Staking its claim as the first hybrid vehicle to be sold in North America, the Insight remains one of the quirkier looking cars on the road. (Photo: Justin Couture, Canadian Auto Press)

Staking its claim as the first hybrid vehicle to be sold in North America, the Insight remains one of the quirkier looking cars on the road, refusing to blend in and disappear like its Civic and Accord Hybrid siblings. It's a clear-cut case of form follows function - the Insight's purpose is to cheat drag, and as such, styling takes a back seat. The front is standard Honda fare with inoffensive, googly headlights, but things start to get odd with the scalloped front fenders, covered rear wheel wells and a hatchback that tapers inward at each edge. It's all in the name of aerodynamics, though, and the Insight delivers, slipping through the air with a Cd of just 0.25. Together with the IMA system, and a flat undertray, the Insight requires 30 percent less fuel to operate at highway speeds than the average economy car.

After five years, the Insight still manages to garner a lot of attention on the road, partially because of its left-of-centre styling, and partly because it's sales movement is glacial. Most of the prolonged gazes come more often than not from drivers of jumbo-sized XXXL sport utility vehicles. Could they be wondering how much extra money would be left in their wallets after a trade-over to the infinitely more efficient Insight, or merely what would happen to one if they just happened to drive over it?

The heavy focus on economy has left its mark on the way that the Insight drives. Its truly quirky styling with inwards-tapered tail makes for a rear

Honda has proven that a fuel-efficient hybrid doesn't necessarily have to be boring. (Photo: Justin Couture, Canadian Auto Press)

track that's actually narrower than the front - the reverse of the norm, and the only production car that I know of off hand with this trait. The Insight's suspension has also gone under weight-watching scrutiny; complex multi-link suspensions and double wishbones have been ousted for a very basic suspension system which consists of McPherson struts in front, and a plain torsion beam axle in rear, while springs and dampers are tuned for stiffness, made worse by rather hard, narrow low-rolling resistance tires. Steering is conducted through electrical power steering, which has a reputation to mask all steering feel from the driver. It all adds up to being a vehicle that sounds about as fun to drive as a shopping cart.