2021 Honda Clarity Review

Name: 2021 Honda Clarity Review
Brand: Honda
Price: 22864 USD

Price Estimate: $22,864 - $25,767

+165

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.

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Honda Clarity types

Sedan
Plug-in Hybrid

2021 Honda Clarity Review

byReese Counts^{Vehicle Test Editor
Reese Counts has worked in the automotive industry since he started as an intern at Edmunds in 2015. He has written or edited thousands of car-related articles and tested and reviewed hundreds of vehicles over the course of his career. Reese is a vehicle test editor at Edmunds and has also contributed to Autoblog. Reese has also been featured on Yahoo! Finance, Engadget and AOL reviewing cars and covering automotive technology, auto shows and more. Reese learned to drive in his father's C4 Chevrolet Corvette and now owns his grandfather's 1999 Mercedes-Benz C43 AMG. A love for cars runs deep in his family.}

Pros

Comfortable, well-appointed cabin
PHEV's long electric driving range
Near-silent ride with little noise intrusion

Cons

Limited availability of Clarity Fuel Cell
Touchscreen infotainment system can be cumbersome to use
Polarizing styling

What's new

The Clarity is unchanged for 2021
Part of the first Clarity generation introduced for 2017

Overview

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.

Cost to Drive^{Cost to drive estimates for the 2021 Honda Clarity Plug-In Hybrid 4dr Sedan (1.5L 4cyl gas/electric plug-in hybrid CVT) and comparison vehicles are based on 15,000 miles per year (with a mix of 55% city and 45% highway driving) and energy estimates of $2.93 per gallon for regular unleaded and $0.14 per kWh for electricity in Virginia.}

Monthly estimates based on costs in Virginia

$67/mo

$155/mo

Avg. Midsize Car

Calculate my fuel costs

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.

Edmunds Expert Rating

Our Verdict^{The Edmunds Vehicle Testing Team evaluates a fresh batch of vehicles every week, pairing objective assessments at our test track with real-world driving on city streets, freeways and winding roads. The data we gather results in our Expert Ratings. They’re based on 30-plus scores that cover every aspect of the automotive experience.}

Average

7.2

out of 10

edmunds TESTED

Rated for you by America's best test team.

Performance

7/10

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.

Comfort

7.5/10

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.

Interior

8/10

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.

Technology

7/10

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.

Storage

7.5/10

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.

Fuel Economy

8/10

How’s the fuel economy? 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.

Value

7/10

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

6.5/10

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?

We suggest going with the Clarity Plug-In Hybrid over its fuel cell sibling. The hydrogen infrastructure is limited and inconvenient, so opting for the plug-in variant gives you the flexibility of a regular hybrid.

2021 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.

Plug-In Hybrid
The Plug-In Hybrid is available in two trims. The base model includes:

LED headlights
Dual-zone automatic climate control
Keyless entry with push-button start
Heated front seats
Eight-speaker audio system
8-inch touchscreen display with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
Honda Sensing

Collision mitigation braking (warns if a front impact is imminent and applies the brakes if you don't respond in time)
Lane keeping assist (warns you of a lane departure when a turn signal isn't used and can automatically steer to maintain lane position)
Adaptive cruise control (adjusts speed to maintain a constant distance between the vehicle and the car in front)

Clarity Plug-In Hybrid Touring
Stepping up to the Touring trim doesn't change the Clarity's performance, but you do get a few more standard features, including:

Power-adjustable front seats
Leather upholstery
Navigation

Clarity Fuel Cell
The Clarity Fuel Cell includes all of the Plug-In Hybrid Touring's features and adds:

Head-up display
12-speaker audio system with a subwoofer

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Consumer reviews

Read what other owners think about the Used 2021 Honda Clarity.

5 (71%)

4 (6%)

3 (8%)

2 (2%)

1 (13%)

4.2

48 reviews

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Most helpful consumer 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 …

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.

Love our 2018 clarity!

Kevin, 04/20/2019

2019 Honda Clarity Touring Plug-In Hybrid 4dr Sedan (1.5L 4cyl gas/electric hybrid CVT)

Love, Love, Love this car. Once you get past the skirts on the rear wheel wells (which apparently many people like) there really is nothing not to like. I mean, we got the $7500 tax credit, and have put over 5000mi since December and have probably filled the 7gal tank about 8x. When on the highway I’ve found I’ll get overall better mpg if I put it in hv mode, leaving the battery charged …

The Clear Choice is Clarity

Curt Barnett, 04/22/2019

2019 Honda Clarity Electric 4dr Sedan (electric DD)

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 …

We have a limited number of reviews for the 2021 Honda Clarity, so we've included reviews for other years of the Clarity since its last redesign.

See all 48 reviews of the Honda Clarity

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2021 Clarity Highlights

Type:

Sedan

Trim:

Plug-In Hybrid

Base MSRP Excludes Destination Fee	$33,400
EV Tax Credits & Rebates	$4,125 Based on income
Engine Type	Plug-in hybrid
EPA Electric Range	47 miles
Combined MPGe (Electric + Gas)	110 MPGe^{MPGe is the official metric that the EPA uses to measure the efficiency of alternative-fuel (including electric) vehicles. Just like regular MPG shows how far a car will travel on one gallon of gas, MPGe shows how far a vehicle will drive on 33.7kWh of electricity - the energy equivalent of one gallon of gasoline. Combined MPGe is the combined total of 45% city MPGe + 55% highway MPGe.}
Cost to Drive	$67/month
Total Charging Time (240V)	2.5 hours
Seating	5 seats
Cargo Capacity All Seats In Place	15.5 cu.ft.
Drivetrain	front wheel drive
Warranty	3 years / 36,000 miles

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Safety

Our experts like the Clarity models:

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.

2021 Honda Clarity Review

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2021 Honda Clarity Review

Pros

Cons

What's new

Overview

What's it like to live with?

Edmunds Expert Rating

Performance

Comfort

Interior

Technology

Storage

Fuel Economy

Value

Wildcard

Which Clarity does Edmunds recommend?

2021 Honda Clarity models

Most helpful consumer reviews

I’m averaging 500+ mpg. Love this car.

Best car investment I could make

Love our 2018 clarity!

The Clear Choice is Clarity

2021 Clarity Highlights

Safety

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