[mgldan]

For January 2019, Honda reported sales of 1,762 Insights. Toyota sold 1,864 Priuses, not counting Prius Prime, since it's all-electric. So the headline this month is that Insight achieved a virtual 1:1 ratio against the Prius, representing a continued closing of the gap.

In December 2018 it was a 2:3 Insightrius ratio, and in November 2018 it was a 1:2 ratio. This is a pretty dramatic, fast shift. Insight could outsell Prius in February!

January Insight sales were down ~30% by units compared to December's numbers. Overall Honda car sales (not trucks) were down by 21% over the same time period. This appears to be consistent with standard seasonal variation.

Also interesting: Clarity continues to outsell Prius Prime. January 2019 Clarity sales were 1,271, while Prius Prime sales were 1,123.

Sources:

https://hondanews.com/releases/american-honda-reports-sales-increases-for-both-honda-and-acura-brands-despite-winter-chill
http://toyota.us/2UvAeo3

 

[ddemetra]

Actually, I would compare the Insight to the Prius Sedan, which sold only 1540, beat by the Insight at 1,762.
The 1,864 is the combined sales of the Prius C (323 sales), and Sedan so that isn't quite comparing apples to apples.

So in my mind the Prius has officially been dethroned!

 

[legend921]

I am glad that Honda finally got the design right for the Insight. I get people asking about my Insight all the time saying how nice it looks and that it doesn't look like a Hybrid at all on the road.

 

[andrew28]

https://seekingalpha.com/article/4242665-hondas-new-hybrid-beats-toyota-prius-u-s-sales?page=4
Looks like the Honda Insight killed the Hyundai Ioniq. Sales data is showing it never went above 1k sold per month since July(except December).


The Honda Insight sold close to the same amount of cars in 6 months as the Ioniq did in a year (a difference of 631 cars).

 

[Verdier]

https://seekingalpha.com/article/4242665-hondas-new-hybrid-beats-toyota-prius-u-s-sales?page=4
Looks like the Honda Insight killed the Hyundai Ioniq. Sales data is showing it never went above 1k sold per month since July(except December).

I went to hyundai originally looking at the ioniq as a possible car to buy and I found the following. The starting price is very attractive for the milage, but all the advanced features of the car, including many important safety features, were part of additional package prices. When you added all these features in the cost of the car ballooned significantly. Furthermore Hyundai was less willing to offer deals than even Honda making the car even less attractive. No lease deals, minimal financing deals, and the lack of pricing deals on higher features. They seemed intent on pushing their standard warranty, which is very good, at every opportunity to combat these negotiations for better pricing. This is just a few of the reasons I opted out of the Hyundai.

 

[andrew28]

https://seekingalpha.com/article/4242665-hondas-new-hybrid-beats-toyota-prius-u-s-sales?page=4
Looks like the Honda Insight killed the Hyundai Ioniq. Sales data is showing it never went above 1k sold per month since July(except December).

I went to hyundai originally looking at the ioniq as a possible car to buy and I found the following. The starting price is very attractive for the milage, but all the advanced features of the car, including many important safety features, were part of additional package prices. When you added all these features in the cost of the car ballooned significantly. Furthermore Hyundai was less willing to offer deals than even Honda making the car even less attractive. No lease deals, minimal financing deals, and the lack of pricing deals on higher features. They seemed intent on pushing their standard warranty, which is very good, at every opportunity to combat these negotiations for better pricing. This is just a few of the reasons I opted out of the Hyundai.

I consider the Hyundai warranty pretty much a marketing tool instead of providing actual owner assurance. Hyundai has a history of weaseling out of warranty claims... (ex: claim denied cause owner was large)

Second and/or subsequent owners have powertrain components coverage under the 5-Year/60,000-Mile New Vehicle Limited Warranty. Excludes coverage for vehicles in commercial use (e.g., taxi, route delivery, delivery service, rental, etc.).
https://www.hyundaiusa.com/assurance/america-best-warranty.aspx#3

Covers repair or replacement of any component manufactured or originally installed by Hyundai that is defective in material or factory workmanship, under normal use and maintenance.

