Used 2020 Honda Clarity Plug-in Hybrid

The 2020 Honda Clarity is actually two different cars bearing the same name. Both are sedans, and they look pretty much the same inside and out. What powers them makes the difference, a choice between a plug-in hybrid and a fuel-cell engine powered by hydrogen.

The Honda Clarity Plug-In Hybrid model is available for consumers to buy or lease. The Honda Clarity Fuel Cell is only available through a lease, and only in certain regions of California. For 2020, Honda cancelled the Clarity Electric, which offered just 89 miles of driving range.

In 2019, the Clarity Plug-in earned a KBB Best Buy Award in the electric/hybrid car segment. Since then, we’ve added a Clarity Plug-in to our long-term-testing program, in which the car has averaged nearly 89 MPGe thanks to regular overnight charging. Overall, the Clarity Plug-in has thoroughly impressed us.

While the 2020 Honda Clarity possesses a couple of complicated propulsion systems, the vehicle itself couldn’t be easier to drive. The experience in either model is a seamless one, regardless if the power source is 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 Fuel Cell, the cabin is utterly serene while driving, with only the sounds of the tires and outside air rushing past to provide aural confirmation the car is in motion. In the plug-in model, the electric motor can propel the Clarity about 47 miles before the 1.5-liter 4-cylinder gasoline engine kicks on to power the electric motors or the wheels themselves.

As for performance, neither member of the Clarity family delivers the sizzling speed for which Tesla electric cars are known, but these Hondas 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.

Like any Honda, the Clarity’s 5-passenger cabin is quite practical. Yet as is appropriate for a car with advanced powertrains, it also looks futuristic. Excellent fit/finish is a given with most Hondas, and the Clarity adds Acura-grade materials such as soft perforated leather, simulated suede on the dashboard, and dark matte-finish wood-tone trim on the center console.

Adding to the interior’s Tomorrowland look and feel, a row of buttons for Reverse, Drive and Neutral run down the center of the console, replacing a traditional gear selector. The flat touch-screen infotainment display further lends the cabin a modern appearance, though user-friendliness is compromised.

The Clarity Plug-in is the most commodious when it comes to cargo, supplying 15.5 cubic feet of space. A 60/40-split-folding rear seat expands that cargo capacity when necessary.

Clarity Fuel Cell models can carry just 11.8 cubic feet of cargo, and you can’t fold this version’s back seat down. This design is necessary to accommodate the hydrogen fuel-tank housing.

The 2020 Honda Clarity definitely adopts a futuristic appearance. This sleek, aerodynamic 4-door sedan blends a bevy of angles, curves and unique details to create a look all its own. Some design approaches work better than others, but beauty is always in the eye of the beholder.

We like the aluminum-alloy wheels that come with the Plug-in and Fuel Cell, the fastback roofline, and the unusual rear-wheelwell shapes. Front and rear, the styling reminds us of other modern Hondas, but with a functional twist. Especially up front, it’s hard to miss the massive boomerang-shaped light treatments.

PLUG-IN HYBRID
With the 2020 Honda Clarity Plug-in Hybrid, you get the best attributes of a short-range electric car and a long-range gas-powered sedan. After a few hours of charging, the Clarity supplies an estimated 47 miles of travel solely on electricity. For longer trips, the gas engine kicks on just like in a regular car for a total range of 340 miles. You can drive one from coast to coast without ever plugging it in.

HONDA SENSING
Every 2020 Clarity includes Honda Sensing, a collection of driver-assistance and collision-avoidance systems. Highlights include adaptive cruise control, forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, and a Road Departure Mitigation system to prevent accidental departure from the pavement.

The 2020 Honda Clarity Plug-in Hybrid is on sale nationally, and comes in two main trims: standard and Touring. Each is well equipped, including automatic LED headlights, Honda Sensing, an 8-inch touch-screen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, dual-zone automatic climate control, heated front seats, and LaneWatch, which provides real-time video of the right-side blind spot.

Upgrade to the Touring trim, and the Clarity Plug-in Hybrid gets power-adjustable front seats wrapped in perforated leather, a navigation system, and remote operation of the climate system to pre-condition the cabin with heat or air conditioning.

Limited in terms of its availability, the Clarity Fuel Cell is offered in a single level of specification that includes all of the features listed above.

Aside from the Touring trim package upgrade for the Honda Clarity Plug-in Hybrid, options are limited to dealer-installed accessories.

You can choose a different aluminum-alloy wheel design, a rear spoiler and several extras that help to preserve the car’s finish. Rear parking sensors are also available, but they’re pricey. For the interior, cargo solutions and all-season floormats are available, as well as a rear-seat cover for kids or pets and illuminated doorsill-trim plates.

Though each 2020 Honda Clarity sedan is electrified in some way, Honda takes two very different approaches to the propulsion systems.

The Plug-in Hybrid model combines a 1.5-liter 4-cylinder gasoline engine and a battery-fed electric motor. Working together, they generate a total of 212 horsepower. The electric motor alone is good for 181 horsepower and 232 lb-ft of torque, which is why the Clarity functions well in its electric mode.

With a full charge and a full tank full of gasoline, the Clarity Plug-in has a range of 340 miles. Drivers can choose among several different driving modes including Normal, Econ, Sport and HV (maintains the battery’s state of charge to use electric driving in a specific situation). We think the simplest way to operate the Clarity Plug-in Hybrid is just to get in and go.

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 when you’re driving and refueling at one of California’s handful of hydrogen stations. The process is similar to filling a car with gasoline. You pull up to the pump, pay, use a nozzle, refill the tank in five minutes or less, then go on your way. The Clarity Fuel Cell also benefits from a slightly longer 360-mile estimated range.

Clarity Plug-in Hybrid
1.5-liter 4-cylinder + electric motor
Total horsepower: 212 horsepower
EPA city/highway/combined: 42 mpg, 110 MPGe (miles per gallon equivalent, electric only)
Range on a full charge: 47 miles

Clarity Fuel Cell
Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell with 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: 68/67 MPGe
Range: 360 miles