The 2017 Clarity Fuel Cell is one of Honda's most advanced and environmentally minded vehicles to date. It's essentially a front-wheel-drive electric vehicle that generates its own power by combining oxygen from the ambient air and compressed hydrogen from its onboard hydrogen storage tanks. Within the fuel cell, electrons are exchanged and electricity is generated. The only byproduct of the process is water.

Using this technology, the Clarity can be fully refueled in just three to five minutes and boasts a range of 366 miles between fills. Both are significant advantages over the more established battery electric vehicles currently on the market. There are a couple caveats, though. The first is that hydrogen refueling infrastructure is new and limited to only certain parts of California. The second is that hydrogen used for transportation is largely produced from carbon-based fuels. A battery-powered EV charged purely from solar panels would still have the advantage from a reduced greenhouse gas standpoint.

The Clarity falls somewhere between a Honda Accord and Honda Civic in size, but has a more eccentric exterior styling and a slightly more styled and upscale interior. All Clarity fuel cell models come loaded with the latest active driving aids, touchscreen infotainment system and a $15,000 fuel stipend for the three-year lease period. Unlike Toyota's Mirai fuel cell car, which you can buy outright, the Clarity Fuel Cell is available for lease only. However, with all the benefits to leasing, we wouldn't recommend buying a fuel cell car at this point in time anyway.

Honda will be expanding the Clarity vehicle line with plug-in hybrid and battery electric models in the near future, both of which will be available for purchase.

Trim levels & features

The 2017 Honda Clarity Fuel Cell is a single-trim model generously equipped for the technology-minded individual. Honda typically bundles options within trims, but due to the Clarity's low production volume and unique market position as an advanced hydrogen fuel cell vehicle, it makes sense for Honda to minimize the number of variations. All Clarity Fuel Cell models are powered by an electric motor (174 hp, 221 lb-ft) that drives the front wheels through a single reduction gear, and hold enough compressed hydrogen in their tanks for 366 miles of emission-free motoring (68 miles per gallon equivalent combined).

The Clarity Fuel Cell isn't lightweight by conventional vehicle standards, largely due to all the necessary fuel cell components, which include a lithium battery pack. But Honda was able to shave some pounds using aluminum for the hood, trunk, fenders and doors. Front and rear "air curtain" features direct airflow around the aerodynamic 18-inch wheels, and energy-efficient LED headlights, taillights and turn signals all help to reduce the amount of electricity the Clarity uses to roll down the road.

Energy-preserving measures aside, the Clarity has many other standard features that focus on everyday comfort and convenience, which is arguably just as critical for any machine designed for daily use. This includes automatic wipers, heated side mirrors, keyless entry and push-button start, dual-zone climate control with a Plasmacluster ion air quality management, an eight-way power driver seat, driver-seat memory settings, a four-way power passenger seat, leather upholstery, heated front seats, an auto-dimming rearview mirror, a 12-speaker premium audio system, an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system, a navigation system with hydrogen refueling station and traffic info, satellite radio, HD radio, Bluetooth, two USB ports, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto capability, and HondaLink telematics (remote app control).

Because the Clarity operates so silently, Honda fits it with what's called an Acoustic Vehicle Alerting System that plays spacey tunes to alert pedestrians to know when it's approaching. Other safety-related features include a rearview camera, adaptive cruise control, forward collision warning with automatic emergency braking, lane keeping departure and intervention, a head-up display, and Honda LaneWatch, which turns on a side-view camera when making a lane change to the right.

There are sprinkling of add-on options such as exterior body moldings and illuminated door sills, but the most notable item has to be the rear parking sensors that alert you to objects behind if you don't want to rely solely on the cameras.

Trim tested

Each vehicle typically comes in multiple versions that are fundamentally similar. The ratings in this review are based on our Full test of the 2017 Honda Clarity Fuel Cell.

Driving

The Clarity isn't an exciting car to drive, but it is innocuous and accessible in everyday driving. Acceleration and handling are adequate but nothing more.

Acceleration

Acceleration is quick enough for around-town driving, but that's about it. At higher speeds, there's not a whole lot more on tap. In our testing, the Clarity accelerated from zero to 60 mph in 8.4 seconds. We noticed appreciably slower times in additional back-to-back acceleration runs.

