Honda Insight vs. smart fortwo MPG

Chart is based on 262 fuel economy reports for the Honda Insight and 325 fuel economy reports for the smart fortwo.

Honda Insight MPG

Year	Body/Powertrain	flat, hilly, or mountainousLand	driving style: very light to "lead foot"Foot	A/C use: none to heavyA/C	constant stop and goTraf %	many stops per mileCity %	stop every mile or twoSub %	fairly steady speedHwy %	Hwy Spd	MPG
2011	4dr Hatch 98-horsepower 1.3L I4 Hybrid CVT FWD	flat	med	light	12	31	26	32	79	44.7
2011	4dr Hatch 98-horsepower 1.3L I4 Hybrid 7-speed shiftable CVT FWD	mtns	light	none	1	10	23	66	58	52.9
2010	4dr Hatch 98-horsepower 1.3L I4 Hybrid CVT FWD	flat	light	none	3	10	16	71	66	47.0
2010	4dr Hatch 98-horsepower 1.3L I4 Hybrid 7-speed shiftable CVT FWD	flat	light	light	7	27	24	42	66	45.9
2009.5	4dr Hatch 98-horsepower 1.3L I4 Hybrid CVT FWD	flat	light	light	20	30	30	20	65	45.8
2006	2dr Hatch 73-horsepower 1.0L I3 Hybrid CVT FWD	flat	v.lt	hvy	1	1	1	97	60	59.9
2005	2dr Hatch 73-horsepower 1.0L I3 Hybrid 5-speed manual FWD	flat	med	none	0	0	40	60	60	50.0
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2001	2dr Hatch 73-horsepower 1.0L I3 Hybrid 5-speed manual FWD	hills	light	light	0	20	25	55	63	59.1
2000	2dr Hatch 73-horsepower 1.0L I3 Hybrid 5-speed manual FWD	flat	light	light	13	15	30	43	80	61.4

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This page shows only averages. See all the Honda Insight fuel economy data.

smart fortwo MPG

Year	Body/Powertrain	flat, hilly, or mountainousLand	driving style: very light to "lead foot"Foot	A/C use: none to heavyA/C	constant stop and goTraf %	many stops per mileCity %	stop every mile or twoSub %	fairly steady speedHwy %	Hwy Spd	MPG
2016	2dr Hatch turbocharged 89hp 0.9L I3 5-speed manual RWD	flat	med	none	0	24	22	54	64	39.6
2015	2dr Hatch 70-horsepower 1.0L I3 5-speed automated manual RWD	hills	light	hvy	60	30	10	0	0	30.9
2010	2dr Hatch 70-horsepower 1.0L I3 5-speed automated manual RWD	flat	med	light	1	43	5	51	93	39.3
2009	2dr Hatch 70-horsepower 1.0L I3 5-speed automated manual RWD	flat	med	light	8	33	23	37	62	39.8
2009	2dr Convertible 70-horsepower 1.0L I3 5-speed automated manual RWD	flat	light	light	6	29	21	44	68	39.7
2008	2dr Hatch 70-horsepower 1.0L I3 5-speed automated manual RWD	flat	med	light	4	19	25	52	69	40.0
2008	2dr Convertible 70-horsepower 1.0L I3 5-speed automated manual RWD	flat	med	light	24	19	21	36	67	39.6

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This page shows only averages. See all the smart fortwo fuel economy data.

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TrueDelta Reviews the Real Gas Mileage of the Honda Insight

Honda Insight Real Gas Mileage: Pros
Year	Comment
2020	Honda's initial approach to hybrid powertrain technology wasn't a winner. A weak electric motor (13 horsepower in the case of the 2010 Insight) sandwiched between a gas engine and a CVT wasn't able to deliver nearly as much of a performance or fuel economy bump as the much stronger electric motors in Toyota's radically different hybrid system. Starting with the 2014 Accord Hybrid, Honda tried a new approach. The new system relied entirely on a much more powerful (166 horsepower) electric motor to drive the wheels up to 43 mph, and only then directly engaged the gas engine via a single-speed transmission. This was the sort of elegant "we keep it simple" solution Honda used to be known for, and it worked far better. EPA ratings of 50 mpg city and 45 mpg highway were best-in-class, topping the Toyota Camry Hybrid. This system received further tweaks when the Accord was redesigned for 2018, with mixed results for mpg (now 48/47). The Toyota Camry, also redesigned for 2018, now scores 51/53 or 44/47 depending on trim level. When I learned that a new Honda Insight would utilize a similar hybrid system with a 1.5-liter engine instead of the Accord's 2.0-liter in a smaller, lighter car, I had high hopes. Could a 60-mpg rating happen? Well, it didn't. The Honda Insight LX and EX score 55 mpg city and 49 mpg highway in the EPA's testing. The tested Touring trim, with larger tires and a higher curb weight, scores a little lower, 51/45. Pretty good. But a Toyota Prius (58/53 or 54/50, depending on the variant), a Toyota Corolla Hybrid (53/52), or a Hyundai Ioniq (57/59 or 55/54) scores better. In my testing, the trip computer reported averages ranging from 45 mpg to 75 mpg in suburban driving. (Whether the system opts to charge or draw energy from the battery pack has a big effect on the reported average during short drives.) In one 20-mile drive around hilly Ann Arbor the trip computer reported an impressive 64 mpg--and 93.6 mpg during the initial three miles. But in a Toyota Prius I averaged 65 mpg over the entire week despite some colder weather--it struggled to top 60 when the air temperature fell to 40--and observed trip averages over 90 a couple of times. Air temperatures were usually in the 60s during the week I had the Insight, optimal for fuel economy. The Honda Insight disappointed in highway driving. When cruising near 80 mph, a speed at which it can't take much advantage of its hybrid configuration, the Insight averaged 40 mpg. Good, but little better than a non-hybrid Civic. I observed a bit over 60 mpg on the highway in the Prius. Given these results, I struggled with listing fuel economy among the reasons to buy the new Insight. On the one hand, all of its direct competitors have higher EPA ratings. On the other, the Insight's mpg compares very well to non-hybrids, and fuel economy will be a primary reason people buy one. see full Honda Insight review

