2019 Honda Clarity Electric
What’s new
- The Honda Clarity carries over unchanged for 2019
- Part of the first Clarity generation introduced for 2017
Pros & Cons
- Comfortable, well-appointed cabin
- Solid driving range in all versions except Clarity Electric
- Pleasant ride quality in electric and plug-in hybrid versions
- Limited availability of all but Clarity Plug-In Hybrid
- Touchscreen infotainment system can be cumbersome to use
- Polarizing styling
2019 Honda Clarity Electric pricing
in Ashburn, VA
Which Clarity does Edmunds recommend?
Edmunds' Expert Review
Overall rating
The 2019 Honda Clarity is one of but a few vehicles that gives you a choice of fuel source. First, there's the Plug-In Hybrid version that uses a combination of a gasoline engine and electric motor to move you down the road. Second, there's the Electric model, which comes with a larger battery pack and more powerful motor. Finally, a Fuel Cell version converts hydrogen and oxygen into electricity to drive the car.
For most drivers, the Clarity Plug-In Hybrid will be the ideal choice. With a fully charged battery, it can provide up to 48 miles of all-electric range to handle commuting and around-town trips. Once the battery is depleted, the gasoline engine fires up and the Clarity works just like any other hybrid. It also has the largest trunk of the three Clarity models.
The Clarity Electric is battery-powered only. Unfortunately, its driving range is a disappointing 89 miles, which is much less than the range of other EVs such as the Chevrolet Bolt and Nissan Leaf. Finally, the Clarity Fuel Cell is available only as a lease and only works best for people who live or work near a hydrogen fueling station. It's about as easy to fuel up as a traditional car and gets up to 366 miles on a tank full of hydrogen gas.
Of the three Clarity versions, the Plug-In Hybrid has the broadest appeal to consumers. It is comfortable, has a solid amount of electric range, and should serve you well as a frugal and well-equipped hybrid.
2019 Honda Clarity models
The 2019 Honda Clarity is offered in three distinct versions: Plug-In Hybrid, Electric and Fuel Cell (late availability). Honda offers the Plug-In Hybrid in two trim levels. The others have just one trim.
The Clarity Plug-In Hybrid starts you off in either base or Touring trim. Both come with a 1.5-liter four-cylinder gasoline engine paired to an electric motor hybrid system (total system power is 212 horsepower and 232 pound-feet of torque), along with a 17-kWh lithium-ion battery. The electric-only range is estimated at 48 miles, and fuel economy for regular hybrid operation is 42 mpg.
The base trim features include keyless entry and start, heated front seats, dual-zone automatic climate control, an 8-inch touchscreen, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, two USB ports, an eight-speaker sound system, and the Honda Sensing suite of driver assistance features. The Touring trim adds power-adjustable front seats, leather upholstery, a navigation system, and remote climate-control preconditioning.
Next up is the Clarity Electric. It has an electric motor (161 hp, 221 lb-ft) and a relatively small (25.5-kWh) lithium-ion battery pack. As such, its EPA-estimated range of 89 miles puts it near the bottom of the EV pack. Otherwise, it's well-equipped with all of the above features.
Finally, the Clarity Fuel Cell is powered by an electric motor (174 hp, 221 lb-ft) fed by a fuel cell. The rear-mounted tanks hold enough compressed hydrogen for an EPA-estimated 366 miles of emission-free motoring. Notably, the Fuel Cell exclusively comes with a premium 12-speaker sound system.
Scorecard
| Overall | undefined / 5 |
Sponsored cars related to the Clarity
Consumer reviews
Read what other owners think about the 2019 Honda Clarity.
Trending topics in reviews
- comfort
- seats
- ride quality
- emission system
- interior
- driving experience
- spaciousness
Most helpful consumer reviews
We have owned a Volt for 3 years and our other car was totaled and needed to buy a new car. With GM abandoning the Volt, we looked at all plug-in hybrid options. By far the best choice is the Honda Clarity, and we even like it better than the Volt. It gets about the same electric range (about 47 miles) and total range (400 miles), but it is way more spacious and comfortable. The tech is impressive, The seats are incredibly comfortable. The ride is very smooth. And above all it's great for the environment!
