Compare the2022 Honda InsightVS 2021 Hyundai Ioniq Hybrid

Using vehicle speed sensors and seat sensors, smart airbags in the Insight deploy with different levels of force or don’t deploy at all to help better protect passengers of all sizes in different collisions. The Insight’s side airbags will shut off if a child is leaning against the door. The Ioniq Hybrid’s airbags don’t have smart features and will always deploy full force.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the Insight has a standard cross-path warning system, which uses sensors in the rear bumper to alert the driver to vehicles approaching from the side, helping the driver avoid collisions. Only the Ioniq Hybrid SEL/Limited has a cross-path warning system.

Both the Insight and the Ioniq Hybrid have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, front wheel drive, height adjustable front shoulder belts, plastic fuel tanks, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, rearview cameras and driver alert monitors.

For its top level performance in IIHS driver and passenger-side small overlap frontal, moderate overlap frontal, side impact, roof strength and head restraint tests, its standard vehicle-to-vehicle front crash prevention system, its standard vehicle-to-pedestrian front crash prevention system, and its standard headlight’s “Good” rating, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the Insight its highest rating: “Top Pick Plus” for 2021, a rating granted to only 62 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The Ioniq Hybrid has not been fully tested, yet.

There are over 28 percent more Honda dealers than there are Hyundai dealers, which makes it easier should you ever need service under the Insight’s warranty.

A reliable vehicle saves its owner time, money and trouble. Nobody wants to be stranded or have to be without a vehicle while it’s being repaired. Consumer Reports rates the Insight’s reliability 39 points higher than the Ioniq Hybrid.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2021 Auto Issue reports that Honda vehicles are more reliable than Hyundai vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Honda 1 place higher in reliability than Hyundai.

The Insight’s 1.5 DOHC 4-cylinder hybrid produces 12 more horsepower (151 vs. 139) than the Ioniq Hybrid’s 1.6 DOHC 4-cylinder hybrid.

As tested in Motor Trend the Honda Insight is faster than the Hyundai Ioniq Hybrid:

The Insight has a standard continuously variable transmission (CVT). With no “steps” between gears, it can keep the engine at the most efficient speed for fuel economy, or keep it at its peak horsepower indefinitely for maximum acceleration. The Ioniq Hybrid doesn’t offer a CVT.

The Insight stops much shorter than the Ioniq Hybrid:

For better traction, the Insight has larger tires than the Ioniq Hybrid (215/55R16 vs. 195/65R15).

The Insight EX’s standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 55 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Ioniq Hybrid’s standard 65 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Insight EX has standard 16-inch wheels. Smaller 15-inch wheels are standard on the Ioniq Hybrid.

The Insight’s drift compensation steering can automatically compensate for road conditions which would cause the vehicle to drift from side to side, helping the driver to keep the vehicle straight more easily. The Ioniq Hybrid doesn’t offer drift compensation steering.

The Insight EX handles at .87 G’s, while the Ioniq Hybrid SEL pulls only .77 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The Insight Touring executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1.4 seconds quicker than the Ioniq Hybrid SEL (27 seconds @ .63 average G’s vs. 28.4 seconds @ .58 average G’s).

To almost totally eliminate engine vibration in the passenger area, the Insight has a liquid-filled front engine mount. The liquid helps further dampen engine harshness. The Ioniq Hybrid uses conventional solid rubber engine mounts.

The Insight uses computer-generated active noise cancellation to help remove annoying noise and vibration from the passenger compartment, especially at low frequencies. The Ioniq Hybrid doesn’t offer active noise cancellation.

The Insight has .2 inches more front headroom, .1 inches more front legroom, .8 inches more front shoulder room and 1.7 inches more rear legroom than the Ioniq Hybrid.

A low lift-over trunk design makes loading and unloading the Insight easier. The Insight’s trunk lift-over height is 26.5 inches, while the Ioniq Hybrid’s liftover is 28.8 inches.

The Insight has a standard remote vehicle starting system, so the vehicle can be started from inside the driver's house. This allows the driver to comfortably warm up the engine before going out to the vehicle. The climate system will also automatically heat or cool the interior. The Ioniq Hybrid doesn’t offer a remote starting system.

The Insight’s power parking brake sets with one touch and releases with one touch or automatically. The Ioniq Hybrid’s parking brake has to released manually.

The Insight’s front power windows open or close fully with one touch of the switches, making it more convenient at drive-up windows and toll booths, or when talking with someone outside the car. The Ioniq Hybrid’s standard passenger windows don’t open or close automatically. The Ioniq Hybrid Limited’s rear windows don’t close automatically.

The Insight Touring’s standard wipers adjust their speed and turn on and off automatically according to the amount of rainfall on the windshield. The Ioniq Hybrid’s manually variable intermittent wipers have to be constantly adjusted.

The Insight’s standard outside mirrors include heating elements to clear off the mirrors for better visibility. Hyundai only offers heated mirrors on the Ioniq Hybrid SEL/Limited.

Consumer Reports® recommends the Honda Insight, based on reliability, safety and performance. The Hyundai Ioniq Hybrid isn't recommended.