Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 2020 Insight.
The 2020 Honda Insight pairs an automatic transmission with variable gear ratios and a powertrain that achieves EPA ratings of 55 city, 49 highway, and 52 combined mpg, requiring 3.5 quarts of 0W-20 API oil. With 30 total owner complaints, the 2020 model sits well below the nameplate’s peak of 119 complaints in 2010 (the highest in the 2000–2022 record), though its six recalls and top complaint area of Forward Collision Avoidance indicate specific areas of concern. This places the 2020 Insight in a relatively strong reliability position for the model’s history, provided those recall and safety-system issues are addressed.
Fluid capacities, tune-up values and fuel economy at a glance.
Replacement part sizes and factory part numbers — battery, bulbs, filters and belts.
From the factory this vehicle uses a BCI 51R Must use a AGM VRLA battery. · 295 CCA battery. Each part links to every other vehicle that shares it, so a part you already stock may fit more of your fleet than you'd expect.
Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.
| Transmission | Automatic (variable gear ratios) |
| Overall length | 183.5 in |
| Overall width | 74 in |
| Overall height | 55.5 in |
| Wheelbase | 106.3 in |
| Curb weight | 3047 lb |
| Track (front / rear) | 61 / 61.8 in |
| Weight distribution (front / rear) | 61/39 |
| EPA city / highway / combined | 55 / 49 / 52 mpg |
| Drivetrain | Front-Wheel Drive |
| Passenger volume | 98 cu ft |
| Cargo volume | 15 cu ft |
| Recommended fuel | Regular Gasoline |
0–60 mph, quarter-mile, horsepower and torque from independent road tests.
Independent road tests for the Insight of this era, listed by trim and engine — this page spans more than one engine, so no single horsepower figure is shown.
| Year | Trim / engine | 0–60 | ¼ mile | HP | Drivetrain |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | EX Sedan 1.5L I-4 + Elec 1.2-kWh | 7.30 sec | 15.80 sec | 151 hp | FWD |
| 2019 | Touring Sedan 1.5L I-4 + Elec 1.2-kWh | 7.40 sec | 15.90 sec | 151 hp | FWD |
| 2019 | Touring Sedan 1.5L I-4 + Elec 1.2-kWh | 7.60 sec | 16.10 sec | 151 hp | FWD |
| 2019 | Touring Sedan 1.5L I-4 + Elec 1.2-kWh | 7.70 sec | 16.00 sec | 151 hp | FWD |
Capacities, torques and tune-up values from the factory service manual.
This engine holds 3.5 qt of 0W-20 API engine oil, Dot 3 brake fluid. Torque lug nuts to 80 ft-lbs.
| Automatic Transmission Fluid | Honda HCF-2 CVT fluid |
| Automatic Transmission Fluid Capacity | 2.3 |
| Brake Fluid | Dot 3 |
| Engine Coolant | Honda Type 2 antifreeze/coolant |
| Engine Coolant Capacity | 4.9 |
| Engine Oil | 0W-20 · API |
| Engine Oil Capacity | 3.5 qt |
| Power Steering Fluid | EPS |
| Lug Nuts | 80 ft-lbs |
| Refrigerant | R1234yf |
| Refrigerant Capacity | 0.87-0.98 lbs |
| Oil Group | POE |
| Oil Type | 80 |
| Oil Capacity | 4.04-4.54 oz |
| Standard BCI Group Number | 51R Must use a AGM VRLA battery. |
| Standard BCI Cranking Performance | 295 cca |
| Brake Caliper Bolt to Carrier Torque | Front: 25.0 ft-lbs; Rear: 18.0 ft-lbs |
| Brake Caliper Carrier to Hub Bolt Torque | 80.0 ft-lbs |
| ABS Sensor Torque | Front: 6.0; Rear: 6.0 |
| Vented Rotor Minimum Thickness for Replacement | Front: .827; Rear: .315 |
| Variation from Parallelism Thickness Variation | .0006 |
| Maximum Rotor Runout | .0016 |
| 1 | 27.0 ft. lbs., Step 2: 90° | 27 ft. lbs |
| 1 | 22.0 ft. lbs. | 22 ft. lbs |
| 2 | 120°. | |
Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.
The 2020 Insight shows a significant improvement over 2019, with federal complaints dropping sharply from 97 to 30 and recalls falling from 8 to 6, though investigations held steady at 3 and TSBs reached 50, the highest figure in the 2019–2022 span. Across that four-year span, the record traces a clear normalization after 2019’s spike: 2021 and 2022 settled to 24 and 29 complaints respectively with recalls dropping to 3 each, placing 2020 at the pivot where complaint and recall volumes improved dramatically but TSBs remained elevated. The 2020 model’s leading complaint categories were Forward Collision Avoidance with 6 complaints, Structure with 3, Service Brakes/Forward Collision Avoidance with 2, and Power Train/Electrical System/Engine with 2, alongside 3 crash-related complaints and 0 fire complaints, though the data does not specify root causes for these reports. Given that 2020 sits in the improving middle of this arc—well past the 2019 peak yet carrying twice the recalls of 2021–2022 and the highest TSB count of the span—it presents a reasonably solid choice, though buyers prioritizing the cleanest federal record in this group might look to the 2021 or 2022 model years instead.
All 30 complaints on record, top 8 components.
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.
Showing 2 of 6 campaigns on record for this vehicle.
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2020 CR-V Hybrid, Accord Hybrid, and 2020-2021 Insight vehicles. The DC-DC converter may shut down and prevent the 12-volt battery from recharging, possibly… Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will update the power converter unit (PCU) software, free of charge. The recall began February 12, 2021. Owners can contact Honda customer…
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Acura NSX, 2019 Acura RDX, RLX and RLX Sport Hybrid, 2018-2019 Honda Accord, Civic Hatchback, Civic Type R and HR-V, 2019-2020 Insight and 2019 Fit… Remedy: Honda will notify owners and dealers will replace the fuel pump assembly, free of charge. The recall began July 22, 2020. Owners may contact Honda customer service at…
Showing 5 of 50 bulletins on record with NHTSA.
| Bulletin | Date | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| A21-068 | 2023-10-25 | Vehicle Speed Control | Service Bulletin - The ACC system error message comes on while driving when outside… |
| A21080A | 2023-10-17 | Forward Collision Avoidance | Service News - If an Adaptive Cruise Control System Problem comes back on when the… |
| ATI&03272023904 | 2023-03-27 | Parking Brake | Dealer Message - American Honda Motor Co., Inc. (AHM) is searching for any & all… |
| ATI&03102023904 | 2023-03-10 | Parking Brake | Dealer Message - American Honda Motor Co., Inc. (AHM) is searching for any & all… |
| ATI&02232023903 | 2023-02-23 | Parking Brake | Dealer Message - American Honda Motor Co., Inc. (AHM) is searching for any & all… |
The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.
Decode factory build data for a specific vehicle by VIN.
Find every vehicle that shares this one's battery, bulbs, oil capacity, platform or parts.
Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.
3.5 qt of 0W-20 API, per the factory manual.
NHTSA lists 6 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.
EPA figures are 55 city / 49 highway / 52 combined mpg.