Braking

The brakes operate normally during casual driving but begin to feel unnaturally springy and disconnected under moderate to heavy braking. There isn't much regenerative braking effect when lifting off the accelerator. It needed 129 feet to stop from 60 mph, which is a middling result.

Steering

Its steering is direct and has tangible buildup of effort around center but is pretty numb overall. Quick inputs are met with a fairly muted reaction. Still, the Clarity is clearly better than its rival, the Toyota Mirai, when it comes to the tactility of its helm.

Handling

2.5

The Clarity feels heavy but not ponderous. There's reasonable composure when cornering at modest speeds. Handling is deliberate rather than spry. Its ultimate grip is respectable, but this isn't a car that will have you seeking canyon roads.

Drivability

As it functions as an electric vehicle, this car is docile and very easy to live with. It accelerates smoothly from a stop without delay, and there aren't any gear changes to interrupt the power flow. Its cruise control, however, struggles to keep your set speed when going downhill.

Comfort

3.5

Its electric propulsion is quiet. Operation of the fuel cell powertrain is more audible than a battery EV, but it's endearing rather than annoying. Its seats are soft, and the ride quality is acceptable.

Seat comfort

3.5

The front seats have very soft padding and perforated center sections but don't offer much in terms of lateral support. The backseat is reasonably comfortable, though the bottom cushion is somewhat short, so long-legged passengers may find them uncomfortable.

Ride comfort

2.5

The Clarity has a soft ride quality, bordering on floaty. It's comfortable most of the time but the suspension struggles to control the mass of the car when driving on bumpy roads. Its ride motions are exaggerated and require more of the available suspension travel.

Noise & vibration

4.5

Wind noise is barely heard, making for civilized freeway travel. A bevy of unusual powertrain whirs come and go but are muted, making them more of a curiosity. Road noise is the most prominent thing you hear, with a variety of sounds making their way to the cabin.

Climate control

3.5

The climate control interface consists of buttons and knobs with redundant controls through a touchscreen interface. The auto function works well, and the heated front seats have three levels. The backseat vents are located on back of the center console.

Interior

This is a car that can transport four people comfortably (and five in a pinch). Its sizable cabin provides ample room for occupants and is easy to access. Visibility is excellent for the most part, though the standard rearview will help when reversing.

Ease of use

Most of the control buttons are easy to reach and are clearly labeled. The push-button gear selector isn't as quick to use as a traditional one, though its location in the Clarity is better than in other Honda vehicle applications. The touchscreen is not the quickest-responding either.

Getting in/getting out

There's little trouble to be had when stepping into the Clarity, and the roof does not appreciably impede front or rear entry. The backseat is even easier to access. All four entry points have a grab handle.

Driving position

3.5

For those who like to feel ensconced in the driver's seat, the seating position will feel a bit high, even at the lowest setting. The steering wheel is sized right and feels good in your hands, though some drivers might wish the column telescoped out more.

Roominess

There's ample headroom up front. In the back, only adults taller than 6 feet will find their heads brushing up against the headliner. There's a lot of shoulder room and decent legroom in back.

Visibility

3.5

Forward visibility is great thanks to a low beltline and cowl. Sizable corner windows and slim roof pillars also help out, as does the LaneWatch right-side camera system. Rearward visibility suffers a bit due to a high tail, but a unique second back window that peers through the trunk helps.

Quality

3.5

The cabin design of simulated open-pore wood and suede accents suggests inspiration by high-end home theater systems. The muted tones look a little dour, though. But overall the interior quality is one step better than that of the Mirai.

Utility

Its cargo area is superior to the Mirai's but falls short of a conventional car's in size and versatility. The Clarity also follows the typical Honda approach to cabin space, providing a variety of storage locations for small items. Car seat LATCH points aren't too difficult to work with.

Small-item storage

With a good-size console bin, two big cupholders, door pockets, a glovebox plus storage area under floating console, there's room for nearly any item you'd typically use on a day-to-day basis. In back, there are small door pockets, smartphone pouches and a flip-down armrest with two cupholders.

