I would agree that the insight is very dissimilar to the CRX. Compared to the latest/greates CRX, the 1991 CRX Si - since everyone who's screaming "bring back the CRX" really doesn't care about the lesser models - the Insight comes up short.

The Insight has anemic acceleration (only 73 hp from the 1.0L 3-cylinder and electric motor, combined, vs. 108hp for the CRX, 11.2 sec 0-60 vs. 8.7). Less storage than the CRX (16.3 cubic feet vs. 23.2 cubic feet). It's too expensive for a tiny econo-car ($19,330-21,530 msrp, vs. $15,000 for the Fit- about what a modern CRX should sell for). It has unsatisfying, artificial-feeling brakes due to regenerative braking. The somewhat "floppy" handling - hurt by the tiny 165/65SR-14 tires vs. the CRXs 185/60/14s - doesn't have any of the great "tossable" feel of the CRX.

What it does have in common - very similar styling, curb weight around 2000 pounds - doesn't make up for what it lacks in the performance department. The insight targets a completely different audience than the CRX did. You could argue that it is almost a direct replacement for the old CRX HF - but who cares about the HF?