In 1999, Honda tried to launch a highly fuel-efficient vehicle with a gas-electric powerplant under the hood, but it was not a revolution.
Toyota got a better start with the Prius, which was launched in late 1997. Honda waited for another two years and introduced the first generation of the Insight in 1999. It was designed as a commuter car and advertised with a very optimistic fuel-efficiency. Its problem was that, in real life, a Civic was almost as economical as the Insight, but it offered four doors.

The soap-like coupe was intriguing and attracted a lot of attention to it when Honda introduced it on the North American market. Its tear-drop like headlights and futuristic look was unusual for those times. After the long hood, compared to the car’s length, the raked windshield and the arched, short greenhouse made the vehicle looks like a toy. In the rear, the high mounted triangular taillights were very visible, and the introduction of a vertical glass panel on the liftgate greatly improved rear visibility.

Inside, the Insight featured a pair of bolstered seats at the front and a big shelf in the back, like a trunk. The part-digital, part-analog instrument cluster helped the driver get a smaller fuel consumption and constantly showed its efficiency.

Under the hood, the 1999 Insight featured a 3-cylinder gasoline engine and an electric motor. The assembly was paired to a 5-speed manual gearbox. Honda introduced a CVT in 2000.