- Honda has confirmed the Insight will start at around $34,500 in Japan.
- The Japanese government will offer a subsidy of over $8,000 for the car.
- Power comes from a 68.8 kWh battery and a 201 hp electric motor.
The Chinese-made Honda Insight will touch down on Japanese roads this week, but it won’t become a common sight, no matter how good it may prove to be.
Honda lifted the veil on the all-electric Insight earlier this year, built in collaboration with Dongfeng, its Chinese joint venture partner. The car started out life as the e:NS2 but has been revised and rebadged as the Insight.
Read: There’s A New Honda Insight, But Americans Can’t Have It
Japanese prices for the model have been set at 5.5 million yen, or around $34,500. Importantly, the country currently offers a 1.3-million-yen ($8,100) subsidy for EVs, so this drops the price down to 4.2 million yen ($26,350). However, with EVs accounting for less than 2 percent of new car sales in Japan, Honda does not expect to sell the Insight in significant numbers. As a matter of fact, it only plans to sell 3,000 across the country.
According to Honda’s local manager for product planning, “We set a limited sales volume based on the number of targeted customers and Honda’s market share in the segment.”
What Do You Get For Your Money?
Underpinning the new Honda Insight is the company’s e:N Architecture F platform, running a 68.8 kWh CATL battery pack and a front electric motor with 201 hp. It has a quoted WLTP range of 311 miles (500 km), which is respectable given that the battery pack is relatively small.
Japanese customers will be offered five different colors for the Insight, including bright shades of Obsidian Blue Pearl and Aquatopers Metallic II. As for the cabin, it will be available with either black or white upholstery.
Among the car’s key interior features are a head-up display, a 12-speaker Bose audio system, a large central infotainment screen, and a small digital driver’s display. It also includes heated front and rear seats, a heated steering wheel, and heated front door panels, which should be perfect for Japanese winters.
