Honda Insight Priced under $20k

Honda announced the official MSRP for the new Insight, and it’s under $20,000 (unless you count that pesky, unavoidable destination charge. The car will be available for sale March 24 for a base price of $19,800 for the LX model. EPA fuel economy estimates are good, at 40 mpg city, 43 mph highway.

The LX is pretty basic for a five-door sedan, with auto climate control, power windows, and a CD stereo system. The Honda Insight EX will be priced at $21,300 (again, not including destination), and comes with stability assist, cruise control, paddle shifters, an upgraded stereo, and more.

How does this compare to its number-one competitor, the Prius? It’s hard to say, since Toyota hasn’t given a date or price for the redesigned 2010 Toyota Prius, only that it will drop this spring. They did just release the car’s EPA numbers, though: 50 mpg city, 49 mpg highway. The EPA gave them a combined rating of 50 mpg, which the Insight just can’t beat. But with a starting price of $22,000 for the 2009 model, Honda seems to have Toyota’s hybrid MSRP licked.

Image by Kristen Hall-Geisler.