A new Clarity video from Tom Voelk

The idea that the engine routinely comes on when you accelerate strongly (his biggest gripe) or go uphill is clearly wrong if you have EV miles left.

 

The key word is "strongly."

 

Even accelerating "strongly" (i.e. entering a highway, which is quite strong) when there is EV power does not turn on the engine for me

 

In ECON Mode, if you press hard on the accelerator pedal, you'll go through the "click" point, which changes the power from 121-hp using battery alone to 181-hp by using the battery and the engine to power the Clarity's traction motor. That's how you can accelerate "strongly" in the Clarity PHEV.

 

I have yet to have to accelerate so “strongly” to merge onto an expressway that I pushed past the click and engaged the ICE. I have found the Clarity has plenty enough pep in its step in EV/noICE to merge on battery alone. And I don’t drive like Grandma Moses! If I have to floor it then I’m not merging safely. I only use the other side of the click for emergencies.

However I most confess that I like being able to “smoke” (or would that be electrocute?) almost every gasmobile out there 0 to 30 mph.

 

I think that the video gives a very accurate summary of the car. I also believe that the amount that the gas engine kicks in during EV mode is overstated. Do I just drive like a grampa?

One thing mentioned in this review that I have heard in many reviews is a slight criticism of the glass pass through in the trunk. I don't understand people's obsession with criticizing it. I think it very well designed, functional, and works perfectly.

 

I'm pretty much in line with you Ken. But I also appreciate the detent design which allows me to kick in the rest of the power. More than once I've used it to get the Clarity out of the way of a car that could have caused an accident. I'm glad it isn't just a button I'd have to hunt for and push.

 

To me the little window is useless. When I adjust the rear view mirror for my viewing I don't even see the little window, and it is so low there is nothing to see anyway. To me it is a total waste of engineering and manufacturing resources.


I'm guessing Honda didn't make the Clarity a hatch back because of the extra weight. But that would have been sweet.

 

Not a fan of the little window. Don’t use it, don’t need it, and it allows potential thieves to see what I have in the trunk.

Frankly I found his review to be spot on. Well done and I agree with almost every word he said, pros and cons.

 

I think it does its intended purpose well:

https://i.imgur.com/hNT0EfS.mp4 / https://giant.gfycat.com/CommonWarmAmericanredsquirrel.webm

Hopefully one of those loads properly

 

In that case the backup camera does the job quite well - unless it has rain drops on it!

 

Having left my kids school while it was raining today... I was very glad for that glass section

Its also there for peripheral vision not necessarily to look through.

 

Just finished the video... I dislike how he had under 5 EV miles during the whole thing, the car definitely feels and drives a lot differently if the battery is low. His uphill gripes also bugged me.. I live on one of the steepest hills I've come across and was worried when getting the clarity because I wasn't sure how it would handle it.. and it flies up it w/o issue or requiring gas. He has a PHEV so why isn't he keeping this one properly charged

 

That is a good video review. I pretty much agree with him but the sarcasm makes things seem worse than they are.

I don't think he needs a new $15,000 camera. 99% of youtube video is done on a DSLR or Mirrorless camera these days. Even if you splurge you won't need more than $3,000-4,000 for a top-notch body and a couple of lenses. You can use a much less expensive setup and do a great job. Check out the Fuji line.

 

I find the wide view (of the three choices) of the back-up camera does a very good job of providing peripheral views. It's almost 180 degrees. Again as long as the lens isn't wet which can render it useless.

 

I believe he said he had it for a few days and had charged it a few times. He even stated the actual EV range he was getting in the weather conditions he had. The video was obviously recorded in one session so seeing that he had a 5mi EV range during the screen time you watched does not indicate that he only drove on a depleted battery only.

 

I was basing that off his comments about how often he had the ICE turn on... maybe he just really has a lead foot but I run in EV only 99% of the time, even @ 60mph+

Maybe he had ECON mode off

 

I see. I too have noticed when Econ is off it’s much easier to fire up the ICE unit. One thing I wish Honda had was a lockout option to run in EV only. In the end I am glad he spoke from experience on how a plug in hybrid works. Some reviews I have viewed make me believe they don’t understand the car they are driving.