2021 Honda Clarity
2021 Honda Clarity Review
- Comfortable, well-appointed cabin
- PHEV's long electric driving range
- Near-silent ride with little noise intrusion
- Limited availability of Clarity Fuel Cell
- Touchscreen infotainment system can be cumbersome to use
- Polarizing styling
- The Clarity is unchanged for 2021
- Part of the first Clarity generation introduced for 2017
The 2021 Honda Clarity is an eco-minded sedan sold in two variations: as a hydrogen fuel cell or a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV). The former is only available in California because it's the only state with any substantial hydrogen infrastructure. Since the fuel cell is used to power an electric motor, the Clarity drives and feels like a battery-powered EV, and you can fill the hydrogen fuel tank in just a few minutes. The Clarity Plug-In Hybrid, meanwhile, uses a small battery pack paired with a gasoline engine. As a result, the Clarity Plug-In Hybrid offers 47 miles of pure electric range, but its backup gasoline engine allows it to travel as far as any regular sedan.
Only a handful of other fuel cell vehicles are on sale today. The Toyota Mirai has been fully redesigned for 2021, and Hyundai has been selling the Nexo SUV for the past few years. As with the Clarity, the Mirai and Nexo are only available in California. The Clarity Plug-In Hybrid has far more competition. And though we like the Toyota Prius Prime and RAV4 Prime as well as the Subaru Crosstrek Hybrid, the Clarity offers significantly more range and is well worth a look if you're hunting for a plug-in hybrid.
What's it like to live with?
A 2017 Honda Clarity Fuel Cell joined our long-term test fleet not long after it debuted. We found it to be comfortable and extremely quiet, but we had trouble with the disappointing hydrogen infrastructure and the high cost of scheduled maintenance.
Our verdict | |
The Clarity gets the important parts right, with great efficiency and a comfortable ride. We're fans of its build quality, spacious interior and even acceleration. At its best, the Clarity makes a strong case for plug-in hybrids. The downsides include an overly soft ride quality and a frustrating infotainment system. | |
How does the Clarity drive? | |
The Clarity is docile and easy to drive, owing to its electric power that produces smooth and quick acceleration from a stop. The Clarity starts to feel less energetic as you get up to highway speeds, but for typical driving it's sufficiently powerful. The steering is direct and requires appropriate heft at speed, even if there isn't much feedback or response. Handling is a similar experience, with good composure around corners but a lack of sharpness that leaves it feeling heavy. The Clarity only just makes the grade in the braking category, with good performance in routine driving but numb feedback in more demanding situations. | |
How comfortable is the Clarity? | |
Strong build quality means little outside noise makes its way into the cabin. That's crucial in a vehicle that can run in silent EV mode. Noise from the engine is not intrusive when it kicks in either. The Clarity works with its battery power instead of fighting it. The same, however, can't be said for the ride quality. The Clarity has a very soft suspension, which is comfortable on smooth roads, but the car struggles to control its own mass over bumps. We do like the front seats, which have soft padding, and the comfortable back seat. | |
How’s the interior? | |
It's easy to get in and out of the Clarity thanks to an accessible ride height, grab handles in each doorway, and a roofline that stays out of the way. The driving position is also suitable, though some may wish for a seat that lowers and a steering wheel that extends a bit more. The bigger issue is that neither the push-button transmission selector nor the infotainment touchscreen is very responsive. But the roomy cabin provides comfortable space and the low-set expansive windows offer excellent outward visibility. | |
How’s the tech? | |
A difficult-to-use 8-inch touchscreen interface drags down an otherwise pleasant tech experience. The graphics are outdated, touch targets are small, and a slider to control the volume is irritating. Basic functions should not be this difficult, especially in a moving vehicle. Bluetooth pairing and a USB port are standard. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility is included, but transitions between them and Honda systems are rough. The factory voice control system is effective and understands natural language to control the phone, navigation and audio. | |
How’s the storage? | |
The plug-in version of the Clarity offers the most cargo room, at 15.5 cubic feet. Unfortunately the load floor isn't flat, and the space narrows toward the seatbacks. The rear seats do fold down in the plug-in as opposed to the fuel cell version. Overall, the Clarity offers acceptable rear storage considering its bulky alternative fuel systems. And there's plenty of small-item storage throughout the cabin. | |
How economical is the Clarity? | |
The Clarity PHEV backs up its eco-friendly claims. We averaged 52 miles of all-electric driving from a full charge. With a depleted battery in the PHEV, we logged 48 mpg on our 115-mile test loop of city, mountain and highway driving. | |
Is the Clarity a good value? | |
You pay more for the Honda Clarity Plug-In compared with its closest rival, the Toyota Prius Prime, but in return you get higher build quality and more space. Simulated open-pore wood and suede accents in the cabin are appreciated, if lacking a little spice with muted colors and tones. Warranty coverage is average. Honda backs the hybrid battery for eight years/100,000 miles. | |
Wildcard | |
The Clarity PHEV offers a glimpse at the advantages of plug-in hybrids over electric vehicles. It's smooth and clean, encouraging drivers to experiment with their driving style to maximize efficiency. How long you can go without activating the gas engine, and how well you manage it once it's on, becomes a game in itself. The Clarity takes a toned-down approach, and while that may not make for the most exciting drive, it's one that makes a green future easy to imagine. | |
Which Clarity does Edmunds recommend?
