Previous Tesla Model X owner / Satisfied Honda Clarity PHEV owner

I've never had any interest in a Tesla (have several Model S in our neighborhood), but whenever I think my Clarity is a little confusing to drive, I'll look at this video and watch them trying to do EVERYTHING from the video screen - lord, even locking the doors...

https://www.theverge.com/2018/2/16/17020964/tesla-model-3-drive-test-mkbhd

 

Model 3 should bring some interesting questions to the forefront as more and more of them hit the highways. I am a little concerned - selfishly - about supercharger capacity. Economics of owning a $75K+ vehicle somewhat negate what otherwise could already be a bottleneck at the charging stations. In fact, in SoCal where all numbers are bigger, there is often a crunch at SCs. Add a tens of thousands more at a more readily affordable price point, and there will likely be some access issues in the years ahead.

 

I noticed one reviewer was our friend, Tiralc. Unfortunately he doesn't post here anymore.

 

I wonder if the volume of Clarity sales will increase as the public learns more about it. There is very low name recognition. When I tell people we bought a Clarity the most common response is they've never heard of the car. But reviews are positive for the most part. The most negative comments are from those who think it is ugly (not this guy though). It does seem to be true that the Honda sales staff isn't helping much.

Prius Prime sells well but it has years of name recognition behind it.

 

Ab13 - Interesting. I'm an E.E. retired from Bell Labs Holmdel. I wonder if there are any others EE's who are owners?

 

Might be one here in the next couple months

 

I don't have the EE degree but spent over 40 years in the electronics business. Visited Bell Labs back in the 70's while I worked for Teradyne.

 

Right. Most people have no reason to post complaints to the internet about a product, whether that product is a car or anything else. And unfortunately, human nature being what it is, even people who are very, very satisfied with a product they use every day are far less likely to post on social media about it than is someone who has a complaint to make about it.

If you believed every negative thing posted on the internet about the Model X, you'd think nobody would ever want to buy one. Yet we see in the Consumer Reports customer satisfaction survey, that Model S owners top the list for all car models (not just EVs), and Model X owners are only slightly below that, still among the top 10. And that's not just a one-time thing; that's year after year.
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I've read and watched all the popular reviews and virtually every reviewer says how ugly the car is. I really like the looks of the car so I must have really bad taste . The problem is that they don't compare the Clarity side-by-side with similar plug-in hybrids. The more fair comparison would be to the BMW 530e, Mercedes C350e, Optima/Sonata PHEVs, and the Ford Fusion Energi. The Prius Prime and Chevy Volt are much smaller cars and less luxurious.

Between the four similar sized sedans, the Clarity has by far, the longest EV range. Of course, the BMW and Benz are more luxurious and sporty but they cost much, much more and their mileage ratings are pretty bad. The Kia Optima's gas mileage is worse and the price is higher after factoring in the tax credits (optima has smaller battery). The Fusion Energi's gas mileage is also a bit worse that Clarity but it also has a very small trunk (that's where they put the battery). It is more attractive and probably handles better though. All four of the competitors are very slow if you stay in EV mode because of their smaller batteries and weaker electric motors. Thus, for the reasons people would want a plug-in hybrid over other cars (stay in ev mode most of the time and have the flexibility to drive on long road trips), there's really only two options out there, the Clarity and the Volt. I would choose the Clarity for overall comfort and interior space. I would choose the Volt if I want a compact hatchback with more sporty handling.

 

When Honda took off the knob for the the volume, a majority of the reviews all complained about it. So now all Honda cars are getting the volume knob back. The next Acura RDX is getting a 1 to 1 touchpad at the console armrest position to use the touchscreen (I assume it's still touch).

The icons on that screen look too small to use, especially if you wear glasses and don't have perfect vision. You have to look to the side and corner of your vision. It looks futuristic, but I don't feel it's ergonomic.

 

We owned the Fusion Energi Titanium. I think it's a handsome car, but then again I also like the looks of the Clarity, so maybe my taste leaves something to be desired too.

