There's only one thing that can keep Honda's new Insight front-wheel drive hybrid from becoming one of the most popular new cars around -- the economy, and that is beyond the company's control.

Honda, in keeping with its modest corporate sensibility, says the Insight will get 40 miles per gallon fuel mileage. In real life, you could get anywhere from 55 mpg to an amazing 70 mpg. Of course, that means no jackrabbit starts and other fuel wasting maneuvers.

Fuel economy is not the Insight's only selling point. It is a reasonably equipped sedan that will probably cost less than $20,000 for the base model, making it one of the least expensive hybrids around.

The Insight has a number of cool features to help drivers do their best in maintaining their fuel-saving habits. First and foremost is an Eco-Assist driver coaching system, in which the speedometer glows blue when you are driving inefficiently, and green when you drive more sensibly. There's also a bar graph that helps you use your throttle and brake more gently. When you are driving at your fuel-saving best, a graphic congratulates you on your conservative driving skills.

Still, Honda may suffer from bad timing. Gasoline, which sold for as much as $5 a gallon last summer, now sells for less than $2 a gallon in most locales. And American consumers have a habit of leaving small cars behind when the gas prices drop.

The Insight's biggest drawback is the interior. There is plenty of hard plastic and even a few small gaps in the pre-production model I drove. It's a surprise to see a Honda with only average interior materials, but many fuel-conscious buyers may overlook all that.

I also found that the back seat is best suited for only small children.

Honda would be well advised to offer an optional upscale interior package on this car within a year or two when it faces competition from more upscale compacts such as the Chevrolet Cruze. In fact, there is a flood of cars coming by 2010 that will get 40 mpg. At that point, creature comforts and features could be the deciding factor for shoppers. If nothing more is done to upgrade the Insight's interior, consumers may find it lacking in comparison with other cars out at that time.

I was, on the other hand, very pleasantly surprised by the Insight's aggressive handling. It corners almost flat. Acceleration was brisk -- although that impacts the fuel economy.

The Insight's luggage capacity is 15.9 cubic feet, which slightly tops the Toyota Prius. Styling also is similar to the Prius, but Honda officials say they did not make an effort to copy Toyota's design.

Standard safety features on all Insights include front, front-side and side curtain air bags; anti-lock brakes with electronic brake distribution; driver- and front-passenger active head restraints; a front body designed to mitigate pedestrian injuries; and Honda's Advanced Compatibility Engineering designed to improve crash compatibility between vehicles of different sizes and height.

Additional standard features on all new Insights include 60/40 split and fold-down rear seat backs; two-tier digital instrument panels; automatic climate control; power windows, mirrors and door locks; a tilting and telescoping steering wheel; an AM/FM/CD audio system with MP3 audio playback; and an auxiliary audio input jack and Speed-Sensitive Volume Control.

If you don't mind the rather spartan interior, the Insight will be just the ticket for you, especially if gas prices continue to inch back up.