Why the Honda Clarity PHEV is the best choice right now

K

Kevin Johnson

New Member
New owner here. I waited a month and 1500 miles to opine.
Its NOT too good to be true!

I researched and researched and finally made a decision and am so glad with it.
No car is perfect. I think for most, the Honda Clarity PHEV is the best and most versatile choice for overall value, practicality and comfort.
You get so much for your money.
I think it’s the best kept secret for PHEV.
Until BEVs get better range and availability of FAST recharge, there is no better overall option.
Here’s my recent general review:

A new car is always anxiety provoking. More so with each review you read.
Everyone has an opinion.
I decided on the Clarity PHEV after research and, most importantly, driving and owning it.
Any negatives I read were highlyOVERSTATED, and most of the positives were understated.
For example:
“Handling is mediocre.”
Bull!
It’s not a sports car. So what? It handles well enough. Quite well!
Negatives I read:
Piddly criticisms like “it doesn’t have lumbar support or a volume knob.”
If this is a major problem you should throw out the baby with the bathwater or buy a back roll and figure out how to use your left thumb on the steering wheel volume control. Who buys a car based on a volume knob?

The styling is “different.” “There’s a partial covering on the rear wheel!”
How petty.
What a dumb reason not to buy a car.

Bottom line.
This car is comfortable, reliable, a GREAT VALUE, and extremely enjoyable.
It makes me excited unlike any other car in that it is a practical look at the future of getting us off gasoline with the confidence of range.

Why cry that the wiper fluid reservoir is small when you get unbelievable versatility in a LARGE, extremely comfortable, and amazingly fuel efficient purchase?

The criticisms are so petty, really.
I am 10/10 pleased.
There is no “perfect” car.
For ME, this car is far more than I could have hoped for at the price, especially considering the $7,500 federal tax credit.
The Prius prime can’t touch the range and luxury of this car.
The Leaf is a cramped box with no range compared to the Clarity.
The Tesla is so overpriced and who wants to sit at a recharging station for hours anyway?

This car will be a joy to own even 10 yrs from now. By then I hope othermanufacturers will focus and surely will improve upon on the winning combination this car has:
VERSATILITY, LUXURY, COMFORT, RELIABILITY, ECONOMY AND JOY.
No sacrifices.
The Clarity isn’t the “Best” at anything.
But it’s the best combination of everything right now!
Drive it and see!
Until a BEV can go 600 miles and recharge in 20 minutes and sell for 25-30 grand with comfort and reliability, the Clarity is the best choice for the money right now!!!
 
I totally agree. With owning it for 14 months and over 24,000 miles I couldn't be more pleased. It's quiet, comfortable, smooth, powerful, efficient, reliable, spacious, and feature loaded. I love driving in pure EV for weeks at a time, then having no range anxiety or long charge times on long road trips.
 
Agreed, and good points.

I pretty much always end up with buyer's remorse within a few weeks of purchasing a new vehicle, but I think the Clarity is the first vehicle that has avoided that. If anything, I like it more after driving it for a while.
 
Kevin Johnson said:
New owner here. I waited a month and 1500 miles to opine.
Its NOT too good to be true!
Click to expand...
Kevin, I like your realistic attitude! Do you consider yourself a "just get in and drive" proponent, a "max EV, min HV" devotee, or a "SPORT MODE! Can't wait for summer to put on the racing slicks!" track-day advocate? I'm primarily Max EV, but I marvel at the AI behind the HV Mode's efficiency on the rare long drive.
 
Well said and bravo! Great value, very good car and enjoyable daily driving - it’s like driving a well kept secret in my town. I once saw another Clarity maneuvering through traffic and celebrated loudly. Too bad. Most of the little things wrong with the Clarity could be readily fixed with changes to future versions. Of the 15 cars that I have owned, my 1987 Toyota Supra was the car I rank above the Clarity- but only for the pure joy of driving. The Supra drank premium gasoline in large gulps. Today, I am a reformed gas guzzler trying to make up for all of the dirty air I created. I am reformed and sober. Who says we can’t enjoy sober living?
 
Kevin Johnson said:
..........
There is no “perfect” car.
For ME, this car is far more than I could have hoped for at the price, especially considering the $7,500 federal tax credit.
The Prius prime can’t touch the range and luxury of this car.
The Leaf is a cramped box with no range compared to the Clarity.
The Tesla is so overpriced and who wants to sit at a recharging station for hours anyway?

This car will be a joy to own even 10 yrs from now. By then I hope other manufacturers will focus and surely will improve upon on the winning combination this car has:
VERSATILITY, LUXURY, COMFORT, RELIABILITY, ECONOMY AND JOY.
No sacrifices.
The Clarity isn’t the “Best” at anything.
But it’s the best combination of everything right now!
Drive it and see!
Until a BEV can go 600 miles and recharge in 20 minutes and sell for 25-30 grand with comfort and reliability, the Clarity is the best choice for the money right now!!!
Click to expand...

