Used 2019 Honda Clarity Plug-in Hybrid

The 2019 Honda Clarity is actually three cars all bearing the same name. If that sounds impossible, let us clarify the Clarity’s mission. While all Clarity sedans look pretty much the same inside and out, it’s what powers them that makes the difference. Buyers can opt for a plug-in hybrid, a pure electric or a fuel-cell engine powered by hydrogen.

The plug-in model is available for sale, but unlike the Chevy Bolt, Hyundai Ioniq or Tesla Model 3, the electric and fuel-cell models are offered only through a lease deal limited to two states — California and Oregon. The fuel-cell Clarity is leased only in certain regions of California. Still, even with those limitations, the Clarity was good enough to beat the competition last year, earning a KBB Best Buy Award for electric and hybrid vehicles.

While the 2019 Honda Clarity possesses a trio of complicated propulsion systems, the vehicle itself couldn’t be easier to drive. The experience for all three is a seamless one, regardless if the power source is electricity, gas and electricity, or hydrogen. In fact, the experience behind the wheel is very much the same as when piloting the larger Honda Accord, only without the sound of a gasoline engine humming away under the hood.

In the Clarity EV and Clarity Fuel Cell, the experience is serene, with only the sounds of the tires and outside air rushing past to alert occupants the car is in motion. In the plug-in model, the electric motor can carry the Clarity about 47 miles before the 1.5-liter gasoline engine kicks on to power the electric motors or the wheels themselves.

As for performance, none of the Clarity models has the sizzling speed for which Tesla electric cars are known, but they are far from slow. Acceleration and passing power are on par with most 4-cylinder midsize sedans, cornering is well mannered without too much lean, and the steering feel is precise with no signs of excessive play or over-assist.

One big trait that sets the Honda Clarity apart from rivals like the Toyota Prius Prime plug-in and Toyota Mirai fuel cell is seat count: All Clarity models have room for five passengers instead of the four in those rivals. We don’t suggest long trips with three passengers in back, but it’s possible when needed.

The rest of the Clarity’s cabin is also quite practical yet futuristic, with excellent fit and finish. Instead of a traditional gear lever, there are buttons for Drive, Reverse, Neutral, etc., running in a spine down the center. Above is an 8-inch touch-screen display and infotainment system that is CarPlay and Android Auto compatible. The Clarity Plug-in and Clarity all-electric have sizable, 14.3-cubic-foot trunks, but the fuel-cell model’s is more limited at 11.8 cubic feet to accommodate the hydrogen tank housing.

The 2019 Honda Clarity lineup of green vehicles definitely has a futuristic element going for it. This sleek 4-door sedan is a bevy of angles, curves and unique aesthetics, some of which work better than others. We like the sloped roof that almost appears to float, while the rear reminds of the sleek, latest-gen Civic. Up front, it’s hard to miss the massive boomerang-shaped light treatments. While it may bring better aerodynamics, we aren’t fans of the body panels that drip beyond the top of the rear wheels.

PLUG-IN HYBRID
With Honda’s Clarity Plug-in Hybrid for 2019, you get the best attributes of a short-range electric car and a long-range gas-powered sedan. After a few hours charging, the Clarity can be driven up to 47 miles solely on electric. For longer trips, the gas engine kicks on just like in a regular car for total range of 340 miles.

STANDARD SAFETY FEATURES
As with most Honda cars, the Honda Sensing roster of driver assists and safety systems comes standard on the 2019 Clarity. The suite includes forward emergency braking, lane-departure warning and assist and adaptive cruise control.

The 2019 Honda Clarity Plug-in Hybrid, the most widely available model in the lineup by far, comes in two main trims: standard and Touring. Even the standard trim brings a strong stable of features that includes an 8-inch touch-screen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, dual-zone climate control, heated front seats, LED headlights and taillights, rain-sensing windshield wipers and LaneWatch, which provides real-time video of the right-side blind spot.

Like more and more new Honda cars, the Clarity comes with Honda Sensing, a commendable suite of safety and driver-assistance features. It bundles lane-departure warning and lane-keeping systems, adaptive cruise control, forward-collision warning, and automatic emergency braking. The limited Clarity Fuel Cell and Clarity Electric are mono-spec models that are also well-equipped with these features and more, including navigation and a power driver’s seat.

Stepping up to the Honda Clarity Plug-in Touring model adds navigation, power front seats (with 2-position memory for the driver’s seat), leather-trimmed seats and steering wheel, and Ultrasuede interior. From there, options are mostly limited to dealer accessories.

Though all electrified, each 2019 Honda Clarity sedan is powered in its own way. The Plug-in Hybrid model uses the combination of a 1.5-liter 4-cylinder gasoline engine and a battery-fed electric motor. The pair works seamlessly and intuitively. And while there are selectable drive modes — Normal, Econ, Sport and HV to maintain the battery’s state of charge — we think the simplest way to operate is just get in and drive.

With a full charge and tank full of gasoline, the Clarity Plug-in has a range of 340 miles. The Clarity Electric is powered solely by an electric motor fed by a lithium-ion battery that can be recharged in roughly three hours on a 240-volt line. Its range is rated at only 89 miles. The Clarity Fuel Cell uses hydrogen gas, and through a chemical reaction creates electricity on demand. It’s a futuristic application, but ultimately feels familiar. Similar to filling a car with gasoline, you use a nozzle, fill the tank in three to five minutes, then go on your way. It also benefits from a longer range — up to 366 miles.

Clarity Plug-in Hybrid
1.5-liter 4-cylinder + electric motor
Total horsepower: 212 horsepower
Total torque: 331 lb-ft
EPA city/highway/combined: 42 mpg, 110 MPGe (miles per gallon equivalent, electric only)

Clarity Electric
120-kilowatt electric motor
161 horsepower
221 lb-ft of torque
EPA city/highway mpg equivalent: 126/103 MPGe, 114 MPGe combined
Range on a full charge: 89-miles

Clarity Fuel Cell
Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell/AC Permanent-Magnet Synchronous electric motor
174 horsepower @ 4,501-9,028 rpm
221 lb-ft of torque @ 0-3,500 rpm
EPA city/highway mpg equivalent: 69/67 mpg
Range: 366-miles