Any rumors about 2020 Clarity? Chance of a refresh?

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BeMurda

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Hello all,

I've recently been considering the Honda Clarity as Canada just announced a business tax incentive that generates tax savings of ~$6-7k. There is however an election in October, and the policy could be scrapped by the end of the year. So this seems to be the year to buy a car with 15kWh+ battery (guidelines of the incentive).

I live up North, we recently had almost a full month of -30C in Feb. My current car (2010 Maxima) has a heated steering wheel and I really would prefer not to give that it up. Also I wouldn't mind lumbar support to be safe. And a volume knob.

Does anyone have any info about what could be the situation with the Clarity for 2020 model year. I know the model is newer here, but it has been on sale since 2016 in Japan. That seems to me like it would mean it is due for a refresh.

If only they'd announce the Pilot PHEV... :) Fingers crossed we'll see something good at the upcoming New York Auto Show in April.
 
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1. We JUST got the 2019 model out, and you to move another year ahead already? Give it five minutes...

2. Volume knobs are overrated. Especially given the car has automatic compensation; the faster you're going, the more road noise it assumes there is, so it will adjust the volume upwards automatically. Can set that adjustment to off, low, medium, or high.
 
refresh in only 3 years on a limited production vehicle, not likely. Any changes will be extremely minor. Since Honda pulled as much from their parts bin as they could on this car if there is a change to those parts then maybe it will show up in the Clarity. The Clarity is ahead of its time so just pretend this is the 2020 model :D.
 
Would be curious if these systems support usb or Bluetooth keyboard controls, if so it may be possible to connect a volume/media control.
 
petteyg359 said:
2. Volume knobs are overrated. Especially given the car has automatic compensation; the faster you're going, the more road noise it assumes there is, so it will adjust the volume upwards automatically. Can set that adjustment to off, low, medium, or high.
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I did not know this! Instructions?
 
I would say it's unlikely. They don't even do significant refreshes on high selling Civics and Accords after 2 years. Pretty much impossible for the super low volume Clarity.
 
I obsessed over the lack of a volume control knob while waiting for the Clarity to arrive, but when I actually got the car, it was a non-issue for me. I find it just as convenient to click the lever on the left side of the steering wheel up or down to control volume as necessary. It's amazing how fast muscle memory in my thumb adapted to this. For me, at least, the lack of a knob isn't even a little problem.
 
petteyg359 said:
1. We JUST got the 2019 model out, and you to move another year ahead already? Give it five minutes...

2. Volume knobs are overrated. Especially given the car has automatic compensation; the faster you're going, the more road noise it assumes there is, so it will adjust the volume upwards automatically. Can set that adjustment to off, low, medium, or high.
Click to expand...

I'm just coming into this looking to displace the majority of my gasoline usage and get a vehicle that is going to make me happy. I actually wasn't sure when the 2019's came out, good to know. Also good to know about automatic compensation - a feature my father's 2001 Tahoe has as well!

The Gadgeteer said:
refresh in only 3 years on a limited production vehicle, not likely. Any changes will be extremely minor. Since Honda pulled as much from their parts bin as they could on this car if there is a change to those parts then maybe it will show up in the Clarity. The Clarity is ahead of its time so just pretend this is the 2020 model :D.
Click to expand...

I suppose you and others could be right and it may be wishful thinking. Certainly it mostly seems like a fresh vehicle to me.

vicw said:
I obsessed over the lack of a volume control knob while waiting for the Clarity to arrive, but when I actually got the car, it was a non-issue for me. I find it just as convenient to click the lever on the left side of the steering wheel up or down to control volume as necessary. It's amazing how fast muscle memory in my thumb adapted to this. For me, at least, the lack of a knob isn't even a little problem.
Click to expand...

I'm not too concerned about the volume knob, nor about the apparently sluggish infotainment. It's just a 'nice to have'. What I have become very reliant on in my horrifically cold climate is having a heated steering wheel. I have very bad circulation in my hands. I can wear gloves in some contexts but when showing several homes in a row I constantly need to take them off. Ways around this perhaps, but I love the feeling. It seems pretty unlikely the Clarity will get one though...
 
BeMurda said:
Hello all,

I've recently been considering the Honda Clarity as Canada just announced a business tax incentive that generates tax savings of ~$6-7k. There is however an election in October, and the policy could be scrapped by the end of the year. So this seems to be the year to buy a car with 15kWh+ battery (guidelines of the incentive).

