2022 Honda Accord vs Insight

With gas prices surging, many buyers are looking back to sedans for better fuel economy - something SUVs, trucks, and mini-vans just cannot give them. That's where Honda excels - making stellar, fuel-efficient sedans. Two such models are the 2022 Honda Accord and the 2022 Honda Insight.

The 2022 Honda Accord gives you several choices from different engines that effectively blend power and fuel efficiency. This sedan's sporty handling creates an ultimately engaging drive performance for a mid-size sedan, plus there are a ton of standard advanced driver aids that keep you safe on the road. To top it all off, the Accord's cabin is exquisitely design with some seriously high-end materials, creating an atmosphere of sophistication and luxury as you climb the trim level ladder.

Just like any other vehicle, the Accord isn't perfect. One problem is that Accord's cabin isn't as well muted from outside noise as other mid-size sedans. What's more, the driver's seat has a low-set position that makes it difficult for some people to get in and out of the vehicle.

Meanwhile, the 2022 Honda Insight is a hybrid sedan that snags a downright impressive 52 miles per gallon in combined city and highway driving. It looks just like any other Honda sedan, though, and it is competitively priced. So, upon first glance, you wouldn't even assume that it is an eco-friendly hybrid sedan.

While the Insight isn't quite as spirited as the Accord, its conservative driving performance isn't entirely lackluster. Its electric motor provides enough torque around town, and for a hybrid, it is quick to accelerate. Comparable in terms of comfort, technology, and safety features, the Insight is a vehicle that deserves a second look.

But which of these two strong sedans is the right one for you? Are you more interested in hybrid technology or want to stick to the gas-powered (but still considerably efficient) Accord? Let's compare these two Honda siblings to figure out which one is going to best suit you.

Size and Styling

The 2022 Honda Accord is a mid-size sedan that comfortably seats five and offers an appealing layout inside of its cabin. The interior of the Accord reflects a modern design concept that is rounded out with some high quality soft-touch materials. There is plenty of room in both rows of seats, and the user-friendly infotainment system and controls layout are nothing short of inviting. There are a lot of physical buttons along the dash. However, the steering wheel controls not laid out all that intuitive to use and therefore require a bit of time to get used to.

The Accord's cabin is open and welcoming to its occupants. However, a driver who is tall will likely need to adjust their seat a lot since their knees might rub up against some of the vehicle's hard plastics. The tall and wide doorsills reduce the ease of entering and exiting from the cabin. There is a generous amount of leg space, although taller people will find that they need to duck their heads down to get in.

The 2022 Honda Insight is a small hybrid sedan, sizing closer to the Honda Civic than the Accord. It has a slightly more conservative design than the Civic, though, so it might be more easily taken for an Accord at first glance. It is outfitted with ultra slender LED headlights, and it sits atop 16-inch wheels. The Touring trim level upgrades you to 17-inch wheels and adds LED fog lights.

Drivability

Sedans are meant to exhibit secure handling and display an overall sense of being planted - something that Honda typically does well. On the 2022 Honda Accord, there is a ton of comfort packed into its design. The 19-inch wheels and adaptive suspension on the Touring trim level unfortunately do little to improve the ride quality, and the adaptive shock absorbers likewise are not too handy. The standard suspension, shock absorbers, and smaller wheels should bode just fine. You will hear tire noise inside of the cabin while driving on the highway, yet the cabin otherwise stays well insulated from outside noise.

The 2022 Honda Accord's standard turbocharged 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine puts forth a power output of 192 horsepower and 192 lb-ft of torque. Paired to a CVT that directs power to the Accord's front wheels, you get a decent amount of power delivery. The Sport 2.0T and Touring trims have a turbo 2.0-liter four-cylinder that musters up 252 hp and 273 lb-ft of torque. This engine gets paired to a traditional 10-speed automatic transmission. For those who want to pursue hybrid options, there is also a 2022 Honda Accord Hybrid to consider.

The Accord's base powertrain helps the vehicle sprint from 0 to 60 miles per hour in 8 seconds even - an average time for the mid-size sedan segment. However, the optional 2.0-L turbo engine pushes the Accord forward a lot more swiftly. A swift response will come to all of your inputs. The CVT will try to lower the engine rpms as much as possible to save a little fuel, but it smoothly emits power to the wheels precisely when you need it. Braking and cornering have a stable, secure approach. Although the steering system doesn't give the driver much feedback, it is well weighted within the driver's hands and feels accurate.