In my first review I wrote: "The big question is WHY HONDA WON'T SHIP the Clarity to MN?" Now approaching 10,000 miles I can write that the answer is cold weather. Even in my attached garage, my car normally charges to 30 empg which is a significant decline from warm weather charging. Still, most days driving from suburb to city and back, I often use no gasoline. Strategic grocery shopping where free chargers are available can help boost my range but increasingly I have to switch from EV to HV mode. I estimate my total gas consumption to be 30 gallons in 9600 miles so still not bad at all but the burning is significantly higher in the winter, just because my overnight charge is so much less. Probably because of the mfg tires, traction isn't great and the inability to shift to a lower gear without triggering regenerative braking has made it impossible to attack steep, slippery streets. Thankfully my area is largely flat. I have learned that when approaching an ice covered intersection, using the regenerative braking paddles bring me to a stop FAR safer and faster than just applying the brakes. When I accelerate while burning gas, the engine whines like it's a two-cylinder. Switching to Sport mode helps with this but then I am burning more gas. It's still a comfortable ride in most conditions and there is plenty of back-seat space and a very generous trunk.
Features & Specs
| Electric 4dr Sedan electric DD | |
|---|---|
| MSRP | $36,620 |
| MPG | 126 city / 103 hwy |
| Seating | Seats 5 |
| Transmission | 1-speed direct drive |
| Horsepower | N/A |
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
- Automatically applies steering to help keep your vehicle in 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.
Honda Clarity vs. the competition
Honda Clarity vs. Toyota Mirai
The Clarity and the Mirai are the two main choices for a hydrogen-fueled vehicle. They are similar in many ways. Overall, the Clarity gets slightly higher scores for interior design and utility.
Honda Clarity vs. Hyundai Nexo
We don't know much about the Nexo yet. It offers up to 380 miles of driving range. The Nexo could have key advantages with its greater cargo capacity and newer and easier-to-use infotainment interface.
FAQ
Is the Honda Clarity a good car?
What's new in the 2019 Honda Clarity?
According to Edmunds’ car experts, here’s what’s new for the 2019 Honda Clarity:
- The Honda Clarity carries over unchanged for 2019
- Part of the first Clarity generation introduced for 2017
Is the Honda Clarity reliable?
Is the 2019 Honda Clarity a good car?
How much should I pay for a 2019 Honda Clarity?
The least-expensive 2019 Honda Clarity is the 2019 Honda Clarity Electric 4dr Sedan (electric DD). Including destination charge, it arrives with a Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) of about $36,620.
Other versions include:
- Electric 4dr Sedan (electric DD) which starts at $36,620
What are the different models of Honda Clarity?
More about the 2019 Honda Clarity
2019 Honda Clarity Electric Overview
The 2019 Honda Clarity Electric is offered in the following styles: Electric 4dr Sedan (electric DD).
What do people think of the 2019 Honda Clarity Electric?
Consumer ratings and reviews are also available for the 2019 Honda Clarity Electric and all its trim types. Overall, Edmunds users rate the 2019 Clarity Electric 4.4 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 2019 Clarity Electric.
Edmunds Expert Reviews
Edmunds experts have compiled a robust series of ratings and reviews for the 2019 Honda Clarity Electric and all model years in our database. Our rich analysis includes expert reviews and recommendations for the 2019 Clarity Electric featuring deep dives into trim levels including Electric, etc. with careful analysis around pricing, features, performance, mpg, safety, interior, and driving and performance. Edmunds also offers expert ratings, road test and performance data, long-term road tests, first-drive reviews, video reviews and more.
Read our full review of the 2019 Honda Clarity Electric here.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.
What's a good price for a New 2019 Honda Clarity Electric?
Shop with Edmunds for perks and special offers on new cars, trucks, and SUVs near Ashburn, VA. Doing so could save you hundreds or thousands of dollars. Edmunds also provides consumer-driven dealership sales and service reviews to help you make informed decisions about what cars to buy and where to buy them.
Which 2019 Honda Clarity Electrics are available in my area?
2019 Honda Clarity Electric Listings and Inventory
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Why trust Edmunds?
Edmunds has deep data on over 6 million new, used, and certified pre-owned vehicles, including all models of the 2019 Honda Clarity Electric and all available trim types: Electric. Rich, trim-level features & specs and options data tracked for the 2019 Honda Clarity Electric include (but are not limited to): MSRP, available incentives and deals, average price paid, warranty information (basic, drivetrain, and maintenance), features (interior and exterior color, upholstery, bluetooth, navigation, cruise control, parking assistance, lane sensing, keyless ignition, satellite radio, folding rears seats,run flat tires, wheel type, tire size, sunroof, etc.), vehicle specifications (engine cylinder count, drivetrain, engine power, torque, engine displacement, transmission), fuel economy and MPG (city, highway, and combined, fuel capacity, range), vehicle dimensions (interior cabin space, vehicle length and width, seating capacity, cargo space). Edmunds also provides tools to allow shopper to compare vehicles to similar models of their choosing by warranty, interior features, exterior features, specifications, vehicle dimensions, consumer rating, edmunds expert review, safety rating, and color.
Should I lease or buy a 2019 Honda Clarity Electric?
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.
Check out Honda lease specials