PHEVs are the hot new thing. How about Honda introducing an updated Clarity?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Mark W
  • Start date Start date
  • Replies Replies 24
  • Views Views 5K
M

Mark W

Active Member
I have not been keeping up with Honda's electrification plans. I know they have the CR-V PHEV, but has Honda announced any other PHEVs? Most other automakers seem to be shifting plans from EVs to PHEVs and hybrids.

Most of us on this board love our Clarity PHEVs. It seems it would seem pretty simple to take the Clarity and improve on it with not too much effort. Just take the guts of the Clarity, change the body panels, get rid of the wheel skirt, update the software, tune the drivetrain to get rid of the harsh engine revving, name it something new, and you're good! Make it a hatchback while you're at it.

I know the market has primarily moved away from sedans to SUVs, but Honda still sells a bunch of Civics and Accords, right? It seems to me that the Clarity was a great vehicle, but the thought at the time was that a PHEV sedan was not wanted in the marketplace, but that seems to have shifted, and it would not take long to re-tool it without the ugly wheel skirts and it would meet current market needs? What do you guys think?
 
No on all the physical changes, except maybe more engine sound-proofing. The lawnmower is a bit annoying. It needs some software fixes, though. Like turning fully on when in accessory mode, which the words on the dash say you can do, but you actually can't. Using a modern Android version would be nice. Updatable built in apps (like the Pandora) host.
 
petteyg359 said:
No on all the physical changes, except maybe more engine sound-proofing. The lawnmower is a bit annoying. It needs some software fixes, though. Like turning fully on when in accessory mode, which the words on the dash say you can do, but you actually can't. Using a modern Android version would be nice. Updatable built in apps (like the Pandora) host.
Click to expand...
Honestly take the new accord infotainment, tech, and styling then slap it into the old clarity chassis make it into a hatchback, actually market it and you'll make a good selling vehicle.
 
Mark W said:
I have not been keeping up with Honda's electrification plans. I know they have the CR-V PHEV, but has Honda announced any other PHEVs? Most other automakers seem to be shifting plans from EVs to PHEVs and hybrids.

Most of us on this board love our Clarity PHEVs. It seems it would seem pretty simple to take the Clarity and improve on it with not too much effort. Just take the guts of the Clarity, change the body panels, get rid of the wheel skirt, update the software, tune the drivetrain to get rid of the harsh engine revving, name it something new, and you're good! Make it a hatchback while you're at it.

I know the market has primarily moved away from sedans to SUVs, but Honda still sells a bunch of Civics and Accords, right? It seems to me that the Clarity was a great vehicle, but the thought at the time was that a PHEV sedan was not wanted in the marketplace, but that seems to have shifted, and it would not take long to re-tool it without the ugly wheel skirts and it would meet current market needs? What do you guys think?
Click to expand...
The clarity (2nd Gen) platform is dead, it isn't coming back. The factory that made it is closed, the tooling is either disassembled, decommissioned, or repurposed. Making a re-run more or less of the 2nd gen clarity platform would be obscenely expensive and wouldn't make much sense. Honda has improved designs since the clarity was made. I bet you if they do make another phev it will be some civic with it's chassis refitted so a big battery fits. Either that or they just rebadge a GM car.
 
TC1782 said:
Either that or they just rebadge a GM car.
Click to expand...
Does GM still make any cars besides the Corvette and the Cadillac CTs? The Chevy Malibu won't be made after this year.

Honda's retooling their Marysville, Ohio, factory to make EVs, but I'm sure none of them will be cars. The first post-Ultium, American-built, Honda EV will be the production version of the Acura Performance Concept.

upload_2024-9-10_20-9-49.webp

After a bunch of early-adopters (me) paid full-price, the price of the Clarity was often discounted to move them off dealer lots. When the Clarity expired, I expected a PHEV Accord to take its place, but Honda's experience with the Clarity might have been too discouraging.

We fans of cars are lucky Honda's still selling the Civic and Accord in the US. We fans of EV cars are hoping the Sony-Honda Afeela concept remains a car (but gets a new name).

Meanwhile, as PHEVs are gaining in popularity, I'm surprised Honda doesn't make even one to sell in the US.
 
Last edited:
petteyg359 said:
It needs some software fixes, though
Click to expand...

