2020 Honda Clarity

Price: $15,593

Honda Clarity Reviews

Owner Reviews

4.1
38 reviews
5(66%)
4(7%)
3(9%)
2(2%)
1(16%)
See all 38 reviews of the Honda Clarity
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Most Helpful Owner Reviews

I’m averaging 500+ mpg. Love this car.
D. W., 04/09/2019
2019 Honda Clarity Plug-In Hybrid 4dr Sedan (1.5L 4cyl gas/electric hybrid CVT)
Currently I have gone 1,900 miles and still have over 1/2 a tank of gas. I may go 5,000 miles on a single tank of gas (7 gallon tank). Mileage is incredible. I plug in a work for free so electricity cost is low. It usually costs $1.40 cents to charge at home and I can travel 50-60 miles per charge. My daily work commute is 56 miles and I make it 99% of the time on all electric. The … gas motor will turn on if the battery is fully charged and then you apply regenerative brakes, thus overcharging the batteries. To prevent this Honda reduces regen and turns on the motor. To avoid this just use the brakes, no regen, for about a mile. I love this car. It is quiet, big, fast enough, and gets crazy gas mileage. I own a Volt, but the Clarity PHEV is better in most ways. Update: 10/12/21 I have 56,000 miles on my Clarity. My lifetime average is over 199.99 mpg. That is the highest the read goes to. I probably average between 200-300 mpg. I love this car and will keep it until it dies. I have had no mechanical issues and it still performs like new. I have had 3 rockets hit my windshield and it is cracked. It will cost $900 to install and recalibrate the camera. The PHEV Clarity is really one of the best plug in hybrids on the market. Update 10/15/2022. 76,000 miles. Zero maintenance issues. I replaced my windshield for $1,200. Still has a lifetime average over 200 mpg. I drove 2,500 on a vacation and only charged twice, the rest of the time burning gas. Gas average was 52 mpg. I did purchase a spare tire after I got a flat on the freeway. The car is really saving me money with $6 gas in California. I can literally go months before I have to refill it’s small 7 gallon gas tank. As complex as this drive train is, it runs perfectly so far.
Best car investment I could make
Susan in Portland, 08/07/2019
2019 Honda Clarity Touring Plug-In Hybrid 4dr Sedan (1.5L 4cyl gas/electric hybrid CVT)
Pro: I've owned my Clarity Touring for four months now (2300 miles) and taken it on several 300+ mile trips as well as lots of in-town driving. I feel like a genius for having bought one. The PHEV is the best of both worlds, so I don't mind paying a little for gas on a long trip (even though Hybrid Charging does save on the gas, as does its native 40+ miles per gallon. Of all the … vehicles in this price range I've seen around the charging stations, my Clarity Touring is by far the roomiest, most cushy, comfortable, well-built of the lot. Has enough pep to make merging no big deal and the updated tech/safety features are considerable. I don't mind the wheel covers or the fact that there is no volume knob on the infotainment console (my iPhone doesn't have one either). Voice commands, Apple Carplay and Android Auto both work like a charm, and the app, while not super robust, works well enough. I LOVE THIS CAR. Con: The only drawback to buying this car is that Honda doesn't seem to adequately train dealers in how to support them. (Indeed, I'm not sure all dealers even know they are a Honda product with the lack of marketing and distribution!) I am not confident that my local dealer knows a lot about these cars or any quirks they may have, and since Honda has put little effort in educating them, it is not surprising that a few folks are unhappy. I feel for the guys who have had issues that aren't getting resolved, but I would point the finger directly at Honda support and the dealers. Shame on them for not supporting a very high quality product that could otherwise have a much wider market! UPDATE: Clara-T is now almost a year old, with 6k miles. All the hybrid miles are highway (long trips) and do net me over 40 mpg. The really great thing is the in-town range is enough that I can use only electric power. I charge at night so I get those electrons almost free. It is a solid, luxurious, 5 passenger car that makes me look and feel like a genius for snagging one. No issues to date. I still love this car! UPDATE 2021: I still love this car and feel like a genius for buying it. It’s the best car I have ever owned. I’m loving the money I’ve saved, too. UPDATE 2022: Still LOVE THIS CAR! Due to COVID disruption in my life, it only has 15k miles on it, 90% EV. No problems whatsoever. I think the geniuses at Honda America were so wrong to discontinue such a brilliant car, especially now that EVs are really gaining traction (sorry, pun) in the market. I think that the market value of my used Clarity PHEV in these admittedly wacko times makes this the smartest car investment I have ever made.
Awesome Car
RickSE, 04/10/2019
2019 Honda Clarity Touring Plug-In Hybrid 4dr Sedan (1.5L 4cyl gas/electric plug-in hybrid CVT)
I’ve owned my Clarity for 6 months and this is one of the best cars I’ve ever bought. Driven >6000 miles on 21 gallons of gas. 85% of my driving is on EV because the car averages 47 miles on battery. I live in New England so the car has gone though a winter. Like all EVs, battery range drops in the winter but I still got ~35 miles of EV range. On HV the car gets 42 mpg. The car is very … comfortable and hugs the road. Not a sports car, but that’s not why I bought it. Car seats 5 comfortably and has a big trunk. The deals are amazing. The is one of the least expensive sedans on the road. I’m sorry nick had a bad experience but visit insideevs and look at the Clarity section. Lots of very happy clarity owners. Update: now 18 months in and still love the car. Very comfortable and powerful enough for me. I’ve gone on six road trips and get >40 mpg with passengers and luggage. EV covers my commute so I’m about 80% on battery. This car is a hidden gem. Too bad no one really knows the value. Update: 4 1/2 years in and still loving the car! If you are looking for a used PHEV, this is the one to get. It's still better than most PHEVs on the market. Update #2: almost 6 years in now and my biggest complaint is that my kids refuse to let me drive it! It’s our family go-to car for everyone. I do an annual oil change and after 55k miles getting new tires. That’s it for maintenance. If you are looking and find one used at a decent price then buy it - you won’t be disappointed. It’s still the best PHEV on the market. Update 2025: still have this awesome car with no desire to get rid of it. Battery range is still solid. Needed new brakes at 65k miles after 7 years. I also have a full EV, but the clarity is my go-to road trip car because I like having the gas option.
Battery performance in the cold
Jimmy, 07/14/2019
2019 Honda Clarity Electric 4dr Sedan (electric DD)
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.
We have a limited number of reviews for the 2020 Honda Clarity, so we've included reviews for other years of the Clarity since its last redesign.

