At 7.3 seconds to 60 mph, the Insight's accelleration is pretty good for a hybrid. It absolutely smokes a recent
Toyota Prius we tested, which hit 60 mph in 9.8 seconds and took 17.4 seconds to run the quarter mile.
Road test editor Chris Walton notes that the Insight has a "slow launch, but then the engine ramps up quickly (and noisily) for impressive, linear acceleration."
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What do they mean by slow launch? The launch is my favorite part about this car. :grin
At the opposite end of the equation, our Insight needed 122 feet to stop from 60 mph. That's a good deal better than the 131 feet required by the Prius but not as good as the 117-foot stop by a different Insight (Touring grade) we also tested. The difference? Better rubber.
"Its body motions are very well controlled but without any accompanying harshness. The Insight turns in very precisely and has good brake pedal feel, too, as you approach the corner. It seems to like a quick release-brake/turn-in as opposed to trail braking. It understeers but with some steering feel of the tires that offers some pleasantness."