Compare the2022 Honda InsightVS 2021 Lexus ES Series

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Environmental Friendliness
Brakes and Stopping
Suspension and Handling
Chassis
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Ergonomics
Economic Advantages
Recommendations

Safety

© 1999 - 2024Advanta-STAR Automotive Research, all rights reserved. This vehicle comparison and all of the content in it are provided only by license from Advanta-STAR Automotive Research Corporation of America (“Advanta-STAR”). If you are not a legally licensed user of this vehicle comparison, it is against federal law to access it, copy it, forward it, or use it in any manner whatsoever. Any unauthorized use of this vehicle comparison is a violation of U.S. and international law and is punishable criminally and civilly. Removal of this watermark/notification without prior written license and approval received from Advanta-STAR is an agreement, understanding, and/or stipulation by the person(s), entities, agents, attorneys, and any other persons involved in the removal of this watermark/notification (including but not limited to Search Optics, LLC and any and all parent entities, sister entities, and subsidiary entities of Search Optics, LLC and/or any other entity, agent, attorney, and persons related in any manner to Search Optics, LLC) to: 1) an agreed upon amount of liquidated monetary damages of a minimum of $1,250,000.00 US Dollars in favor of Advanta-STAR; 2) the jurisdiction and enforcement of any legal claims associated with this matter asserted by Advanta-STAR in the United States Federal District Court in Portand, Oregon; and 3) service of process of any legal claims asserted by Advanta-STAR associated with this matter may be accomplished by First-Class Postage by the United States Postal Service or comparable service. XPYNN-M34HG 2a06:98c0:3600::103 2024/05/07

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 ES Series’ airbags don’t have smart features and will always deploy full force.

The Insight has a standard blind spot warning system which uses sensors to alert the driver to objects in the vehicle’s blind spots where the side view mirrors don’t reveal them. A system to reveal vehicles in the ES Series’ blind spot costs extra.

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. Cross-path warning costs extra on the ES Series.

Both the Insight and the ES Series have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, height adjustable front shoulder belts, 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.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does 35 MPH front crash tests on new vehicles. In this test, results indicate that the Honda Insight is safer than the Lexus ES Series:

	Insight	ES Series
OVERALL STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
	Driver
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Neck Injury Risk	17%	24%
Neck Stress	139 lbs.	239 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	147/283 lbs.	524/628 lbs.
	Passenger
STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	197	319
Chest Compression	.4 inches	.8 inches
Neck Injury Risk	26%	33%
Neck Stress	111 lbs.	159 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	159/44 lbs.	473/518 lbs.

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does side impact tests on new vehicles. In this test, which crashes the vehicle into a flat barrier at 38.5 MPH and into a post at 20 MPH, results indicate that the Honda Insight is safer than the Lexus ES Series:

	Insight	ES Series
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Abdominal Force	155 G’s	160 G’s
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Hip Force	276 lbs.	541 lbs.
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	279	326

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

Instrumented handling tests conducted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and analysis of its dimensions indicate that the Insight, with its five-star roll-over rating, is 1.2% less likely to roll over than the ES Series, which received a four-star rating.

Warranty

There are over 4 times as many Honda dealers as there are Lexus dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Insight’s warranty.

Reliability

The battery on the Insight is under the floor, which protects it from hot underhood temperatures that can degrade battery life. By keeping the Insight’s battery 20 to 30 degrees cooler, its life is increased by years. The ES Series’ battery is in the hot engine compartment.

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 21 points higher than the ES Series.

Engine

As tested in Motor Trend the Honda Insight is faster than the ES 300h 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder hybrid:

	Insight	ES Series
Zero to 60 MPH	7.3 sec	7.8 sec
Quarter Mile	15.8 sec	16 sec

Fuel Economy and Range

On the EPA test cycle the Insight CVT gets better fuel mileage than the ES 300h CVT with its standard engine (55 city/49 hwy vs. 43 city/44 hwy).

Environmental Friendliness

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the Honda Insight higher (7 out of 10) than the Lexus ES Series (5 to 7). This means the Insight produces up to 8 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the ES Series every 15,000 miles.

Brakes and Stopping

The Insight stops much shorter than the ES Series:

	Insight	ES Series
60 to 0 MPH	117 feet	140 feet	Motor Trend

Suspension and Handling

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 ES Series doesn’t offer drift compensation steering.

The Insight EX handles at .87 G’s, while the ES 300h pulls only .78 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 ES 300h (27 seconds @ .63 average G’s vs. 28.4 seconds @ .6 average G’s).

For better maneuverability, the Insight’s turning circle is 2.3 feet tighter than the ES Series’ (35.7 feet vs. 38 feet). The Insight’s turning circle is 3.1 feet tighter than the ES Series w/18-19” wheels’ (35.7 feet vs. 38.8 feet).

Chassis

The Honda Insight may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 700 pounds less than the Lexus ES Series.

The Insight is 1 foot shorter than the ES Series, making the Insight easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

Passenger Space

The Insight has 1.8 inches more front headroom, 1 inch more front shoulder room and .7 inches more rear shoulder room than the ES Series.

Cargo Capacity

The Insight has a much larger trunk than the ES Series (15.1 vs. 13.9 cubic feet).

The Insight’s standard rear seats fold to accommodate long and bulky cargo. The ES Series doesn’t offer folding rear seats, only a ski pass-through.

Ergonomics

Consumer Reports rated the Insight’s headlight performance “Very Good,” a higher rating than the ES Series’ headlights, which were rated “Fair.”

Economic Advantages

Insurance will cost less for the Insight owner. The Complete Car Cost Guide estimates that insurance for the Insight will cost $625 to $5870 less than the ES Series over a five-year period.

IntelliChoice estimates that five-year ownership costs (depreciation, financing, insurance, fuel, fees, repairs and maintenance) for the Honda Insight will be $16455 to $17387 less than for the Lexus ES Series.

Recommendations

Consumer Reports® recommends both the Honda Insight and the Lexus ES Series, based on reliability, safety and performance.

Motor Trend performed a comparison test in its January 2019 issue and they ranked the Honda Insight Touring higher than the Lexus ES 300h.