jdonalds
Well-Known Member
We are so pleased with the Clarity PHEV. Kudos to Honda for designing a great car.
It is interesting that with all of the posts here on InsideEVs there seems to be only one problem reported, that being the Sirius radio is disabled after the car executes a Remote Climate process. I guess the other thing that has had several comments is the inaccuracy of the battery charge gauge on the left side of the driver gauge console.
Both my wife and I say this is be best car we've ever owned. I don't understand why Honda needs the Accord line anymore. Just combine the best features of both for the next model.
I thought it would be interesting to start a thread with Likes, Things I wish were different, and Dislikes.
Likes:
Well this category overwhelms the others. The car has a lot to like.
- 47 miles of EV range is more than perfect for us
- 2.5 hours charge on Level 2. Quick enough almost not to notice when charged at home after a partial discharge.
- Decent 42 mpg on the ICE when on long trips. A step down from the 50 mpg Prius but we won't use the ICE very often so on average our gas mileage is superb. We will go for weeks without using a drop of gas.
- Overall looks. We like the looks of the crimson Clarity.
- Interior looks. This car is elegant, simple but full featured.
- Very comfortable seats
- Honda Sense features, especially ACC
- Brake Hold. Now that I'm trying it I like it. I'm afraid I'll miss it when I drive the 4Runner.
- Gauges. I finally got away from the much disliked (to me) centered gauges of the Prius. Also the gauges are bright, colorful, and easy to read. I often had a hard time reading the 2015 Prius gauges.
- User customizable center 8" screen layout
- Many user customization for the car features (window, key, etc behaviors)
- Garmin GPS/Maps. We've used Garmin for many years so this was positive for us.
- My wife made positive comments about the leather wrapped steering wheel.
- Numerous options for audio, maps, Android Auto, and more. I use a thumb drive with all of our music.
- Power driver and front passenger seats.
- Heated seats: This sold my wife on the car. Forget all the other features.
- Automatic two driver power seats. This is why we selected the Touring model.
- 4 window auto up/down
- Tire pressure sensors.
- Smooth ride.
- Good cornering
- Good acceleration
- Unbelievably quiet interior even at freeway speeds. This continues to astound us. It makes the car more comfortable, easier on the body on long trips, and gives it a more top tier elegant ride. Just Wonderful
- Charge port near the driver's door where I think it should be. Get out of the car and plug in without walking around to the other side. In front might have been good too if it could be hidden.
- Can open all four windows from the key fog.
- Remote Climate start. This has got to be a really good feature with our over 100 degree summers.
- I'm sure there are more positives. The car is great.
- Sun visors that slide to cover the rear of the driver's window. This should be a federal regulation!
- This car lacks all of the clicks, hums, and buzzes of the Prius. It's quiet.
- This car lacks the high revving ICE sound of the Prius when accelerating. It's smooth.
- I sense no transitions from regen to physical brakes.
- I sense no transitions when the ICE kicks on or off.
- After becoming familiar with the steering wheel controls I like them.
Things I wish were different:
- Lack of storage and little cubby holes.
- No rear window wiper. We haven't had a car without one for a couple of decades. We do use them.
- I would prefer carpets that match the tan seat color. The black gets dirty too easily.
- Cargo space in the Prius was superior. I wish the Clarity was a hatchback with more cargo space. Cargo space was a major decision maker for us when searching for a PHEV.
- Fold down rear seats. Really are more of a pass-through. I don't know if they will be very useful. We haven't used them yet. We've put things in the rear seats when the trunk had insufficient space. We haven't folded down the seats yet. In the Prius this would have been a no-brainer.
- Voice controls could be better. A bit more Google like and not so limited.
- I wish you could also close all four windows from the key fob.
- I wish the Remote Climate didn't try to be so smart and not turn on if it isn't cold enough. I want to make that decision myself.
- I wish the Lane Keep Assist was more capable of controlling the car around curves. It gives up way too soon and would easily run me off the road.
- I wish the 8" screen reaction time was quicker in some instances. For example when I push the Climate button it can take several seconds to switch.
- While I like the looks of the car washing it took a bit more effort due to the many small body panels and inserts. I'm thinking of how the Tesla is just the opposite. Also with the complex characteristics of the external car a minor accident will be very expensive to repair.
- I wish the side view mirrors would tilt down when in reverse.
- I wish the side view mirrors would automatically fold when the car is parked.
- I wish the rear power outlet was a dual USB charge slot instead of a 12V outlet.
- I wish the HV and Econ buttons functions were different. One button which would be EV when on (lighted) and HV when off. Econ would be on all the time. Not sure I need Charge mode after testing it. Sport can still be a second button, the only mode where Econ is turned off.
Dislikes
- I think the shift flying buttress design sucks. I never liked the Prius for the same reason. It takes up way too much room. It could have included some small compartments for coins etc. It could have been designed to be more integrated with the vertical stack and armrest. It looks like a patch. My knees would like to have more space which is taken up by the non-functional wings of the shift design.
- When a car in front of me stops the ACC waits too long to slow down, then brakes too hard.
- When restarting after an ACC controlled stop the car builds speed much too slowly.
- When accelerating after an ACC controlled slow down the car builds speed much too slowly.
- I'm pretty unhappy with the LED headlights. To me they are not bright enough, and the high beams are quite disappointing. Apparently the LED lights are just the opposite for oncoming traffic. I often have people flash their high beams at me, or just turn on their high beams and leave them on when passing me. The Clarity headlights must look too bright to them.
Things that are not very important to me:
- Serius radio
- Pandora
- The lane watch display (camera under the passenger side view mirror) is cute but I'm not sure it will help.
