2019 Honda Clarity PHEV Review: A Strong Chevy Volt Alternative?

Unless you’ve done your research, you probably haven’t heard of this Accord lookalike (albeit one with a funkier rear end). It’s the Clarity, and Honda offers with three powertrains. There’s a lease-only hydrogen fuel cell version that requires the use of our nation’s very limited hydrogen infrastructure, as well as an EV with a mere 89 miles of range.

That’s why we’re most interested in the practical plug-in hybrid version, which can travel 47 miles on pure electricity and hundreds more when the gas engine comes alive. Plus, if you drive solo to work, the Clarity PHEV still gains you carpool-lane access.

Most plug-in hybrids can’t compete with the Clarity’s all-electric range, with the exception of the now-departed Chevrolet Volt. GM killed the Volt to concentrate on pure-electric vehicles. But a case can still be made for PHEVs when folks still suffer from EV range (and recharging) anxiety. As such, can the as-tested $37,530 Clarity fill the gap left by the industry’s most popular plug-in hybrid riding off into the sunset?

Here’s how the Clarity works. Typically, it runs only on an electric motor that produces 181 hp and 232 lb-ft of torque. This motor gets electricity from a lithium-ion battery pack. A four-cylinder gas engine with 103 hp kicks in only when needed. It provides additional driving range when the battery is low and more potent acceleration when you press the pedal past a certain point. Total system output is 212 hp.

In Hybrid Drive mode, a gas engine drives a motor-generator to produce electricity, which goes directly to either the electric motor or the battery pack. In Engine Drive mode, power routes directly from the engine to the front wheels.

The Clarity automatically switches between the electric, hybrid, and engine systems to match the current driving situation. But there are four drive modes you can select: Normal, Eco, Sport, and HV. In Eco mode, the threshold for the engine to kick in with extra power is higher than in, say, the more aggressive Sport. Selecting HV mode conserves the battery’s charge level, and a longer hold on this button recharges the battery considerably. During my commute and with the battery low, I regained more than 26 electric miles before a message popped up telling me to plug in if I wanted more electric range.

On the test track, the Clarity glided from 0 to 60 mph in 7.6 seconds, recording its quickest run in Normal mode. This respectable time is just a tenth of a second behind a 2017 Volt we drove.

In city traffic or merging onto the freeway, the Clarity feels slow getting up to speed from a stop, during EV or HV driving. If you’re already moving, however, the Clarity feels much more responsive when you want extra power.

Honda took care to make the Clarity feel like a regular sedan. The brakes clamp down with more confidence than you’d expect from a hybrid. Still, our test team noted a little bit of travel before they really bite. The Clarity took 121 feet to come to a full stop from 60 mph, and it did so with good body control and minimal dive. Regenerative braking is unobtrusive.

Even in Sport mode—which is a misnomer—steering feels a bit vague. Testing director and EV whisperer Kim Reynolds called the Clarity’s handling “benign” in the figure-eight test. “This car is about efficiency and comfort, not performance,” he said. “It behaves itself well enough, which is the main point.”

Power delivery dropped when the battery ran out of juice, Reynolds said, adding, “There’s a terrible amount of engine noise under acceleration—the CVT lets the engine boom away at high and near-constant rpm.” We couldn’t ignore the noise during real-world driving, too.

Fortunately, the noise from the engine is the only thing that might take you off guard. Honda managed to keep tire noise and wind noise within reasonable levels, so you should have no problem holding a conversation. The Clarity soaks up bumps in the road before they can disturb those inside the cabin. But at higher speeds, you’ll notice some undulating.

Now that we know the Clarity drives reasonably well, we can focus on its key selling point: EV range. Capable of traveling 47 miles on electricity, the Clarity blows away the Toyota Prius Prime’s 25 miles and the plug-in Kia Optima’s 28 miles. (The battery-only range was 53 miles in the Volt.) In my driving, I found the Clarity lives up to its estimated EV range, leaving me with miles to spare. In terms of overall driving range, the Clarity isn’t as impressive when factoring in its tiny 7-gallon gas tank. It gets an EPA-estimated 340 miles, far less than the Prius Prime’s 640, Optima’s 630, and Volt’s 420 miles.

We’ve long complained about the Volt’s cramped interior, but Honda is well known for cleverly packaging people and their stuff. The Clarity offers plenty of space for passengers and cargo. For those up front, a cutout in the center console makes an excellent storage cubby, and the cupholders are deep, so go ahead and order that large drink.

The Clarity’s high-quality materials and excellent forward visibility deserve praise. Unfortunately for stereophiles, the Clarity has Honda’s older infotainment setup, which features a sliding tool instead of a physical volume knob. The system may not seem dated … until you take a look inside the Accord and see its thin dash-mounted screen with superior graphics. Still, the Clarity’s old system works well enough and remains responsive to touch inputs if the high sensitivity setting is selected.

Two trim levels are offered: base and Touring. Our tester was a Touring model, and its upgrades include leather-trimmed seats, navigation, a driver’s seat with eight-way power adjustability and two-position memory, and other features. Costing more than $37,000, the Clarity Touring isn’t cheap, but keep in mind buyers are eligible for $7,500 in federal tax credits.

The Clarity PHEV is available nationwide. Cryptically, Honda told us, “Clarity Plug-in Hybrid is still available for order in all 50 states, but our focus is increasingly going to be on our hybrid vehicles as having the widest appeal in the market.” Without going into more detail, Honda confirmed a Clarity for the 2020 model year. For the sake of those who enjoy the flexibility offered by a plug-in hybrid with strong electric range, we hope this one keeps going strong.

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