ELECTRIC and petrol power combine to provide Honda’s riposte to the Toyota Prius. But does what works on paper actually work in practice?

On the road: THE Insight has, for whatever reason, always seemed to play second fiddle to the Prius. It looks similar and the principles behind it also echo its rival, but it seems to live in the shadows. In some ways that might help it, as the Prius receives as many brickbats as it does plaudits. These cars are not for everyone, but if you do the maths and your driving needs match its capabilities then they certainly have their attractions. Powered by a 1.3 litre petrol engine, allied to a 97bhp electric motor, the Insight is not going to set the pulses racing. In fact, if you expect it to keep pace with more traditional vehicles frustration is bound to set in early. Progress can best be described as leisurely, its top speed is 113mph and nought to 62mph takes 12.5 seconds. In addition, the handling can best be described as competent, while the steering communicates very little to the driver. With that in mind, it’s fair to say that it’s best suited to town driving, but if you can put up with the shortcomings, it can cope with the open road.

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On the inside: WHEN I drove the Insight a few years back, I thought the interior was futuristic. Fast-forward to today and many more ordinary cars have caught up and the design seems far more, well, ordinary. The dials and readouts and information they provide are all up to date, but the appearance just doesn’t stand out like it used to. Other aspects, such as the radio, even look a little dated. The materials used are okay and look like they will last.

What do you get: ON top of a good amount of standard equipment, our HS spec car came with 16ins alloys, privacy glass, front fog lights, automatic lights and wipers, front heated seats, rear parking sensors, USB socket and part faux leather, part fabric upholstery. Top specced cars add leather seats, satellite navigation and Bluetooth among other items.

How practical is it: NO-ONE can really complain about the amount of space afforded to them in the Insight. There’s plenty of room in both the front and back. The sloping roof does, however, impinge on headroom in the rear if passengers are of the taller persuasion. The boot has 408 litres of space with the seats up and 584 with them down and is capable of taking most things you can throw at it. The only black mark is in terms of vision with the bar across the rear window seriously hampering the view out the back.

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Running costs: CHEAPER to buy than its rival - the Prius starts at £21,845 and the Insight £20,100, the Insight promises combined fuel economy in excess of 60mpg. During my time with the car those figures took a nosedive during the morning and evening commute, the best I could manage being in the order of 48mpg, emphasing just where the Insight would prefer to spend its time. CO2 emissions range from 96g/km to 105g/km depending on the spec.

Verdict: IF it fits in with your lifestyle, the Insight is a serious option. But the rest of us might find there to be a few too many compromises to make it worthwhile.

Alternatives: TOYOTA Prius.