

What's My Car Worth?

Who Each Option Suits: Commuters, Families and Canadian Winters

Whichever you pick, budget for winter tires.

Choose the Corolla Hybrid for Highway Commuting

Pick the Corolla if fuel use and price lead your list. Toyota added an AWD Corolla Hybrid for 2023, rated at 4.9 L/100 km combined in its two-mode version.

Choose the Insight for a Roomier Sedan

Pick the Insight if you carry adults in the back, haul more luggage, or use Android Auto.

Final Recommendation: Our Verdict on the 2020 Compact Hybrids

One car wins.

The Verdict

The Insight is an excellent car, with plenty of space and technology. But it's inferior to the Corolla in one important area: the powertrain. The Corolla Hybrid offers a more refined, efficient combination of gas and electric power, and it's more affordable without much compromise. For fuel economy and value, buy the Toyota.

What Replaced the Honda Insight? The Civic Hybrid

By 2023, the Insight was out of Honda's lineup. Honda brought back a Canadian-built Civic Hybrid, as AutoTrader reported when Honda announced the Civic Hybrid's return. It met the Corolla in our 2025 Honda Civic Hybrid vs Toyota Corolla Hybrid comparison.

Shop Used Insight and Corolla Hybrid Sedans

Filter by model year, kilometres, and price. See what's listed near you.

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Sources

Accessed October 8, 2026

Natural Resources Canada: Fuel Consumption Ratings
Transport Canada: Motor Vehicle Safety Recalls Database
Toyota Canada: Even More Corolla to Love!
AutoTrader editorial:

Sami Haj-Assaad

Sami has been a road test editor and features writer for the past seven years, earning a number of AJAC awards for video and writing. He's also a member of the World Car of the Year jury.

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