On the other hand, the 2022 Honda Insight is powered by a 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine that basically functions as a generator that delivers a supply of power to the electric motor, which in turn drives the Insight's front wheels. Its total system output is 151 horsepower.

The Insight is more conservative than it is spirited as a daily driver, but it is a bit spunkier than other hybrids, such as the Prius. Its electric motor delivers enough torque while cruising around town, providing you with responsive and seamless acceleration, needing 8.1 seconds to get from 0-60 mph. For a hybrid, that is pretty darn swift. The Insight's steering feels accurate, allowing the vehicle to change directions as soon as you ask it to.

The Insight can make a panic stop from 60 mph in 123 feet - a good showing for this segment. The brakes are secure and easy to modulate, although the pedal might come off as being a tad disconnected when you mash on the brakes. When left in normal driving mode, the adjustable regenerative braking system like to reset itself a lot.

Comfort, Options and Performance

Comfort is something that Honda excels at, and the Accord's cabin gives its occupants more than ample spinal support. Finding a good seating position takes little effort, but the seat bottoms lack enough padding. The automatic climate control system issues its airflow with ease and has intuitive controls.

The Honda's cabin is smartly laid out with materials that appear to be made from high quality materials. These materials are well pieced together with no clear paneling gaps or strange rattling sounds. There are a lot physical controls for the vehicle's primary functions, and the buttons and knobs are easy to deal with. The steering wheel mounted controls aren't as quite so easy to use, but those posted along the dashboard are functional enough. There isn't a lot of headspace in the rear row since the sloping roofline cuts it down. Legroom is ample along with the front seats that give you a ton of space.

When it comes to options, Honda does not give buyers too many of them as stand-alones or even bundled into packages. You do, however, get plenty of standard additions as you go up in trim levels. The Sport tacks on paddles shifters, special seat upholstery, charging ports for the rear seats, and an 8-speaker sound system. Then, the Sport SE equips heated front seats and leather upholstery. The EX-L trim adds a wireless charging pad, 10-speaker premium sound system, and wireless smartphone app integration via Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The Sport 2.0T gains a sun roof, and the Touring gets a navigation system, WIFI hot-spot connectivity, and a head-up display.

The 2022 Honda Insight doesn't skimp on comfort. The Insight's front seats are comfortable given their medium-firm foam padding and ample contouring. You get a lot of support during lengthy drives, but it would be nice if adjustable lumbar support was available. Single-wheel bumps hits on the road surface don't make themselves known, but you will feel some bounce while rolling over small bumps.

The controls on the climate system are large and physical in nature, and there is good airflow from the vents. Unfortunately, there is a lot more noise than what you hear in the Accord. The Insight's gasoline-fueled engine has a loud idle and emits vibrations when the battery is low on juice. Also, the Insight gets even louder at highway speeds than other hybrid sedans. It does at least keep wind noise to a minimum, but a lot of road noise comes in at higher rates of speed.

The interior itself is quite spacious, and the front passengers have enough room for all heads and elbows. The steering wheel could telescope a bit more, but that is a minor complaint given how easy it is to find a good driving position. Controls are well labeled, and many of them are physical knobs and buttons. The tall rear deck and thick roof pillars in the back do restrict rear visibility.

Technology isn't all that bad. The infotainment system is crisp in terms of graphics and ultimately easy to use. You might not find yourself relying on the standard smartphone app integration via Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, but it is exceedingly easy if you do. The base EX is equipped with a 8-inch infotainment touchscreen and eight-speaker audio system while the Touring gains an integrated navigation system, WIFI hotspot connectivity, and a 10-speaker premium audio system.

Safety

Honda likes to go all out on safety, as is evidenced by their long list of standard driver aids. The new Accord is equipped with a standard array of driver aids. Forward collision mitigation, lane keep assist, and adaptive cruise control are standard issue on the base LX trim level. The EX-L includes a blind spot monitor and parking sensors for the front and rear of the vehicle. The line-topping Touring gives you low-speed anti-collision braking.

On the 2022 Honda Insight, you get a blind spot monitor with rear cross-traffic alert, forward collision mitigation, adaptive cruise control, and lane keep assist. There are no upgrades or options available for further driver aids, so everything comes on both trim levels.

Which Model to Choose?

Whether you pick the 2022 Honda Accord or Insight, you are making a solid choice. Both of these Honda sedans offer a lot of comfort, good fuel economies, and plenty of tech features. They are spirited for being sedans, if not a bit conservative in terms of their appearances. But if we had to choose one, the Accord would be our go-to. It does have a hybrid option, but even the gas-only model is a strong performer all around.