2019 Clarity Release Date
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With the large numbers of Claritys sitting unsold on (US) dealer lots, it would not be surprising if Honda delayed the introduction of the 2019 Clarity.
The most often mentioned missing features are true blind-spot detection (something the brand new Insight also doesn't have), and adjustable lumbar support for the front seats. I haven't heard complaints about the Clarity having too many features, so I don't expect any to disappear.
I'd pay hundreds for an optional center-screen display that explains what's going on inside the brains of the Clarity. For example, bar graphs that show the thresholds of the various factors contributing to engine activation. Actual efficiency read-outs would be nice, too. The developers certainly must have had access to this information; why should we be kept in the dark if we care about this data?
The most often mentioned missing features are true blind-spot detection (something the brand new Insight also doesn't have), and adjustable lumbar support for the front seats. I haven't heard complaints about the Clarity having too many features, so I don't expect any to disappear.
I'd pay hundreds for an optional center-screen display that explains what's going on inside the brains of the Clarity. For example, bar graphs that show the thresholds of the various factors contributing to engine activation. Actual efficiency read-outs would be nice, too. The developers certainly must have had access to this information; why should we be kept in the dark if we care about this data?
PHEV Newbie
Well-Known Member
Usually car manufacturers make little to no changes in years 2-3 of a production run. Years 4-5 might have some facelifting and the complete overhaul comes in year 6 or later. Some models nowadays are having shorter cycles but none as fast as after one year. The best you could hope for is maybe blind spot monitoring and cross-traffic alerts but I wouldn't count on it. The all-new 2019 Insight still uses Lanewatch instead of BSM, even in Touring trim.
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kcsunshine
Active Member
The fact that the Accord Hybrid skipped some years indicate they are not selling many and I believe they won't redesign it. They may even skip a year. Just my prediction.
MarkClarity
Active Member
The Clarity was introduced for the 2016 model year. That's why it is using the older 2015 era infotainment unit rather than the newer one in the civic and odyssey. The PHEV version is a new power plant, but not a full redesign. So technically the 2019 will be the 4th year of the production run, but since this is a limited volume production car the same rules may not apply for when it gets a redesign.
Especially when you consider how unique the construction of the Clarity is, with its high-strength steel underpinnings and aluminum body panels. I suppose it wouldn't be too difficult to make some of the Fuel Cell car's extras available on the PHEV, such as the head-up display and the climate-control ionizer.
dstrauss
Well-Known Member
I just don't think we'll be seeing any updates before 2020 at best, and then probably at best blind spot and cross traffic monitoring as @PHEV Newbie suggested. It's just not generating enough excitement to invest more while they are hopefully studying it intensely for future PHEV development...
WE ARE THE LAB RATS...
WE ARE THE LAB RATS...
Alex0913
Member
We are indeed the lab rats, but so far I think it’s working out for us, I am surprised that the car is not selling as much, I guess it is because people are afraid of big changes, I am glad I took that “risk” and in my opinion is paying off.
PHEV Newbie
Well-Known Member
You're all right. I give kudos to Honda for advertising the Clarity as heavily as they did (during the Spring months) for a low production car so they did increase awareness out there. Nonetheless, for the typical consumer, the hesitancy to buy a brand new model car is pretty high. Generally, it's prudent to wait until all the "kinks" can be worked out. That the Clarity has a unusual drive system most don't understand at all, increases that hesitancy even more. I bought my dealer's first Clarity and one of the first sold in the US because I knew the hybrid drive system was already used in the previous Accord Hybrid, and slated (back then) for the current Accord Hybrid, Insight, and CR-V. The system was already proven to be reliable in the previous Accord. The elimination of a variable or shiftable transmission found in other hybrids and replaced with a single planetary gear set improves efficiency (by reducing weight and power loss through the transmission) and improves reliability (automatic transmissions tend to be the most troublesome part of any drive train). Honda's decision to use permanent magnets in their electric motors also increases efficiency and reliability over induction motors used by some EVs like Teslas. In addition, all Clarity's are built in Japan and the PHEVs were introduced a year after the fuel cell and BEV versions so the factory had time to fix any fit and finish issues common in first year vehicles. Indeed, when I compared the first shipment of 2018 Accords, I observed a number of fit and finish issues that I did not see in my Clarity.
