Remember when the Insight was Honda’s quiet attempt at doing hybrids differently? It was a cool, futuristic hybrid for its time. Well, that version is gone. For 2026, the Insight is back, and it has dropped the whole hybrid identity altogether. This time, it is straight up an electric vehicle.
The shape has changed, too. It is now a crossover [JP], which feels like Honda finally acknowledging what people actually buy. It sits higher, looks a bit more purposeful, and does not try to be overly futuristic. It just looks like something you can use every day without having to explain it.
Inside, Honda is keeping things sensible. The focus is on comfort and usability, not trying to win a touchscreen contest. It is the kind of cabin you settle into, not one you need to figure out. Oh, did we also mention that it boasts a BOSE Premium Sound System featuring 12 speakers? Yup. I call it a subtle luxe. Plus, it has an aroma diffuser as well as a dashcam-integrated center camera mirror system as standard equipment.
Being an EV, the driving experience is what you would expect: press the pedal, and it moves. No buildup, no waiting. Just an immediate response. It is a different kind of “effortless” compared to the old Insight, but one that fits what this car is trying to be now. Also, good news for those who cannot park for their life. The EV further touts Honda Parking Pilot, supporting you in smooth parallel and perpendicular parking.
Range is rated at up to 535 km (332 miles) on the WLTC cycle, which is enough to keep it firmly in daily-driver territory without turning every trip into a charging plan.
And that is really the story. The Insight is no longer trying to be the clever alternative. It has grown into something more straightforward—a fully electric crossover wearing a familiar name, built for how people actually drive today.
Also worth noting: this is not meant to flood the streets. Honda is capping it at 3,000 units, so do not expect to see one at every traffic light. This is a good thing if you are into exclusivity… well, if you are living in Japan, that is.
Speaking of Japan, it is available now in Japan for starting at 5,500,000 yen [JP], which works out to be around US$35,050 based on the current going rate.
Images: Honda [JP].
