Honda Civic vs Honda Insight

It’s been almost half a decade since Honda introduced this latest Civic. That’s hard to believe, because this car has aged with remarkable grace. After a mild update for the 2025 model year, the 2026 Civic lineup carries over unchanged. It continues to offer sedans and hatchbacks, with or without hybrid power. Sporty Si and performance-tuned Type R variants are also available, but Honda still doesn’t offer the Civic with all-wheel drive. Does that matter? Seemingly not, because the Civic is Honda’s second-best-selling car (behind the CR-V), and one of the top-selling compact cars in America.

Verdict: You’ll pay a premium to buy a Honda Civic. In many ways, it’s worth the extra money. In others, not so much. Still, while there are better deals in the compact car class, few are as satisfying to drive, and that’s true even when the Civic is equipped with its base engine.

Twenty years ago, the original Honda Insight was the first hybrid to go on sale in America. It had two seats and a funky teardrop shape, but amazing fuel economy.

Honda’s next Insight was a Prius copycat, but smaller, cheaper, and less satisfying than the Toyota.

Now, this third-generation 2019 Honda Insight adopts traditional 4-door sedan design and offers plenty of interior and trunk space. Plus, it is undeniably more attractive than the Civic on which it is based.

Should consumers looking for a practical, affordable, and efficient car consider the new Insight?