I would doubt there will be changes on the 2019 Clarity since so few have been sold already. Moreover, if there is going to be a new model you will get a great deal on the old one. I have this car for over a year and I don't care about the knobs because the volume and channel switching on the steering wheel is so easy to use I would never use the knob anyhow. I agree the blind spot detection on the driver's side would be an improvement, but I prefer the camera on the passenger side because it gives information at other times (parking) that is quite helpful. If you prefer a smaller car those alternatives are ok, but this car is so much more comfortable than my previous Prius the ride is much better and because you get 50 miles EV the mpg for every day use is infinite . With the rebates the Clarity will cost the same or even less!
Prospective Buyer seeks advice
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WolfpackCL
New Member
By the nature of forums people are more likely to post their complex issues here because of the same user base as opposed to more minor items that can be easily solved by the internet or a user manual. That being said the car is awesome. Quiet, efficient, loaded with tech and safety features and honestly a bargain once you account for tax incentives.
I’d certainly consider the clarity although of course I’m biased being an owner. Depending on your state and preferred trim levels it could be cheaper to get the clarity with rebates than comparable options. Driving electric is so quiet and awesome. Clarity has a nicer interior than a Prius, is way more pleasant to drive, and has CarPlay (I already am anti Prius but that was enough to steer me away from Toyota haha). I also buy cars rarely and keep them for a long time so I want to put my money on the type of car I want to drive. I also don’t drive many miles but I believe those miles should be mostly electric - I wish more people would get on the bandwagon and we would have more options available!
Thanks insightman. We're deciding between a bolt and a honda clarity PHEV for our family of four. Love the idea of an all-electric but the Clarity touring is 5K cheaper than the fully-decked Bolt and seems like it'll be a mostly electric car for our daily use with gas mostly on longer trips (avoiding the range anxiety of my spouse). The main criticisms (none of them dealbreakers) seem to be the outdated infotainment (no knobs); relatively low regen braking with annoying need to keep repressing paddles unless in sport mode; lack of driver's side blind spot warning; possibly the absence of crash safety data. There are some threads on difficulty with level 2 chargepoint charges working from earlier in the year but I'm assuming those are fixed. We need a car relatively soon but would consider holding out for a 2019 if the "negatives" noted above are likely to be changed. Do you have more information (maybe links?) confirming no updates coming on the 2019 clarity? Any other thoughts. Seems like most who have it absolutely love it...
KentuckyKen
Well-Known Member
Put all 4 family members in the Bolt and then think about several hours of that. Then try all 4 in the Clarity. And compare trunk space. You’ll choose the Clarity.
It drives so much better than the Bolt and at less cost.
I’m getting 140 MPGe in town and on one 500 mile round trip got 49 mpg on gas. Ive only used 10 gal of gas in 4,200 miles. Best car I’ve ever owned.
Unless you have a long commute, most of your driving will be electric and the smaller amount of driving on gas and “only” 44 mpg will be more than made up by having unlimited range and no range anxiety.
It drives so much better than the Bolt and at less cost.
I’m getting 140 MPGe in town and on one 500 mile round trip got 49 mpg on gas. Ive only used 10 gal of gas in 4,200 miles. Best car I’ve ever owned.
Unless you have a long commute, most of your driving will be electric and the smaller amount of driving on gas and “only” 44 mpg will be more than made up by having unlimited range and no range anxiety.
You've done your research well, I must say. The volume control on the steering wheel works very well (even though it's not a knob). A PHEV can't handle too much regen braking because the battery is smaller than a typical BEV. Honda usually scores very well in crash tests. The 2019 Insight just achieved a perfect IIHS safety rating and the Clarity is built with high-strength steel not found in most cars. The Clarity PHEV does seem to be more sensitive to unsteady charging stations than other cars, but if you get a good EVSE at home, you won't have to worry about that--unless you pull up to the public charging station with an empty battery just as you run out of gas.
I earlier posted scans of the actual words Motor Trend and Car & Driver printed saying "no changes," but I have no links.
The Clarity Plug-In Hybrid is a very special car. A Bolt would be much less comfortable, with its spartan seats, and any BEV would be much more boring because you wouldn't have all the Clarity's modes to play with (but you don't have to play with them at all if you are not so inclined).
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neal adkins
Active Member
What happens is the computer averages the total driving range based on your history. If you charge every 60 miles or so the computer will assume you will continue that and project the total driving range. To keep it simple I know I get around 40mpg in hv, (about 280 miles range @ 7 gallons) plus about 50 ev miles per full charge. On a typical 500 mile round trip I will drain and charge the battery 4 times(and gain about 200 ev miles). So that's 480 mile actual range (ev and hv combined). Once I understood that ice not only can directly provide power to the wheels but it also operates to power a generator/charger,(hense the high rpms) I was at ease about the angry bees sound I have heard a couple of times. After 2 months and 3500 miles with my car I am twice as happy with it now as to when I first purchased it.
I refused to look at the Bolt due to the trunk size - it's tiny if you need to be carrying people in the back seat at all times. If this is a second car so range or long distance travel is an option a BEV would be nice I agree as would a hatchback/wagon configuration for moving big stuff, but I wanted to be able to carry people and stuff. I do miss the smaller size car - I keep thinking I will fit into parking spaces as I'm used to a compact and the Clarity is not this! I was also maybe like your wife and wanted an PHEV for longer trips (admittedly the Bolt could to many weekend trips around here but would still be limiting or require more planning).