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Honda had hopes its retooled Insight (right) would eventually overtake the Toyota Prius as America's top-selling hybrid when it began selling the model last March.


But four months after entering the U.S. market, it's not even a close race.


Nationwide, Americans bought 2,079 Insights in June, bringing total sales of the streamlined hatchback since March to 7,524. At that rate, Honda will sell less than a third of its goal of 90,000 in the first 12 months.


By comparison, the higher-priced Prius was snapped up by 12,998 drivers last month. Since March, Toyota has sold 40,398 of the gas sippers.


And reviews of the Insight have been dismal. Typical of them is last month's Consumer Reports review, which decided that the new Honda fell short in ride quality, handling, interior noise, acceleration, rear-seat access and visibility.


America's rejection of the fuel-efficient model must be all the more humbling because Honda was the first automaker to bring hybrids to the U.S. It did that a decade ago with an earlier version of the Insight.


And get this: The Ford Fusion Hybrid is selling as well as the Insight in the U.S. even though it costs nearly $10,000 more.


It'll be interesting to see how the Honda CR-Z -- the automaker's next hybrid -- competes when it comes to America next year. As a two-seat sport coupe, it will be entering one of the smallest-volume segments of the market.

Tags: Emissions, Ford, Fuel Economy, Honda, Hybrid, Toyota, Ford Fusion, Fuel Efficient, Honda Insight, Hybrid, Toyota Prius

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Honda's Prius-Killer Resembles Road Kill 4 Months After Entering U.S. Market was originally published by Green Car Advisor. Read the full story by clicking here.