According to leaked info in Honda's official magazine in Belgium, the European 2009 Honda Insight is less fuel-efficient than the current Toyota Prius — but may only be about 1 MPG less.

Information leaked in Honda's official magazine in Belgium and published late yesterday on Carscoop indicate on the European cycle, the 2009 Toyota Prius (the current model) is officially rated at a combined 54.7 MPG average; the 2009 Insight only manages 53.5 MPG in the same test. Lets do some quick math: In the euro cycle, which is more optimistic than American EPA tests, the Insight is 1.9% less efficient than the current Prius. Using the Prius’s official 46 MPG EPA figure to determine a US EPA cycle projection, we can calculate that the Insight would, all thing being equal, manage 45 MPG. 1 less than the Prius. It should be noted, however, that these EPA numbers are estimates only and not official.

The Insight uses the same 1.3-liter, 4-cylinder gasoline engine as the Civic Hybrid, here delivering 88 HP from the engine and a total of 95 HP combined. The gas engine produces 90 lb-ft of torque while the electric motor makes 76 Lb-Ft.

The Belgian Insight will be offered in two trim levels. Standard on both is ABS, Stability Control, a full compliment of airbags, climate control and a CD radio. The up spec model adds Bluetooth, parking assist, cruise control, fog lights, heated front seats and rain sensors.

Expect more details at next week’s Detroit Auto Show, or before then, if another European division of Honda decides it wants in on the embargo break action.

[via Carscoop]

Send an email to Wes Siler, the author of this post, at wes@jalopnik.com.