Alex0913
Member
Very insightful observations. Although, I hadn't seen much advertising of the clarity until I had practically made up my mind that I wanted it (I first saw it at a Honda dealer display, not for sale yet). After a couple of months of driving it, I have seen just ONE clarity and a lot of Chevy volts and BMW's. I still wonder why. Perhaps I am biased towards the Clarity but if given the chance I would pick it over the other Plug-in Hybrids. ZERO buyers remorse.
I want the charge port to open and close electrically, as it does on the Tesla S when the plug comes near it or is withdrawn.
I want a sunroof.
Blind spot and rear cross traffic, of course.
I want an EV button.
I want a shift lever. The PRND system is a wheel that didn’t need re-inventing.
To save money they can eliminate the native Nav system. Every owner (I guess) has either an iPhone or Android. CarPlay and Android Auto are better than any car manufacturer GPS, so why pay for a duplicated system?
I want a sunroof.
Blind spot and rear cross traffic, of course.
I want an EV button.
I want a shift lever. The PRND system is a wheel that didn’t need re-inventing.
To save money they can eliminate the native Nav system. Every owner (I guess) has either an iPhone or Android. CarPlay and Android Auto are better than any car manufacturer GPS, so why pay for a duplicated system?
Until your phone dies or you find yourself out of cell range with no downloaded maps ... you don't need the car's system. Besides, if they eliminate the built-in Nav, they wouldn't have an additional revenue stream from promoting paid places on the map.
Texas22Step
Well-Known Member
I am not sure this works the same in a Clarity Touring w/ OEM navigation as my 2014 Accord Hybrid (without OEM navigation) when using Android Auto, but in that car when using Android Auto out of cell data range the phone simply "connected" itself to the GPS satellite system via the USB cable and kept on going on. However, I usually downloaded the maps I thought I would need in otherwise "dark" cell areas. I am not sure what would happen in the absence of appropriate downloaded maps, but downloading any maps is easy and free (over a WiFi connection). I agree with Tangible's comment that OEM navigation is redundant at best and should be either eliminated or an option on all trim levels of Clarity.
If you don't download offline maps you won't be able to navigate with Google Maps. Also worth noting is the phone requires data connection to do voice searches, etc. It was a nightmare trying to use Google Maps in Yellowstone as I didn't download offline maps. Printed map to the rescue. It is also worth noting that offline maps are somewhat large if you don't have a lot of free space on your device you might have issues. Having a system like in the Clarity with NAV can be nice as it will always work offline. However, it gets more out of date, etc. I prefer Android Auto, but it is sometimes nice to have the redundant NAV system. The GPS is also much better signal quality in the car vs in the phone as it has an external antenna. It should have an easier time navigating in urban and poor signal environments.
Most of my Nav use is just displaying the map for convenience to see upcoming streets or if I want to make a quick detour . I like the fact that if I don't need Waze I can simply jump in my car connect automatically by Bluetooth for the music and use the built in maps without taking the phone out of my pocket to plug in while 2 kids are yelling at me.
I would be happy to have the in-car Nav if it was more integrated with the vehicle. The Clarity's algorithms for energy flow among the battery, ICE, and drive wheels are missing one vital piece of data: the distance to my next charging opportunity. Knowing my route, the GPS system could arrange to go into and out of HV mode to optimize use of the battery without fully depleting it.
Texas22Step
Well-Known Member
Some of us would rather have $3,000 in our pockets and have to download maps from Google before going into Yellowstone National Park, where there are likely to be few cell towers (much as the rest of Wyoming anyway). Also, (at least in my older Accord) when connecting to the USB wire when using Android Auto, it allows the phone to use the GPS signal from the car's external antenna. Finally, you can always download Google maps you may need in "dark" cell areas to a memory card in the phone rather than to the phone's own memory. That has worked well for me, as I have a mid-range smartphone with limited internal memory.
weave
Active Member
I showed the car to a co-worker yesterday, and drove him around. He was really impressed and said he wants one, but doesn't want to buy the first year model.
To be fair, I had my doubts as well. And we are debugging a lot of little stuff, like the warning lights, range, and the weird sat radio not working after pre-conditioning.
iluvscuba
Active Member
Most people only think of Google Map or Waze when they are thinking of nav app on their phones. I find downloading Google map cumbersome as you have to remember to do that before you need it. I downloaded the HERE WeGo app (formerly Microsoft HERE, formerly-formerly Nokia HERE) and the provinces/states close to me on my phone and I can use it if I am in an area that has no/weak cell signal. This is especially useful for vacation as it has most maps/cities around the world. The POI information is not the most up-to-date but navigation work quite well