Cargo space

2.5

Despite appearances, the Clarity has a trunk, not a hatch. The cargo area has a nice wide opening but is not very deep at all. Inside is a shelf with a soft floor. The rear seats do not fold because there's a big hydrogen tank in the way.

Child safety seat accommodation

LATCH points on outboard rear seats have obvious and easily accessed top anchors. The lower ones are tucked between the seat cushions. These are soft and easily manipulated to reach the lower anchors.

Technology

Smartphone integration and voice controls work well and are a convenient way to not have to use the touchscreen interface, which is a letdown. It's straight out of the Honda parts bin. Owners of this (much pricier) car deserve better than the system that's in Honda's entry-level sedan.

Audio & navigation

While the 8-inch touchscreen is sizable, its interface needs work. Basic functions are hard to use when moving. Graphics are a bit old-school and the screen flow could be quicker. Menu structure is reasonably straightforward, but touch targets are small and volume slider is irritating.

Smartphone integration

Bluetooth audio and phone connectivity, a USB port that supports iPod and an auxiliary jack are standard. Supports Apple Carplay/Android Auto, but transitioning between their controls and those of the Honda-controlled systems could be smoother. Bluetooth pairing is easy for audio and phone.

Driver aids

The Clarity is flush with driver aids, most of which prove useful in keeping you out of trouble. They include a multi-angle rearview camera with dynamic guidelines, adaptive cruise control (comes to a full stop), forward collision warning/mitigation, lane keeping assist and Honda LaneWatch.

Voice control

The voice controls respond well to basic natural language and can control phone, nav and audio. For a more sophisticated system you can press and hold the voice button to bypass these and get to Siri or Google voice commands via your paired smartphone.

Top consumer reviews

Read what other owners think about the 2017 Honda Clarity.

2 reviews

Mid-size electric car

Steven Ascher,01/03/2018

Very happy with the 2017 Honda Clarity Electric. The only other fully electric car with this much room is a Tesla. Car drives great . Very comfortable in city/highway driving. Love all the HondaSense technology just wish it had blind spot monitoring (Edmunds says it does?). Range of 89 Miles is on low side but have not an issue with mostly local driving. When ready to explore outside my

Honda Clarity 17

Linda Lee,12/02/2017

The disadvantage from EV Clarity 17 as below: 1- E-power range 89 miles is shortage in 45-50 miles road drive. If driver on air/heat, play music or other device in car when driving or drive speed 65+ miles, power range down double faster. Driver be watchful, be alert power panel , be prepare accident anytime because they don't know when the power battery low suddenly stop on mid road or

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Features & Specs

MSRP

$58,490

MPG

N/A city / N/A hwy

Seats 5

1-speed direct drive

Electric

N/A

MSRP

$36,620

MPG

126 city / 103 hwy

Seats 5

1-speed direct drive

Electric

N/A

See all 2017 Honda Clarity features & specs

Safety

Our experts’ favorite Clarity safety features:

Adaptive Cruise Control: Helps maintain a constant vehicle speed and a set following interval behind a vehicle ahead of you and can bring you to a complete stop.
Lane Keeping Assist/Departure Warning: Applies a steering torque to help keep your vehicle within the lane and will alert 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.

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More about the 2017 Honda Clarity

The 2017 Honda Clarity Fuel Cell is a rare kind of vehicle that is fueled by hydrogen. Because of the limited hydrogen refueling infrastructure, the Clarity Fuel Cell is available only to qualified California residents on a three-year lease. This limited distribution also means the Clarity Fuel Cell comes in single trim, fully loaded with features. Interestingly, Honda provides $15,000 worth of hydrogen fuel over the three-year lease, and the Clarity qualifies for a $5,000 rebate under California's Clean Vehicle Rebate Project.

As a fully loaded model, some of the premium features in the Clarity include automatic wipers, keyless entry and push-button start, dual-zone climate control with a Plasmacluster ion air quality management, power-adjustable and heated front seats, a 12-speaker premium audio system, an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system, a navigation system with hydrogen refueling station and traffic info, satellite radio, Apple CarPlay/Android Auto capability, and remote app control over some vehicle functions through the HondaLink telematics system.