Agreed & WELL SAID !
 
I think this is the general consensus of most of us. There are certainly things we would like to be different, but we think the car is a great value, and a great balance between the good things about EVs and not having range anxiety.
 
Just like there are hatchbacks, sedans, wagons, pickups, SUVs, etc to serve different needs, the PHEVs will serve the needs of most people who want an economical, practical car. It's not right for everyone and that's just fine because no vehicle is right for everyone. I don't say "better for the environment" because that seems to raise the ire of a lot of folks and "economical" means the same thing. The Clarity is all that and also big and luxurious. For us, the PHEV fits our life perfectly. We do a lot of short daily errands and the occasional road trip. Over 80% of the miles are EV but we want the convenience of gas for the road trips (even Tesla fast chargers take too long, especially in winter time when the range drops like mad so you have charge more often). I'm now middle-aged so while I want something that handles well and sufficiently powerful, a gas guzzling sports sedan would be wasted on me because I just don't drive like that. So far, the Clarity has not been a compromise but the perfect vehicle for us.
 
Kevin Johnson said:
I researched and researched and finally made a decision and am so glad with it.
No car is perfect. I think for most, the Honda Clarity PHEV is the best and most versatile choice for overall value, practicality and comfort.
You get so much for your money.
I think it’s the best kept secret for PHEV.
Until BEVs get better range and availability of FAST recharge, there is no better overall option.
Click to expand...

Agree 100%. Very enjoyable car to drive.
 
This is the best car I ever owned, I had the Kia Optima which I loved and Nissan Altima. I also love the looks of this car unlike others who complain. Maybe because I am a scifi geek but this car reminds me of a spaceship. The fact that I have no range fear at all is a huge plus. Driven from NJ to VA in a single gas tank with miles left after reaching destination. There are a few things which I think the Clarity would be perfect is a sunroof, 85 mile battery and auto folding mirrors. Otherwise all other complaints are just nonsense, especially about the small things like radio knobs. I am so use to using my steering wheel to control radio that it wasnt even noticed. I really love the Clarity and take pride in it.
 
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Clarity is a superb urban commuting vehicle. It's large enough for friends to join you, quiet, economical, EV range long enough for most commutes with no range anxiety if you need to go farther, and mostly, as you said, a superb value getting all of that with the tax credits and dealers willing to bargain on price. But for me, if I were driving a lot of long road trips here in the western US I would get another car. I've always loved road trips, just getting out on the interstate and driving hundreds of miles through the wide open and mostly empty US western states. I find it relaxing and even serene, a kind of meditation, you get up to speed, the rpms drop down into a lull and you just cruise. But long trips in a Clarity mean using the ICE and that noise intrudes on the serenity while the tiny gas tank intrudes on the long distances you can drive without thinking about where the next gas station is located. It's certainly doable in a Clarity but for me not the most enjoyable way to do it.
 
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The positive comments are all true... I live 32 km from town; and have not filled the gas tank in 6 months...(and the temps have been -22 C). Last summer on a road trip was the time for the ICE and gas.. very glad it is not a BEV.

The following article is on CBC news and basically confirms what we know - PHEV is the way to go at the present time:

https://www.cbc.ca/news/technology/national-electric-vehicles-advances-1.5019046
 
KClark said:
Clarity is a superb urban commuting vehicle. It's large enough for friends to join you, quiet, economical, EV range long enough for most commutes with no range anxiety if you need to go farther, and mostly, as you said, a superb value getting all of that with the tax credits and dealers willing to bargain on price. But for me, if I were driving a lot of long road trips here in the western US I would get another car. I've always loved road trips, just getting out on the interstate and driving hundreds of miles through the wide open and mostly empty US western states. I find it relaxing and even serene, a kind of meditation, you get up to speed, the rpms drop down into a lull and you just cruise. But long trips in a Clarity mean using the ICE and that noise intrudes on the serenity while the tiny gas tank intrudes on the long distances you can drive without thinking about where the next gas station is located. It's certainly doable in a Clarity but for me not the most enjoyable way to do it.
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Indeed the Clarity is definitely a perfect commute car!
ZERO fuel so far - 1500 miles and 6 weeks since I got her - love the daily EV miles.

Have not taken her on a distance trip yet but will have to see.
With a full EV charge and a full tank of 7 gallons of fuel, my dash says I can go 420 miles - which is a LOT better than my soon to be retired Land Rover that has a huge 20 gallon tank and gets barely 350 miles.

I'd rather burn 7 gallons for 420 miles than 20 gallons for 350 miles anytime....
 