It is interesting that with all of the posts here on InsideEVs there seems to be only one problem reported, that being the Sirius radio is disabled after the car executes a Remote Climate process. I guess the other thing that has had several comments is the inaccuracy of the battery charge gauge on the left side of the driver gauge console.
Both my wife and I say this is be best car we've ever owned. I don't understand why Honda needs the Accord line anymore. Just combine the best features of both for the next model.
I thought it would be interesting to start a thread with Likes, Things I wish were different, and Dislikes.
Likes:
Well this category overwhelms the others. The car has a lot to like.
- 47 miles of EV range is more than perfect for us
- 2.5 hours charge on Level 2. Quick enough almost not to notice when charged at home after a partial discharge.
- Decent 42 mpg on the ICE when on long trips. A step down from the 50 mpg Prius but we won't use the ICE very often so on average our gas mileage is superb. We will go for weeks without using a drop of gas.
- Overall looks. We like the looks of the crimson Clarity.
- Interior looks. This car is elegant, simple but full featured.
- Very comfortable seats
- Honda Sense features, especially ACC
- Brake Hold. Now that I'm trying it I like it. I'm afraid I'll miss it when I drive the 4Runner.
- Gauges. I finally got away from the much disliked (to me) centered gauges of the Prius. Also the gauges are bright, colorful, and easy to read. I often had a hard time reading the 2015 Prius gauges.
- User customizable center 8" screen layout
- Many user customization for the car features (window, key, etc behaviors)
- Garmin GPS/Maps. We've used Garmin for many years so this was positive for us.
- My wife made positive comments about the leather wrapped steering wheel.
- Numerous options for audio, maps, Android Auto, and more. I use a thumb drive with all of our music.
- Power driver and front passenger seats.
- Heated seats: This sold my wife on the car. Forget all the other features.
- Automatic two driver power seats. This is why we selected the Touring model.
- 4 window auto up/down
- Tire pressure sensors.
- Smooth ride.
- Good cornering
- Good acceleration
- Unbelievably quiet interior even at freeway speeds. This continues to astound us. It makes the car more comfortable, easier on the body on long trips, and gives it a more top tier elegant ride. Just Wonderful
- Charge port near the driver's door where I think it should be. Get out of the car and plug in without walking around to the other side. In front might have been good too if it could be hidden.
- Can open all four windows from the key fog.
- Remote Climate start. This has got to be a really good feature with our over 100 degree summers.
- I'm sure there are more positives. The car is great.
- Sun visors that slide to cover the rear of the driver's window. This should be a federal regulation!
- This car lacks all of the clicks, hums, and buzzes of the Prius. It's quiet.
- This car lacks the high revving ICE sound of the Prius when accelerating. It's smooth.
- I sense no transitions from regen to physical brakes.
- I sense no transitions when the ICE kicks on or off.
- After becoming familiar with the steering wheel controls I like them.
Things I wish were different:
- Lack of storage and little cubby holes.
- No rear window wiper. We haven't had a car without one for a couple of decades. We do use them.
- I would prefer carpets that match the tan seat color. The black gets dirty too easily.
- Cargo space in the Prius was superior. I wish the Clarity was a hatchback with more cargo space. Cargo space was a major decision maker for us when searching for a PHEV.
- Fold down rear seats. Really are more of a pass-through. I don't know if they will be very useful. We haven't used them yet. We've put things in the rear seats when the trunk had insufficient space. We haven't folded down the seats yet. In the Prius this would have been a no-brainer.
- Voice controls could be better. A bit more Google like and not so limited.
- I wish you could also close all four windows from the key fob.
- I wish the Remote Climate didn't try to be so smart and not turn on if it isn't cold enough. I want to make that decision myself.
- I wish the Lane Keep Assist was more capable of controlling the car around curves. It gives up way too soon and would easily run me off the road.
- I wish the 8" screen reaction time was quicker in some instances. For example when I push the Climate button it can take several seconds to switch.
- While I like the looks of the car washing it took a bit more effort due to the many small body panels and inserts. I'm thinking of how the Tesla is just the opposite. Also with the complex characteristics of the external car a minor accident will be very expensive to repair.
- I wish the side view mirrors would tilt down when in reverse.
- I wish the side view mirrors would automatically fold when the car is parked.
- I wish the rear power outlet was a dual USB charge slot instead of a 12V outlet.
- I wish the HV and Econ buttons functions were different. One button which would be EV when on (lighted) and HV when off. Econ would be on all the time. Not sure I need Charge mode after testing it. Sport can still be a second button, the only mode where Econ is turned off.
Dislikes
- I think the shift flying buttress design sucks. I never liked the Prius for the same reason. It takes up way too much room. It could have included some small compartments for coins etc. It could have been designed to be more integrated with the vertical stack and armrest. It looks like a patch. My knees would like to have more space which is taken up by the non-functional wings of the shift design.
- When a car in front of me stops the ACC waits too long to slow down, then brakes too hard.
- When restarting after an ACC controlled stop the car builds speed much too slowly.
- When accelerating after an ACC controlled slow down the car builds speed much too slowly.
- I'm pretty unhappy with the LED headlights. To me they are not bright enough, and the high beams are quite disappointing. Apparently the LED lights are just the opposite for oncoming traffic. I often have people flash their high beams at me, or just turn on their high beams and leave them on when passing me. The Clarity headlights must look too bright to them.
Things that are not very important to me:
- Serius radio
- Pandora
- The lane watch display (camera under the passenger side view mirror) is cute but I'm not sure it will help.