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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 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.

FAQ

Is the Honda Clarity a good car?

The Edmunds experts tested the 2020 Clarity both on the road and at the track, giving it a 7.2 out of 10. Edmunds’ consumer reviews show that the 2020 Clarity gets an average rating of 4 stars out of 5 (based on 38 reviews) What about cargo capacity? When you're thinking about carrying stuff in your new car, keep in mind that carrying capacity for the Clarity ranges from 11.8 to 15.5 cubic feet of trunk space. And then there's safety and reliability. Edmunds has all the latest NHTSA and IIHS crash-test scores, plus industry-leading expert and consumer reviews to help you understand what it's like to own and maintain a Honda Clarity. Learn more

What's new in the 2020 Honda Clarity?

According to Edmunds’ car experts, here’s what’s new for the 2020 Honda Clarity:

  • Heated side mirrors now standard on the fuel cell version
  • Battery electric version discontinued
  • Part of the first Clarity generation introduced for 2017
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Is the Honda Clarity reliable?

To determine whether the Honda Clarity is reliable, read Edmunds' authentic consumer reviews, which come from real owners and reveal what it's like to live with the Clarity. Look for specific complaints that keep popping up in the reviews, and be sure to compare the Clarity's 4-star average consumer rating to that of competing vehicles. Learn more

Is the 2020 Honda Clarity a good car?

There's a lot to consider if you're wondering whether the 2020 Honda Clarity is a good car. Edmunds' expert testing team reviewed the 2020 Clarity and gave it a 7.2 out of 10. Our consumer reviews show that the 2020 Clarity gets an average rating of 4 stars out of 5 (based on 38 reviews). Safety scores, fuel economy, cargo capacity and feature availability should all be factors in determining whether the 2020 Clarity is a good car for you. Learn more

How much should I pay for a 2020 Honda Clarity?

The least-expensive 2020 Honda Clarity is the 2020 Honda Clarity Plug-In Hybrid 4dr Sedan (1.5L 4cyl gas/electric plug-in 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 plug-in hybrid CVT) which starts at $33,400
  • Touring Plug-In Hybrid 4dr Sedan (1.5L 4cyl gas/electric plug-in hybrid CVT) which starts at $36,600
  • Fuel Cell 4dr Sedan (electric (fuel cell) DD) which starts at $58,490
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What are the different models of Honda Clarity?

If you're interested in the Honda Clarity, the next question is, which Clarity model is right for you? Clarity variants include Plug-In Hybrid 4dr Sedan (1.5L 4cyl gas/electric plug-in hybrid CVT), Touring Plug-In Hybrid 4dr Sedan (1.5L 4cyl gas/electric plug-in hybrid CVT), and Fuel Cell 4dr Sedan (electric (fuel cell) DD). For a full list of Clarity models, check out Edmunds’ Features & Specs page. Learn more
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