Yonkers, New York – The new Honda Insight is deemed “disappointing” by Consumer Reports, rating second-last in the magazine’s score of small hatchbacks and wagons. It achieved an excellent 38 mpg US (6.1 L/100 km) overall, but fell short in ride quality, handling, interior noise, acceleration, rear seat, access and visibility in the magazine’s tests, and posted only a “Good” overall score.

“The Insight is the most disappointing Honda Consumer Reports has tested in a long time,” said David Champion, senior director of the Auto Test Center. “The Insight is a noisy, stiff-riding car with clumsy handling that is nothing like the Fit on which it is based. Also, electronic stability control is only available on the high-line EX version.”

In a ratings chart of small hatchbacks and wagons, the Insight was rated 21st out of 22 vehicles, with a road test score of 54 points, defeating only the Dodge Caliber at 49 points. Two other new wagons, the Volkswagen Jetta Sportwagen and Hyundai Elantra Touring, received “Very Good” ratings, scoring 80 and 79 points respectively.

Consumer Reports tested a total of 6 wagons and hatchbacks for its August issue, including the improved Chevrolet HHR and the Pontiac Vibe. Both models received “Very Good” ratings, although General Motors’ decision to discontinue the Pontiac brand will result in the discontinuation of Vibe production at the end of August. The test group also included the Mazda3 hatchback and Kia Soul, which both also rated “Very Good.”

All vehicles in the test group rated as “Recommended,” except for the Insight, which scored too low in testing to be recommended, and the Soul, which is too new to have reliability data. Consumer Reports only recommends vehicles that have performed well in its tests, have at least average predicted reliability based on the magazine’s survey, and have performed at least adequately if crash-tested or included in a government rollover test.