Honda Clarity models
The 2021 Honda Clarity is available in two basic forms: the Plug-In Hybrid and Fuel Cell. The Clarity Plug-In Hybrid is powered by a 1.5-liter four-cylinder gasoline engine (212 horsepower, 232 lb-ft) with an electric-motor hybrid system and a 17-kWh lithium-ion battery. On a full charge, the battery provides up to 47 electric-only miles of range. In the Clarity Fuel Cell, the fuel cell assembly turns the hydrogen into electricity, which powers an electric motor (174 hp, 221 lb-ft) and gives it 360 miles of range.
2021 Honda Clarity pricing
in Ashburn, VA
Consumer reviews
Read what other owners think about the 2021 Honda Clarity.
Trending topics in reviews
- reliability & manufacturing quality
- sound system
- appearance
- infotainment system
- technology
- interior
- acceleration
- fuel efficiency
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Features & Specs
- Base MSRP
- $33,400
- MPG & Fuel
- 44 City / 40 Hwy / 42 Combined
- Fuel Tank Capacity: 7.0 gal. capacity
- Seating
- 5 seats
- Drivetrain
- Type: front wheel drive
- Transmission: Continuously variable-speed automatic
- Engine
- Inline 4 cylinder
- Horsepower: 212 hp @ 5500 rpm
- Torque: N/A
- Basic Warranty
- 3 yr./ 36000 mi.
- Dimensions
- Length: 192.7 in. / Height: 58.2 in.
- Overall Width with Mirrors: N/A
- Overall Width without Mirrors: 73.9 in.
- Curb Weight: 4052 lbs.
- Cargo Capacity, All Seats In Place: 15.5 cu.ft.
Safety
Our experts’ favorite Clarity safety features:
- Adaptive Cruise Control
- Helps maintain a constant speed and a set distance behind a vehicle ahead of you and can bring you to a complete stop.
- Lane Keeping Assist/Departure Warning
- Automatically applies steering to help keep your vehicle in the lane and alerts you if you cross over a lane line without signaling.
- Honda LaneWatch
- Displays live video of the passenger-adjacent lane using a small camera on the side mirror whenever the right turn signal is used.
Honda Clarity vs. the competition
2021 Honda Clarity
2021 Toyota Mirai
Honda Clarity vs. Toyota Mirai
The Toyota Mirai has been completely redesigned for 2021, ditching the outgoing model's divisive design and front-wheel-drive layout in favor of a sleek rear-wheel-drive sedan. Unlike the Clarity, the Mirai isn't available as a hybrid, so this fuel cell Toyota is only available in California.
Honda Clarity vs. Subaru Crosstrek
The Subaru Crosstrek is both one of our favorite plug-in hybrids as well as one of the most affordable ones on sale today. Don't be fooled by its small size. The Crosstrek Hybrid offers about the same passenger space as the Clarity and slightly more cargo space. It also has standard all-wheel drive. Unfortunately for Subaru, the Crosstrek's paltry 17 miles of range is dwarfed by the Clarity Plug-In Hybrid's 47 miles.
Honda Clarity vs. Toyota Prius Prime
The Toyota Prius Prime is a plug-in hybrid version of the car that helped make hybrids popular in the first place. The Prius Prime's 25 miles of all-electric range is far short of the Clarity PHEV's 47 miles of range. Yet though the Prius Prime is slightly smaller, it packs more cargo space than the Clarity. Toyota also offers the RAV4 Prime if you're looking for even more space.
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FAQ
Is the Honda Clarity a good car?
What's new in the 2021 Honda Clarity?
According to Edmunds’ car experts, here’s what’s new for the 2021 Honda Clarity:
- The Clarity is unchanged for 2021
- Part of the first Clarity generation introduced for 2017
Is the Honda Clarity reliable?
Is the 2021 Honda Clarity a good car?
How much should I pay for a 2021 Honda Clarity?
The least-expensive 2021 Honda Clarity is the 2021 Honda Clarity Plug-In Hybrid 4dr Sedan (1.5L 4cyl gas/electric hybrid CVT). Including destination charge, it arrives with a Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) of about $33,400.
Other versions include:
- Plug-In Hybrid 4dr Sedan (1.5L 4cyl gas/electric hybrid CVT) which starts at $33,400
- Touring Plug-In Hybrid 4dr Sedan (1.5L 4cyl gas/electric hybrid CVT) which starts at $36,600
- Fuel Cell 4dr Sedan (electric (fuel cell) DD) which starts at $58,490