I drive a 2004 Prius and my friend recently bought a 2000 Insight.
The Insight is pretty much strictly a commuter car: it's laughably tiny, like a roadster without any power. But it's really fun, and gets outrageously good fuel economy despite how crude the hybrid system is relative to Toyota's.
The Prius on the other hand is an everyday vehicle that's spacious inside and small on the outside. Far better suited to be the only car someone owns.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Honda_Insight#Design
They were shown in 1997 and on the road in the US by 2001 or so.
The Prius seems to have been a much better car.
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