I live up North, we recently had almost a full month of -30C in Feb. My current car (2010 Maxima) has a heated steering wheel and I really would prefer not to give that it up. Also I wouldn't mind lumbar support to be safe. And a volume knob.

Does anyone have any info about what could be the situation with the Clarity for 2020 model year. I know the model is newer here, but it has been on sale since 2016 in Japan. That seems to me like it would mean it is due for a refresh.

If only they'd announce the Pilot PHEV... :) Fingers crossed we'll see something good at the upcoming New York Auto Show in April.
Click to expand...

Gotta say, I don’t understand all the comments about uncomfortable seats, road noise and volume knobs. I think the Clarity is far more comfortable than many other cars (like the CR-V and the Pilot for example), less noisy even with the engine kicking in, and come on, your smart phone doesn’t have a volume knob either. I don’t miss it. Grab a lumbar pillow and enjoy all the great features this car has to offer right now.
 
Sloanhoo said:
Gotta say, I don’t understand all the comments about uncomfortable seats, road noise and volume knobs. I think the Clarity is far more comfortable than many other cars (like the CR-V and the Pilot for example), less noisy even with the engine kicking in, and come on, your smart phone doesn’t have a volume knob either. I don’t miss it. Grab a lumbar pillow and enjoy all the great features this car has to offer right now.
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I've never sat in the car. I might get to at the auto show here in April. There are no Clarity vehicles within 600km of me, apparently there may be one coming into my province sometime in April. I'd love to drive it. I don't need much lumbar support at all so I am guessing they will be fine. However, it is a bit nerve wracking to order one knowing there is no adjustability of that.

Happy to hear your positive thoughts on the car.
 
What province? My kids live in Vancouver, where they love all things green and it doesn’t get -30 in the winter! I am looking forward to the 450 km drive from Portland on one battery and about 6 gal petrol. I am also looking forward to the nice free Level 2 public charging station that the BC government conveniently placed across the street from my daughter’s house. O Canada
 
Alberta - Edmonton. Closest Clarity for sale on a lot is in Kelowna, lol.

PHEV makes sense here because the charging infrastructure is poor.
 
That is surprising to me given how many charging stations there are in BC. Is it the oil economy in AB? I guess we won’t plan on driving the Clarity when we go to Drumheller next summer.
 
Monir said:
Maybe a longer range battery and sunroof option, who knows...
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Sunroof... that is something you either use almost all the time or barely ever. I fall into the almost all the time camp. If the Honda added a longer range battery and/or a sunroof option in an upcoming PHEV, Clarity or not, I would seriously consider it especially if it had a hatchback and had a little more ground clearance.
 
Sloanhoo said:
That is surprising to me given how many charging stations there are in BC. Is it the oil economy in AB? I guess we won’t plan on driving the Clarity when we go to Drumheller next summer.
Click to expand...

There are some charging stations but it depends. Tesla's network is the best but still there are no superchargers on the common path from Edmonton to Jasper. Only through Banff.

Why not take the Clarity? You'll still get 42mpg and can probably plug in at night! Unless your other car has even better mileage. My current sedan gets 21mpg, lol. I'm ready for a change.
 
BeMurda said:
Alberta - Edmonton. Closest Clarity for sale on a lot is in Kelowna, lol.

PHEV makes sense here because the charging infrastructure is poor.
Click to expand...

Hey I just pulled up the ChargePoint map and counted about 37 charging stations inside the ring, with another 5 outside it. It does get a bit sparse more toward the oil sands area. Kelowna is indeed far away to go car shopping.
 
BeMurda said:
There are some charging stations but it depends. Tesla's network is the best but still there are no superchargers on the common path from Edmonton to Jasper. Only through Banff.

Why not take the Clarity? You'll still get 42mpg and can probably plug in at night! Unless your other car has even better mileage. My current sedan gets 21mpg, lol. I'm ready for a change.
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You are right. We are driving the luxurious fabulous Miss Clara T.
 
I think the only change for 2020 will probably be the infotainment, but I wouldn't be surprised if there are no changes at all. I don't anticipate any changes to the body or drive train. Volume knob is a non issue for me, as there is a button on the steering wheel.
 
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