• The following components are covered for time and mileage limits indicated:
• Radio and audio systems (i.e., radio, compact disc player, DVD player, navigation system and Bluetooth®): for MY 15 and prior, 3 years/36,000 miles—Equus: 5 years/60,000 miles
• Radio and audio systems (i.e., radio, compact disc player, DVD player, navigation system and Bluetooth®): for MY 16, 5 years/60,000 miles for all models
• Paint: 3 years/36,000 miles
• Battery: for MY 15 and prior, 3 years/unlimited miles (100% covered 2 years/unlimited miles; after 2 years and within 3 years, 25% cost of battery and 100% labor cost covered)
• Battery: for MY 16, 3 years/36,000 miles (no proration)
• Air conditioner refrigerant charge: 1 year/unlimited miles
• Adjustments: 1 year/12,000 miles
• Wear items: 1 year/12,000 miles (e.g., belts, brake pads and linings, clutch linings, filters, wiper blades, bulbs and fuses)

https://www.hyundaiusa.com/assurance/america-best-warranty.aspx#3

If you sell the car after 5 years, the powertrain warranty is essentially gone for the next owner. Even the 5 year new car warranty has many exclusions and time limits (not really bumper to bumper).

As for the ioniq, I crossed it off my list, due to the following...

• Insight cabin looks more upscale (Main reason)
• Poor resale value compared to Honda
• No LED headlights even on the highest trim for the Ioniq
• IIHS headlight safety testing rating of poor (Blue/SEL Trim) and acceptable (Limited w/Ultimate package)
• The braking on the Insight feels more normal than the Ioniq
• Better handling, acceleration, and less road noise on the Insight
• Value for the money

 

[mgldan]

I went to a Hyundai dealership for 20 minutes. I was one of two people in the lot and no one ever came out to see me. I eventually found an Ioniq and peered inside. It is not elegant; nothing like the Insight. I left without doing a test drive.

 

[PacketPaul]

I went to a Hyundai dealership for 20 minutes. I was one of two people in the lot and no one ever came out to see me. I eventually found an Ioniq and peered inside. It is not elegant; nothing like the Insight. I left without doing a test drive.

Same story here. The Hyundai looked like a cheap sub-compact. Took one look and turned around. No reason to go inside the dealership and test drive. It is probably similar size to the Prius, but felt much less premium.

 

[J. Bond]

Thanks for the numbers and data! Quite interesting!

So, does the make a dealer less likely to deal? Or, are sales rising due to deals?

I suppose it depends upon dealer and whether the Insights have been sitting on the lot for a while or not!

 

[andrew28]

Thanks for the numbers and data! Quite interesting!

So, does the make a dealer less likely to deal? Or, are sales rising due to deals?

I suppose it depends upon dealer and whether the Insights have been sitting on the lot for a while or not!

The Insight must be meeting Honda's expectations, no finance, cash incentives, or lease offers in the New England area since the car came out. Even the Clarity has a 0.9% finance offer.

 

[insightfully]

The Insight must be meeting Honda's expectations, no finance, cash incentives, or lease offers in the New England area since the car came out. Even the Clarity has a 0.9% finance offer.

I think controlled/limited production of the Insight also helps Honda manage supply/demand. However to your point, Honda did project ~29k units in first year sales, and they are right on track with that.

Having watched Civic pricing since 2016, the $100 is Honda's "standard" price increase per model year. It seems seem unusual to increase the price on an existing model year, but perhaps they did that to keep pricing parity with the Civic.

The destination fee had been $895 forever, and the increase might be in anticipation of additional tariffs on imported materials. Even with the increase, Honda's destination fee is about average compared to other makes.

 

[ddemetra]

Actually, I would compare the Insight to the Prius Sedan, which sold only 1540, beat by the Insight at 1,762.
The 1,864 is the combined sales of the Prius C (323 sales), and Sedan so that isn't quite comparing apples to apples.

So in my mind the Prius has officially been dethroned!

New article, confirms the counts.
Some great monthly stats on the 4 major Hybrids.

https://seekingalpha.com/article/4242665-hondas-new-hybrid-beats-toyota-prius-u-s-sales?page=1

As you can see in the table above, sales started in June 2018 and rose almost immediately to approximately 2,000 units per month. This is where we need to display all of these four cars side by side, to see how they compare:

 

[mgldan]

This is the article that Verdier linked earlier, for the record.

The Corolla hybrid is making the rounds online, so it must be close to going on sale. Will bring more competition to the segment.