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- Highs Impressive all-electric range on the plug-in version, high-quality interior, easygoing cruising demeanor.
- Lows Tight rear-seat legroom, not at all sporty, sparse California-only network of fueling stations for hydrogen-powered Clarity.
- Verdict It doesn't quite drive like a regular Honda, but the Clarity offers two high-tech powertrains, a high-quality interior, and an easygoing cruising demeanor.
Overview
Offered as either a plug-in hybrid or a hydrogen fuel cell, the 2021 Clarity is a very different kind of Honda. Despite its advanced methods of propulsion, the Clarity still functions quite nicely as a mid-size family sedan, and its fuel efficiency is beyond reproach. The plug-in-hybrid model offers up to 48 miles of electric-only driving, which should be enough to cover many buyers' daily commutes without dipping too far into the gasoline tank. If you live in California, Honda will lease you the hydrogen fuel-cell model and give you a credit for up to $15,000 worth of fuel. The Clarity's onboard fuel cell holds enough hydrogen for up to 360 miles of driving.
What's New for 2021?
After discontinuing the EV model of the Clarity last year, Honda is making no changes to the remaining fuel-cell and plug-in-hybrid models for 2021.
Pricing and Which One to Buy
When it comes to which one to buy, the plug-in hybrid is the obvious choice because it's offered in all 50 states both to buy and to lease, and it's easier to recharge and refuel. Also, it's considerably cheaper than the fuel cell. Both versions of the Clarity come with dual-zone automatic climate control, smartphone integration, and all available safety features. The Touring model offers some worthwhile comfort upgrades, including a power-adjustable driver's seat with memory settings, high-quality perforated leather upholstery, and factory navigation.
Engine, Transmission, and Performance
The Clarity plug-in hybrid is motivated by a 181-hp electric motor fed by a 17.0-kWh lithium-ion battery pack. The car's gas engine, a 1.5-liter four-cylinder, serves mainly as a generator for the battery and rarely drives the front wheels directly. The plug-in hybrid scoots to 60 mph in 7.7 seconds and produces a combined output of 212 horsepower. As for the hydrogen-powered Clarity, that comes with a 174-hp electric motor that draws electricity from a fuel cell. As with the plug-in, the fuel-cell Clarity's electric motor drives the front wheels. It hits 60 mph in 8.1 seconds. That's quicker than the Hyundai Nexo and Toyota Mirai, which are the only other hydrogen-fueled vehicles currently on sale. Both versions of the Clarity excel at touring. The ride is compliant, and the cabin is well insulated from wind and road noise.
Range, Charging, and Battery Life
We came close to matching the Clarity plug-in hybrid's EPA-estimated electric-only driving range of 48 miles. (The car's range expands to an EPA-estimated 340 miles when both gas and electric power sources are in play.) Traveling at a constant 75 mph, we covered 41 miles before the engine fired up. That's double the mileage we achieved in Toyota's Prius Prime. It takes about 2.5 hours to recharge the Clarity plug-in's batteries via a 240-volt source or as many as 12 hours on a 120-volt circuit. The EPA pegs the hydrogen-powered Clarity's range at 360 miles, but depending on conditions and your driving style, you might fall well short of that. Refueling the car's tank takes three to five minutes. When you lease a fuel-cell Clarity, Honda provides a fuel card good for $15,000 worth of hydrogen.
Fuel Economy and Real-World MPG
The plug-in manages 42 mpg combined on the EPA scale and 110 MPGe when you consider gas and electricity together. We easily beat the EPA's combined estimate, measuring 46 mpg on the highway in hybrid mode. For comparison, we've managed 49 mpg in a Prius Prime along this same route. The fuel-cell Honda Clarity has a combined EPA rating of 68 MPGe. During a 300-mile test, we averaged 57 MPGe. That's well short of EPA predictions but significantly better than we did with the Mirai, which has a 67-MPGe rating but managed only 48 MPGe as tested.
Interior, Comfort, and Cargo
The Clarity's cabin is inoffensive, relentlessly logical in operation, and utterly comfortable. We like it. While this is a big roomy car with well-shaped front seats that can accommodate large adults, the Clarity has a significantly shorter wheelbase than the Honda Accord. That difference is apparent in the back seat, where there's nearly four inches less legroom. Trunk capacity is 16 cubic feet in the plug-in-hybrid model but 12 cubic feet in the fuel-cell car.
Infotainment and Connectivity
An 8.0-inch touchscreen infotainment interface is standard and includes Apple CarPlay and Android Auto capability. There are two USB ports: a 1.5-amp input for use with smartphone integration and a regular 1.0-amp input for audio playback and charging. The Touring version of the Clarity plug-in hybrid has factory navigation, as does the fuel cell. The fuel-cell model also has a 12-speaker audio system while the plug-in makes do with an eight-speaker setup.
Safety and Driver-Assistance Features
Neither the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration nor the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety has published crash-test results for the Clarity. Every Clarity comes with a suite of driver-assistance technologies, called Honda Sensing, along with the Honda LaneWatch system that displays a camera image of what's in your blind spot as soon as you flip on the turn signal. You can disable this feature if you find it annoying. Key safety features include:
- Standard automated emergency braking
- Standard lane-departure warning with lane-keeping assist
- Standard adaptive cruise control
Warranty and Maintenance Coverage
Unlike Hyundai and Toyota, Honda doesn't offer complimentary scheduled maintenance with either version of the Clarity. If you lease the fuel-cell model, you're eligible for 21 days of complimentary car rental through Avis, which is useful if you want to take a road trip outside California.
- Limited warranty covers three years or 36,000 miles
- Powertrain warranty covers five years or 60,000 miles
- Hybrid components are covered for eight years or 100,000 miles
- No complimentary scheduled maintenance
