Clarity PHEV 2019?

There's a video on YouTube for Honda Clarity 2019:



It looks just like the 2018 model. Anybody knows if this is the real "2019" model?

 

The video seems to be a compilation of images 0f the 2018 model; i would think an official commercial would come from honda itself. My 2 cents!

 

Perhaps the 2019 will come with the HV Range and multiple warnings patches pre-installed?

 

Good question. I honestly think I would’ve gone for the Volt as it’s user interfaces (dash and infotainment) were more mature and intuitive than Honda’s. I still am a little taken back by the slapped on tablet screen in the Honda that looks like an afterthought rather than really integrated into the design of the car. But then the Volt really is a small car and felt really cramped compared to the Clarity. The other cars had their own problems.
Never had the opportunity to drive the BMW PHEV version of their sedan and didn’t like the guppy-looking i3. The i8 was also great but EV mileage sucked. Needed a much bigger battery to be seriously considered even though it costs 3 times more than the Clarity.
Now 6 months out I’m still glad I made the decision ... although, if my wife would’ve let me I’d be in an S.


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I agree, the space in Clarity makes it feel pretty special compared to so many other offerings in the "electrified" cars. Ours is a touring model with beige leather and it feels quite a bit more upscale compared to, say, Bolt or Volt. Per Tesla - no doubt, that's a different league in terms of tech (Model 3's screen vs. Clarity's screen is a good example), acceleration, etc. However: Model 3 is also about $15,000 more (average selling price of Clarity Touring: about $35,000; selling price of available now Model 3: $49,000)

 

And Volt is roughly the same price as a Clarity. IMO, Clarity seems to be the best "bang for the buck" out there for "electrified" cars with enough electric range to get you further than the nearest convenience store and back.

 

Following this thread...

Also interested to see if there are any changes for 2019, even if minor. It's been mentioned before, but I'd really love knobs/buttons on the screen (my wife's 2017 Honda Pilot Touring has no knobs and it really is super annoying.)

If the 2019 model year remains unchanged, then maybe I can grab a 2018 a bit cheaper end-of-season (but I doubt it, as they seem to sell quickly in our area).

I'm especially pumped about getting a Clarity since we just had a large solar array installed on our home. Seems like a perfect combination.

 

I’ve been driving the 2018 Clarity for 6000 miles now. Came from a GMC Terrain and a Buick Enclave.

My impressions:
Car is the most quiet car I have ever owned. You can literally whisper, and you can hear each other.
Car spooks people out when you get in it, and drive away, without a car starting noise.
Car drives like a sports car. The flat suspension and the weight of the battery combine to make it a cornering beast. Has really good, but not Mustang 5.0 pep off the line. I regularly spin the front wheels if I am not paying attention.
Very good accelleration.
I thought I would be bumbed by the lack of lane change assist, but I actually have fallen in love with lane view. Its main advantage is when you are getting off the freeway on a high speed ramp, and must see way behind you to see if someone is speeding toward you on the access road. The more common “no yield to ramp” exits we have now in Texas do not force the access road to yeild to you. When you must turn right at the corner, you have to cross quite a few lanes. This feature makes this childs play. You not only can see what is next to you, you can see way behind you in the lane you are moving to. Much, much more safe, from my opinion. Has already saved my bacon.
I was hoping for lumbar support, but have not missed it. I have driven to Houston from DFW twice in the last 2 weeks with never a care for my back. The seats are well made.
I wish it had a heated steering wheel, but the heated seats work great.
The thing I miss is the opportunity to upgrade the car wirelessly, like the Tesla. The link is there, but I don’t think anyone at Honda is doing this. What a waste. I have lots of improvements to the display which I could offer.
I constanly get compliments on the car. “What is this? I have never seen one of these before” is a common refrain. All of them think it is pretty.
The need for an oil change at 6000 miles was a surprise. It has not run the engine but for about 1000 of those miles. I would like to see seperate odometers for the car and the motor. (Only increment it when the motor is on). They tell me this is a “break in” oil change, and is free, and the next ones should be much further apart.
All in all, this is the best car I have ever owned. Comfort, luxurious, safe, freaking drives itself (almost) with lane assist and adaptive Cruise, corners, acceleration, oh, and I buy 3 gallons of gas every 2 weeks. In Texas. In DFW. Crazy good.

 

Sunny: I've had mine since 12/30/17 and now have 3000 miles on it, probably 80% electric. I last bought gas in Feb. I have had no warning indicators yet. My comments are almost identical to yours, especially the library-like quiet. (I came from an Infiniti G37, which was a quiet car, but not in this league.) I added a manually switched beeper to warn people (in some situations) that I'm backing up. My main gripe is lack of Rear Cross Traffic Alert. Cheers,

 

I'm right there with you Sunny. Best car I've ever owned. 18,000 miles and I can't wait to drive it every day.

 

I’m with all of you... 6000 miles... 95% EV use.... Perfect car... I think we are in the majority, but the people with complaints, justified or not, Have Louder voices....


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Over 8000 miles and not a single problem (except for the HV range estimate like everyone else, a minor glitch I've ignored). Consumer Reports just declared the Clarity the least reliable out of all cars in their survey. I suspect most of the "defects" are normal operation of the car people don't understand like the ICE firing up when they didn't expect. There are so many scenarios that cause the ICE to correctly fire up but most owners don't understand why so call it a defect. I've never had my ICE fire up incorrectly. Every time it did unexpectedly, I later learned why and that it operated perfectly.

 

Am with you all. Have 8500 miles on it now and am liking it more than than any car I’ve had before (Lexus IS 350, loaded MB CLA250), both which I really enjoyed. There’s something magical in the soft, smooth and very quiet acceleration. Not quite the exhilaration of a Tesla S or 3 but at half the cost who’s complaining?


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I’m with you. The experience at the price is untouchable!

 

I think they are kinda cool. Distinguish the Clarity from generic sedans.

 

Half the mileage but feel the same

 

Wish the right side wheels were in the correct aerodynamic direction

 

I actually didn't notice that until you said it here... That seems kind of ridiculous that the wheels on one side are backwards.

 

I’m all in with all the above. 8 months and 6,000 miles with no problems (only the HV range bug fix and plugs installed). An honest 49 MPG (battery use taken into account) and 135 to 140 MPGe (miles/kW x 33.7). That’s round trip w driver only, 70 to 90s F, and ac as the only non-motive battery drain (going to hate to see winter change that but I bet the yearly average will still beat the EPA #s).
And with No. Angry. Bees. Ever!! This car is amazing in so many wonderful ways.

 

Rear cross traffic alerts sound better in theory than they are in practice. Nobody gives a damn about the semi on the highway 50 meters away but behind your parking space at Target, but damn if the rear cross traffic alerts won't make very sure you're aware it's there.

I like the camera better than a warning light like Volt. The warning light is too delayed. It doesn't give advanced warning or show how much room you have like the camera does. The little warning light can't be used like the camera can to make sure you're inside the lines in a parking space, either. I just wish we got a camera on both sides.