Remember the Honda Insight? It is back for its fourth generation, and this time, it has traded its hybrid engine for a full EV powertrain. While the name is familiar, the rollout is surprisingly exclusive; Honda has just unveiled the first images for the Japanese market, where it will debut with a modest initial quota of only 3,000 units.
However, the new Honda Insight is not a “clean sheet” design. It is based on the Honda e:NS2, a model co-developed by Dongfeng for the Chinese market. This marks a significant shift for Honda, as it effectively brings a Chinese-made EV into its home Japanese lineup under a legacy nameplate.
Except for the new badging, the Insight carries over the futuristic design of the e:NS2. Depending on how you look at it, the car could be described as a high-riding hatchback or a crossover.
It measures 4,788 mm long, 1,838 mm wide and 1,570 mm tall, with a wheelbase of 2,733 mm. This makes the new Insight significantly larger than the Honda e:N1 and even larger than the CR-V. These dimensions place it firmly in the territory of D-segment SUVs, such as the Leapmotor C10.
RELATED: Updated Honda CR-V debuts in Malaysia: 3 variants with 2.0L e:HEV as base model, priced from RM178k
Inside, the Honda Insight features a 12.8-inch centre infotainment display and a 9.4-inch letterbox-style digital infotainment display. Like the e:N1, the Insight features digital climate controls integrated into the centre display, with a layout similar to the former’s, featuring large, visible prompts in a two-tier interface.
The centre console houses two rows of buttons. One row is dedicated to the gearshift buttons, while the other handles the electronic parking brake and the drive mode selection.
Powertrain-wise, Honda has not revealed full specifications other than stating the Insight produces 310 Nm of torque. Looking at its sibling, the e:NS2, which recently opened for booking in Thailand, that model is powered by a front-mounted electric motor producing 204 hp (150 kW) and 310 Nm.
This is paired with a 68.8 kWh battery, enabling a range of 530 km under the NEDC cycle. Given the identical torque figures, it is highly likely this is the same setup found in the Honda Insight, though the range quoted by Honda under the stricter WLTC cycle is over 500 km.
Could the Honda Insight make its way to Malaysia as the Honda e:NS2? Given that the model is already open for booking in Thailand, a Malaysian debut is highly plausible. With the updated CR-V now officially launched, Honda Malaysia has five remaining slots in its 2026 calendar. Furthermore, the company previously committed to launching three EVs by 2027. With the e:N1 already established locally, the e:NS2 could fill the second spot in that electric trio.
ALSO READ: Honda Prelude to launch in Malaysia in 2026? 6 new models planned for this year
GALLERY