Although the Fusion handled well, I think the Clarity handles just as well, perhaps a bit better. With the lower center of gravity, I think the Clarity takes turns flatter than the Fusion. I can tell you that the Fusion's Atkinson engine was very noisy. I used to call the Fusion the Jekyl & Hyde of the car industry. When running on electric, it was blissfully quiet, but there was never a doubt when the ICE kicked in, it could wake the dead.

 

LOL!

I'm always amused when I read assertions like "How could you possibly like this car; it's one of the ugliest ever!" Statements made suggesting that beauty or ugliness is objective fact, rather than highly subjective opinion.

There are various popular sayings, new and old, about this: "Beauty is in the eye of the beholder", "Diff'rent strokes for diff'rent folks", and De gustibus non est disputandum (literally "about tastes, it should not be disputed/discussed", but more commonly translated as "There is no accounting for taste.")

No doubt there is someone out there who even thinks the Pontiac Aztek is the most beautiful car ever made!

 

I owned a Fusion Energi Titanium as well. It was a love hate relationship. Dreadfully underpowered. Liked the styling but as of 2018 is in need of a design change. I rarely got over 17 mi on a full charge. Trunk space - the WORST!! When the engine kicked in...sounded like a motorcycle. So glad the Clarity came out when my Fusion lease ended.

 

Many non car people love the look of the Clarity. I owned a Nissan Juke prior, and had a similar experience with it. I loved the car, many people liked the car and commented on it, but it also drew a crowd that complained endlessly. I noticed many of those people were just liking what they were told to like from Jeremy Clarkson or some other reviewer. They don't have to like the car, but they usually made some comment about what some reviewer wrote about it.

The Nissan Juke changed cars as we know them due to its success. It essentially created the modern CUV market, although others made theirs slightly more likable to the general population. As far as CUVs are concerned it is probably still the best bang for the buck. The negative comments on it toned down after a year or so when journalists realized how well it was selling worldwide. Yes, the styling was polarizing, no, I didn't care. The Clarity is much the same. It is a bit polarizing, but still looks good.

 

I just don't get the fugly comments from the auto press, and it almost always start with the rear wheel covers - SO WHAT - why is that inherently ugly, as if they have some superior design ethic. If anyone here has ever watched a show called Project Runway I want them to explain to me who anointed a sainted few to speak for what is good taste in design - same for the auto press.

In fact, one of the best observations ever came from a guy who parked next to me at the grocery store this weekend, asked about what a plug in hybrid is, said it was cool looking "But in sure is big for an electric car!" Honda needs to run with that. When I park next to a Prius I think the same thing as I marvel at the fact I can go 50 miles without ever starting the ICE compared to it.

Folks, this isn't Al Gore vs Big Oil, this is the best example of pure common sense ever - nearly eliminate exhaust emissions every day an individual tools around town in extreme comfort (rather than in a Suburban, Tahoe, Hummer, whatever) and yet cruise to grandma's 200 miles away on the weekend.

My apologies for the rant from this grumpy old man, but I guess the general stupidity of the auto press, that is still ruled by middle age boys wanting to daily drive a Dodge Challenger Hellcat, are getting to me.

 

Want to do a thumbs up, but I only found smileys, so...

 

Let's see...a really big car that's powerful (for most people) and luxurious. It's cheap to operate (compared to my Subaru, it costs 1/5 as much to drive around town in EV mode). Those are characteristics any conservative should love. For liberals, the benefits are obvious. This is the car that should bring everyone together!

 

I think the car looks great (except mine is covered with snow gunk right now). I am happy that Honda has gone back to the angular look. Seems to be an auto design pendulum that swings between “bubble car” and “stealth fighter”. I try to buy my cars when they are on the more angular side of that trend.

I have already gotten lots of compliments on the car. Can’t wait to show it off at our next EV club meeting.

 

And that's why this conservative loves it! Yes, conservatives can actually like conservation (I know many)...the two words are almost the same.

 

Wow. This explains why this fiscally conservative, social liberal loves it!

TBH it was also easy to trust the brand after many years of carefree Honda ownership across multiple vehicles from CR-X to Pilot.