The Clarity also comes with virtually every active safety feature Honda offers as well, including a multi-angle rearview camera with dynamic guidelines, adaptive cruise control with low-speed following, forward collision warning with automatic emergency braking, lane departure warning and intervention, a head-up display and Honda LaneWatch.

The 2017 Honda Clarity essentially competes with only one other fuel cell vehicle on the market. The leasing terms of the Clarity are slightly pricier but comparable to its rival, and both manufacturers are providing the same $15,000 fuel stipend. After weighing the advantages the Clarity has in passenger space, and the total number miles it's able to travel on a full tank of fuel, the difference in cost will seem negligible.

If you'd like to compare these cutting-edge alternative fuel vehicles for yourself, spec for spec, before making a decision, you can do so right here at Edmunds.

2017 Honda Clarity Overview

The 2017 Honda Clarity is offered in the following submodels: . Available styles include Fuel Cell 4dr Sedan (electric DD), and Electric 4dr Sedan (electric DD).

What do people think of the 2017 Honda Clarity?

Consumer ratings and reviews are also available for the 2017 Honda Clarity and all its trim types. Overall, Edmunds users rate the 2017 Clarity 3 on a scale of 1 to 5 stars. Edmunds consumer reviews allow users to sift through aggregated consumer reviews to understand what other drivers are saying about any vehicle in our database. Detailed rating breakdowns (including performance, comfort, value, interior, exterior design, build quality, and reliability) are available as well to provide shoppers with a comprehensive understanding of why customers like the 2017 Clarity.

Edmunds Expert Reviews

Edmunds experts have compiled a robust series of ratings and reviews for the 2017 Honda Clarity and all model years in our database. Our rich content includes expert reviews and recommendations for the 2017 Clarity featuring deep dives into trim levels and features, performance, mpg, safety, interior, and driving. Edmunds also offers expert ratings, road test and performance data, long-term road tests, first-drive reviews, video reviews and more.

Our Review Process

This review was written by a member of Edmunds' editorial team of expert car reviewers. Our team drives every car you can buy. We put the vehicles through rigorous testing, evaluating how they drive and comparing them in detail to their competitors.

We're also regular people like you, so we pay attention to all the different ways people use their cars every day. We want to know if there's enough room for our families and our weekend gear and whether or not our favorite drink fits in the cupholder. Our editors want to help you make the best decision on a car that fits your life.

Which 2017 Honda Clarities are available in my area?

Shop Edmunds' car, SUV, and truck listings of over 6 million vehicles to find a cheap new, used, or certified pre-owned (CPO) 2017 Honda Clarity for sale near. Simply research the type of car you're interested in and then select a car from our massive database to find cheap vehicles for sale near you. Once you have identified a used vehicle you're interested in, check the Carfax and Autocheck vehicle history reports, read dealer reviews, and find out what other owners paid for the 2017 Honda Clarity.

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Should I lease or buy a 2017 Honda Clarity?

Is it better to lease or buy a car? Ask most people and they'll probably tell you that car buying is the way to go. And from a financial perspective, it's true, provided you're willing to make higher monthly payments, pay off the loan in full and keep the car for a few years. Leasing, on the other hand, can be a less expensive option on a month-to-month basis. It's also good if you're someone who likes to drive a new car every three years or so.

2017 Honda Clarity

New

2017 Honda Clarity pricing

Which Clarity does Edmunds recommend?

Edmunds' Expert Review

Overall rating

Trim levels & features

Trim tested

Driving

Acceleration

Braking

Steering

Handling

Drivability

Comfort

Seat comfort

Ride comfort

Noise & vibration

Climate control

Interior

Ease of use

Getting in/getting out

Driving position

Roominess

Visibility

Quality

Utility

Small-item storage

Cargo space

Child safety seat accommodation

Technology

Audio & navigation

Smartphone integration

Driver aids

Voice control

Features & Specs

Safety

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2017 Honda Clarity Overview

What do people think of the 2017 Honda Clarity?

Edmunds Expert Reviews

Our Review Process

Which 2017 Honda Clarities are available in my area?

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