LOOKING back, the original Honda Insight was probably more of an experimental vehicle than a viable contender in the 'green' marketplace.
It might be unfair to say it sank without trace, but it certainly didn't make much of a splash.
For a start off it had more space for batteries than passengers and a relatively hefty price tag probably didn't help either. It actually looked rather good, with the sort of futuristic profile one might expect from a hybrid petrol/electric vehicle.
It reminded me of Ed Straker's car from the sixties sci-fi series UFO - the sort of car people back then imagined motorists would be driving in the future.
If current predictions are anything to go by we'll all be driving hybrid or electric cars before too long and fossil fuels will diminish accordingly.
The original Insight had its thunder somewhat stolen by the Toyota Prius, the car that came to define the rise of the hybrid.
It didn't seem to matter that Honda later went on to produce a perfectly good hybrid in the shape of the Civic IMA.
It was the Toyota that everyone was talking about, and became the 'must drive' car for anyone with an environmental conscience.
Politicians were queueing up in droves to place an order and even film stars couldn't wait to be seen behind the wheel.
It was the equivalent of buying a great big badge that said 'look at me - I care about the planet.'
The fact that many celebs who wanted to advertise their 'Eco Credentials' probably had a gas-guzzling Ferrari or a 4x4 locked away in the garage, didn't seem to matter.
Marketing aside I suspect the reason the Prius did so well was that it looked 'futuristic' - like one would expect a hybrid or electric car to look, though it fell short of the Ed Straker-like Insight, which lost out as it only had two seats.
This time around Honda have dispensed with a fairly ordinary looking hybrid (the Civic IMA looked no different to the standard Civic saloon), and gone for something that looks a little bit different.
It actually looks a little like the Prius, but you know what they say, if you can't beat them - join them.
Driving the latest Insight isn't really that different to driving an ordinary car. The hybrid technology means that the petrol engine and the battery-powered electric motor, work seamlessly in unison.
Like the original Insight and Civic IMA the new Insight features Honda's Integrated Motor Assist (IMA) hybrid system. What it consists of is a small petrol engine, an electric motor, a compact battery pack, and a regenerative braking system.
The latest version is lighter, and more efficient than its predecessor according to Honda.
When accelerating the electric motor assists the relatively low-powered 87bhp petrol engine, and the energy used when braking recharges the battery. When you come to a halt the engine cuts out, creating a silence that is slightly eerie at first, but is something you soon get used to.
It's a simple, but successful formula that reduces fuel costs and emissions.
In line with its environmentally friendly credentials the Insight is simple and spartan inside, but as far as family saloons go, it is reasonably comfortable and practical too.
Dedicated environmentalists will ensure the car is always in 'Econ' mode.
When engaged, the car's computer ensures fuel economy is maximized, and the driver also gets to play a part, with the speedometer changing colour to indicate if your driving style is economical, or not.
The 1.3-litre VTEC four-cylinder is mated to a CVT automatic transmission, and the Insight is pleasant, if not exciting, to drive. But with a combined economy figure of 64.2mpg it's not the sort of car you're going to want to race around town in at breakneck speed.
The Insight costs from £15,990, and if you go to London in it, you can avoid paying the congestion charge, while simultaneously gloating at those driving gas-guzzling toff-roaders.
FAST FACTS
Honda Insight 1.3 IMA SE
Price: £15,990
Mechanical: 87bhp, 1,339cc, 4cyl hybrid engine driving front wheels via automatic gearbox
Max speed: 113mph
0-62mph: 12.5 seconds
Combined mpg: 64.2
Insurance group: 6
CO2 emissions: 101g/km
BiK rating: 7%
Warranty: 3yrs/ 90,000 miles