Jalopnik likes the Clarity

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I was reading comments from people at the end of the article and many were saying that the clarity is ugly. I don't know think it's ugly at all, different looking yeah, I guess, but ugly? I actually love my car, the way it looks and more importantly, how efficient it is.
 
I think it's important for the reviewer to spend a lot of time with the car. This person had it for a week and took a road trip. The Clarity does take some getting use to and once you do and understand how it works, you become very impressed with the car. Other reviewers who have the car for a couple of hours do a poor job because they are confused and they interpret that confusion as a negative for the car. Anything really terrific is worth the time to learn. I'll throw this at the reviewers who all exclaim "Save the manuals!" as in transmissions. Well, manual transmissions today cause the car to be slower and less fuel efficient, even if you are a professional driver, compared to automatics. Nonetheless, these "enthusiasts" push for manuals even though it would take people months to master them (I'm an oldie so all my cars in my younger years were manuals). Well, if it is so important for them to shame people to learn manuals, why is it so awful to take a few days to learn how to drive the Clarity properly?
 
Alex0913 said:
I was reading comments from people at the end of the article and many were saying that the clarity is ugly. I don't know think it's ugly at all, different looking yeah, I guess, but ugly? I actually love my car, the way it looks and more importantly, how efficient it is.
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Seen plenty of negative comments from reviewers on the exterior. Many seem to start strait-away with the skirted rear wheels. Amazing how this arguably small aesthetic feature is likely making, or breaking a positive exterior review. It’s understandably different, and not something you see everyday on the roads, but those skirts are taking a lot of abuse from critics. It’s NOT an ugly car!
 
It's not a performance car, or even a car that claims to have any sort of performance. I think the shift towards electric vehicles threatens their love of howling v8's or more exciting faire.

The irony is that electric motors offer better performance and the top super cars are in fact hybrid!

I used to love performance cars, but as I've grown older, I don't want a car like that for my commute to work. I want ( needed ) a comfortable, quiet car, and here in California I get to use the carpool lane, which saves me time. The clarity with the federal and state rebate allowed me to get the upscale touring trim with leather and electric seats, something I've never had before! Did I mention how quiet and comfortable the Clarity is?

A performance car might be able to do 0-60 in half the time of the Clarity, but too bad I'll be whizzing by them in the carpool lane while they're stuck in traffic!
 
I love performance cars. Before the clarity I drove a modified Porsche 911 turbo. I took it to a standing mile event in Texas and got 200.9 mph at the end of the mile which came up in 25-26 sec! Here is vid for any doubters

What does this have to do with the Clarity? The Clarity is also a performance car! In fact it is a state-of-the art performance car in efficiency but requires few compromises for such capability. I enjoy driving the Clarity everyday! The Porsche required huge compromises in comfort and ease of driving not to mention cost! The Clarity is like a Lamborghini of the PHEV space but at an amazingly reasonable cost. I guess if you don't like the looks of the car that could be a compromise for the outstanding performance with regard to efficiency.
Purely ICE passenger cars have a foresee-ably finite life-span. Either the pollution gets unbearable or more likely we run out of crude oil which can be extracted at a price we can afford to burn for daily commutes. Purely electric vehicles are not a practical one car solution at this point due to limited range, lack of charging stations in many locales, and time required to recharge. The PHEVs are the best solution available now. So don't be discouraged by reviews that state your PHEV has poor performance. There are different types of performance just like there are different types of intelligence.
 
PHEV Newbie said:
I think it's important for the reviewer to spend a lot of time with the car. This person had it for a week and took a road trip. The Clarity does take some getting use to and once you do and understand how it works, you become very impressed with the car. ... why is it so awful to take a few days to learn how to drive the Clarity properly?
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I am eagerly awaiting the arrival of my Clarity touring, and reading anything I can in the meantime. Please let me know what tips you have for how to get the most impressive drive from the car. I currently drive a Sonata Hybrid but the concept of the Clarity is a little different and I'm looking forward to "optimizing" the experience! :)

p.s. I also really like the looks of the Clarity... I actually like that it looks different and I don't think it is ugly either..
 
amy2421 said:
I am eagerly awaiting the arrival of my Clarity touring, and reading anything I can in the meantime. Please let me know what tips you have for how to get the most impressive drive from the car. I currently drive a Sonata Hybrid but the concept of the Clarity is a little different and I'm looking forward to "optimizing" the experience! :)

p.s. I also really like the looks of the Clarity... I actually like that it looks different and I don't think it is ugly either..
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I just picked mine up last weekend, and am loving the car already.

I press the econ button and leave HV (hybrid vehicle) mode off when I'm commuting, so it never runs the gas motor (ICE). Then I just charge when I get to work.

It's extremely quiet this way and costs about half that of gasoline!
 
phevophile said:
I love performance cars. Before the clarity I drove a modified Porsche 911 turbo. I took it to a standing mile event in Texas and got 200.9 mph at the end of the mile which came up in 25-26 sec! Here is vid for any doubters

What does this have to do with the Clarity? The Clarity is also a performance car! In fact it is a state-of-the art performance car in efficiency but requires few compromises for such capability. I enjoy driving the Clarity everyday! The Porsche required huge compromises in comfort and ease of driving not to mention cost! The Clarity is like a Lamborghini of the PHEV space but at an amazingly reasonable cost. I guess if you don't like the looks of the car that could be a compromise for the outstanding performance with regard to efficiency.
Purely ICE passenger cars have a foresee-ably finite life-span. Either the pollution gets unbearable or more likely we run out of crude oil which can be extracted at a price we can afford to burn for daily commutes. Purely electric vehicles are not a practical one car solution at this point due to limited range, lack of charging stations in many locales, and time required to recharge. The PHEVs are the best solution available now. So don't be discouraged by reviews that state your PHEV has poor performance. There are different types of performance just like there are different types of intelligence.
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If anyone doubts the performance of the clarity i have found a way to show it to you. I was accelerating in ev mode with light to moderate throttle and reached over and pushed the sport button. Wow i about doubled the acceration rate without changing the throttle position. When its safe check that out. Very strong and smooth acceleration.
 
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