What Our Members Are Saying about the Real Gas Mileage of the Honda Insight

Honda Insight Real Gas Mileage: Pros
Year	Body/Powertrain	Comment
2010	4dr Hatch 98-horsepower 1.3L I4 Hybrid 7-speed shiftable CVT FWD	Averaging 45mpg see full Honda Insight review
2010	4dr Hatch 98-horsepower 1.3L I4 Hybrid 7-speed shiftable CVT FWD	40-45mpg. Slower you drive, better the milage see full Honda Insight review
2010	4dr Hatch 98-horsepower 1.3L I4 Hybrid 7-speed shiftable CVT FWD	It gets better than advertised. 44 in town, 44 highway see full Honda Insight review
2010	4dr Hatch 98-horsepower 1.3L I4 Hybrid 7-speed shiftable CVT FWD	Just about the same as the Prius. Look at Fuelly.com and see for yourself. see full Honda Insight review
2010	4dr Hatch 98-horsepower 1.3L I4 Hybrid 7-speed shiftable CVT FWD	Fantastic! Driven frugally, I am getting 46mpg at 60/40 hwy/city driving. see full Honda Insight review
2010	4dr Hatch 98-horsepower 1.3L I4 Hybrid 7-speed shiftable CVT FWD	getting 52mpg highway and about 46 city, maybe someone at toyota paid off the epa to rate this car low, because i have NEVER gotten under 45 mpg on the highway. see full Honda Insight review
2010	4dr Hatch 98-horsepower 1.3L I4 Hybrid 7-speed shiftable CVT FWD	Econ Mode for just a three mile drive and got 53 mpg though traffic was very light. Afterwards during normal traffic driving, not using the Econ Mode, plus a very short drive 1/2 mile up and 1/2 mile back I got 36 mph engin cold. see full Honda Insight review
2010	4dr Hatch 98-horsepower 1.3L I4 Hybrid 7-speed shiftable CVT FWD	Great gas mileage. see full Honda Insight review
2010	4dr Hatch 98-horsepower 1.3L I4 Hybrid 7-speed shiftable CVT FWD	The highest available at time of purchase. see full Honda Insight review
2010	4dr Hatch 98-horsepower 1.3L I4 Hybrid 7-speed shiftable CVT FWD	Getting near 50 MPG is fantastic after owning several cars that barely got 20 MPG. see full Honda Insight review

What Our Members Are Saying about the Real Gas Mileage of the smart fortwo

smart fortwo Real Gas Mileage: Pros
Year	Body/Powertrain	Comment
2013	2dr Hatch 70-horsepower 1.0L I3 5-speed automated manual RWD	good mpg car for the price and simplicity of a lightweight car with only a gas engine. Even if you only get the EPA combined estimate of 36 it is good mpg and competes well in its class. But many smart drivers get much higher. My first 10k miles averaged 45 mpg, based on miles per gallon measured at each fill up, mix of city and freeway. Recently I had 48 mpg and 51 mpg tanks on my usual route. Check Fuelly.com for a realistic picture of mpg to expect. Low 40s mpg is most common. see full smart fortwo review
2009	2dr Hatch 70-horsepower 1.0L I3 5-speed automated manual RWD	highest mpg for a gas only vehicle. see full smart fortwo review
2009	2dr Hatch 70-horsepower 1.0L I3 5-speed automated manual RWD	fundamentally adequate, very predictable, no surprises larger fuel tank would still be nice see full smart fortwo review
2009	2dr Hatch 70-horsepower 1.0L I3 5-speed automated manual RWD	Depending on how I drive, it gets great mileage. High of 40.1, mixed city and interstate and an absolute low of 33.5 driving it like a kid in a go Kart. see full smart fortwo review
2008	2dr Hatch 70-horsepower 1.0L I3 5-speed automated manual RWD	Good mileage see full smart fortwo review
2008	2dr Hatch 70-horsepower 1.0L I3 5-speed automated manual RWD	Fule consumption is consistent regardless of type of driving style. see full smart fortwo review
2008	2dr Hatch 70-horsepower 1.0L I3 5-speed automated manual RWD	Fourty MPG or more on every fill up. see full smart fortwo review
2008	2dr Hatch 70-horsepower 1.0L I3 5-speed automated manual RWD	First tankful is 40 mpg. We expect that to go up once we fully master the manumatic transmission. see full smart fortwo review
2008	2dr Hatch 70-horsepower 1.0L I3 5-speed automated manual RWD	average 40 mpg see full smart fortwo review
2008	2dr Convertible 70-horsepower 1.0L I3 5-speed automated manual RWD	best among fossil fuel powered cars see full smart fortwo review