I think everyone can agree that the Clarity 'tech' is obsolete and needs more than just a few software fixes. We have also had a Model Y for a little over a year now, and the software update philosophy of Tesla is just night and day compared to Honda. With the Tesla, there have been 24 over-the-air software updates in a year. The Clarity - NO updates in almost 6 years. Of course the Clarity is not really capable of over-the-air updates like the Tesla, but you would think that a couple of updates / bug fixes (through the dealer) would have been warranted. Clearly Honda didn't produce 'perfect' software that never needs any changes... It is just a totally different strategy.
 
insightman said:
Does GM still make any cars besides the Corvette and the Cadillac CTs? The Chevy Malibu won't be made after this year.

Honda's retooling their Marysville, Ohio, factory to make EVs, but I'm sure none of them will be cars. The first post-Ultium, American-built, Honda EV will be the production version of the Acura Performance Concept.

View attachment 23253

After a bunch of early-adopters (me) paid full-price, the price of the Clarity was often discounted to move them off dealer lots. When the Clarity expired, I expected a PHEV Accord to take its place, but Honda's experience with the Clarity might have been too discouraging.

We fans of cars are lucky Honda's still selling the Civic and Accord in the US. We fans of EV cars are hoping the Sony-Honda Afeela concept remains a car (but gets a new name).

Meanwhile, as PHEVs are gaining in popularity, I'm surprised Honda doesn't make even one to sell in the US.
Click to expand...

What kills me is that my 2018 Clarity is still the best PHEV on the market. If Honda put out a PHEV CR-V I’d buy it on day 1.
 
TC1782 said:
Really? The current Prius prime is a better car in almost every way, and has comparable ev range.
Click to expand...

If the interior is at all like other Priuses, it is far worse. I like my roomy Clarity. I detest having to cram myself into a Prius. And there's no leather option. If you go up a trim level or two for their "softex", you lose EV range.
 
Patience will be rewarded. California regulations will require PHEV’s to have 50 miles of EV range. Manufacturers build vehicles to meet California standards. Expect to see them late next year.

Additionally, manufacturers have backed away from their ambitious electric vehicle production goals. It appears that the EV market has reached the saturation point. EV’s are available to lease for as little as $20/mo because dealers want them off the lot.

Toyota probably has the upper hand on getting PHEV’s to the market that have 50+ miles of electric range. Stellantis may be second in line, however, they’ll have to shift their focus from their large and larger SUV’s to smaller vehicles. Unless they put their Jeep line on the Ramcharger platform.

Honda will likely punt.
 
I don’t think Honda ever made money on the clarity given the low sale prices vs the volume. Maybe GM will surprise us again, but I agree that Honda will punt and just produce EVs.
 
I don't think Honda ever thought about making with Clarity. The car was born as a platform to test Hydrogen. That's why the rear links were so complicated and the center console was made the way it did to snake the hydrogen hose through and to provide extra space for the gas tank. They then threw in the engine and battery to test PHEV. It would had make sense if Honda port the powertrain to Accord. Both looked and size similar to each other.
 
I was out today and saw a 2022 Hyundai Santa Fe (SUV type) plugin hybrid. I googled it and it appears the plugin has been discontinued. I'm a huge PHEV/Plugin fan. I'll keep Clarity as long as I can. But if I can, my next car will also be some type of plugin hybrid.
 
Dan Albrich said:
I was out today and saw a 2022 Hyundai Santa Fe (SUV type) plugin hybrid. I googled it and it appears the plugin has been discontinued. I'm a huge PHEV/Plugin fan. I'll keep Clarity as long as I can. But if I can, my next car will also be some type of plugin hybrid.
Click to expand...
Dear god, I would avoid the Santa Fe plug in hybrid at all costs unless your looking for a disposable car. Atleast the clarity looks reliable on paper.
 
Dan Albrich said:
2022 Hyundai Santa Fe (SUV type) plugin hybrid. I googled it and it appears the plugin has been discontinued.
Click to expand...
Hyundai makes a Tucson Plug-in Hybrid, but after @TC1782's post above, I wonder if it's any good?

The Toyota RAV4 Prime and Prius Prime are good plug-in hybrids, but the very quick RAV4 Prime is always in short supply and the Prius Prime is smaller than our Claritys.

BMW makes plug-in hybrids, too, but at $72K, the least expensive one is double the cost of our Clarity.

One forum member is a fan of the upcoming 2025 Ram Ramcharger 1500 pickup, which will be an interesting plug-in serial hybrid--if the beleagured Stellantis can manage to stay in business.
 
Last edited:
Dan Albrich said:
I was out today and saw a 2022 Hyundai Santa Fe (SUV type) plugin hybrid. I googled it and it appears the plugin has been discontinued.
Click to expand...

Motortrend, Car & Driver and Edmunds have all published reviews of the 2025 Hyundai Tucson PHEV.

Source is the internet, so it could all be baloney.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top