KClark said:
Clarity is a superb urban commuting vehicle. It's large enough for friends to join you, quiet, economical, EV range long enough for most commutes with no range anxiety if you need to go farther, and mostly, as you said, a superb value getting all of that with the tax credits and dealers willing to bargain on price. But for me, if I were driving a lot of long road trips here in the western US I would get another car. I've always loved road trips, just getting out on the interstate and driving hundreds of miles through the wide open and mostly empty US western states. I find it relaxing and even serene, a kind of meditation, you get up to speed, the rpms drop down into a lull and you just cruise. But long trips in a Clarity mean using the ICE and that noise intrudes on the serenity while the tiny gas tank intrudes on the long distances you can drive without thinking about where the next gas station is located. It's certainly doable in a Clarity but for me not the most enjoyable way to do it.
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If you have the battery at 75% or more and drive in HV mode, you should barely hear the ICE engine on long trips.
The ICE in the car is designed to work with the electric motor. Standalone, it squeals and whines :)

And with an average of 45 MPG in HV mode, you can go 300+ miles without needing to refuel.
 
4sallypat said:
With a full EV charge and a full tank of 7 gallons of fuel, my dash says I can go 420 miles...
Click to expand...

I agree it’s a great car, but those numbers seem a bit optimistic, and larger than what mine says.

Let’s say 40 mpg. 7 gals (to an empty tank) will take you 280 miles.

Full battery? Let’s say 47 miles average.

I calculate 327 miles to empty gas tank and battery.

I think there was a fix for overly optimistic range displays. Maybe your car needs that?
 
I get excited to drive it every day I can (we have 18 inches of snow presently).

I get heart sick seeing someone else’s Clarity rear ended. I’m sorry it happened to someone else but just the thought bothers me.

I hope we all get many years of reliable use.
 
4sallypat said:
I'd rather burn 7 gallons for 420 miles than 20 gallons for 350 miles anytime....
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I’m sure you realize that calculated 60 mpg is purely theoretical. It assumes you will drain both the battery and the entire tank of gas before you fill up, and it assumes conditions that will give optimum gas mileage. I don’t think either are remotely realistic.

lanb said:
If you have the battery at 75% or more and drive in HV mode, you should barely hear the ICE engine on long trips.
The ICE in the car is designed to work with the electric motor. Standalone, it squeals and whines :)

And with an average of 45 MPG in HV mode, you can go 300+ miles without needing to refuel.
Click to expand...

This also is not true to what I’ve experienced.

Here’s a real world example. I drove from my home near LA to St. George Utah last weekend with 3 adults, we went about 75mph most of the way. I wanted to preserve my battery charge so once I got on the freeway I switched to HV mode, I probably went 5 miles on EV. Starting with a full tank of gas I got to the California Nevada Stateline and had 30 miles EV and 50 miles gas according to the dash. I had just about enough to go 40 more miles to Las Vegas but I didn’t want to buy gas there, there really aren’t any freeway convenient gas stations in LV proper along I15. We always stop at a Love’s beyond LV but I knew I couldn’t go that far. So I had a dilemma, and not knowing my new car very well and not wanting to run out of gas in the middle of the desert I filled up at the state line. I had traveled 227 miles and put in 5.8 gallons which is just slightly over 39mpg. I kept track of all my gas on the trip and 39 MPG is pretty much what I averaged for the whole thing.

That means I could have just made it to LV with a tank close to empty, but I really try to avoid cutting things that close. All it takes is an accident that slows traffic to make things uncomfortable when you’re out in the desert where the next gas might be 20 or more miles away. So real world, Clarity range with my conditions is maybe 250 miles before gas anxiety kicks in, and yes, I’m discounting the EV, but if you want to keep a healthy charge and you’re going to be driving hundreds of miles before you can recharge you’re basically driving a pure hybrid and relying just on gas. And that’s just not good enough for me. My odyssey can easily go from my home to st. George, 380 miles, on one tank. If the tank were just 2 gallons bigger I probably would have no range problem.

And Ian, it’s just not true that with 75% or more charge you barely hear the ICE. With 3 adults and their luggage going 75mph with more than 75% charge even relatively minor grades made it quite noticeable, and on the three major grades, all of them 3000+ feet, the engine was thrashing so badly I thought something was going to explode. As I said in another thread, to its credit the clarity had no problem maintaining speed up those grades but it wasn’t a pleasant experience.

I recognize this is subjective and we all have different perceptions of what is acceptable. For an occasional long trip it’s fine, but for me, if I were making frequent long trips in the western US I would not keep my clarity for the reasons I’ve explained. Fortunately I’m not in that situation, I commute 44 miles to work every day and my clarity is the perfect solution for that.
 
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I'm convinced it's the speed. I had a similar experience. 3 adults, 50% Doc, heater blasting, 20sF, not the Sierras, but the White Mtns, doing around 72 mph, the engine was roaring. Took the speed down to 68 mph, and the roaring went away, just nice quiet HV ICE.
 
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