Honda Clarity 2021 Review

The 2021 Honda Clarity is an eco-minded sedan sold in two variations: as a hydrogen fuel cell or a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV). The former is only available in California because it's the only state with any substantial hydrogen infrastructure. Since the fuel cell is used to power an electric motor, the Clarity drives and feels like a battery-powered EV, and you can fill the hydrogen fuel tank in just a few minutes. The Clarity Plug-In Hybrid, meanwhile, uses a small battery pack paired with a gasoline engine. As a result, the Clarity Plug-In Hybrid offers 47 miles of pure electric range, but its backup gasoline engine allows it to travel as far as any regular sedan.

Only a handful of other fuel cell vehicles are on sale today. The Toyota Mirai has been fully redesigned for 2021, and Hyundai has been selling the Nexo SUV for the past few years. As with the Clarity, the Mirai and Nexo are only available in California. The Clarity Plug-In Hybrid has far more competition. And though we like the Toyota Prius Prime and RAV4 Prime as well as the Subaru Crosstrek Hybrid, the Clarity offers significantly more range and is well worth a look if you're hunting for a plug-in hybrid.

What's it like to live with?

A 2017 Honda Clarity Fuel Cell joined our long-term test fleet not long after it debuted. We found it to be comfortable and extremely quiet, but we had trouble with the disappointing hydrogen infrastructure and the high cost of scheduled maintenance.

Which Clarity does MatoCar recommend?

The 2021 Honda Clarity is available in two basic forms: the Plug-In Hybrid and Fuel Cell. The Clarity Plug-In Hybrid is powered by a 1.5-liter four-cylinder gasoline engine (212 horsepower, 232 lb-ft) with an electric-motor hybrid system and a 17-kWh lithium-ion battery. On a full charge, the battery provides up to 47 electric-only miles of range. In the Clarity Fuel Cell, the fuel cell assembly turns the hydrogen into electricity, which powers an electric motor (174 hp, 221 lb-ft) and gives it 360 miles of range.

Plug-In Hybrid The Plug-In Hybrid is available in two trims. The base model includes:

• LED headlights
• Dual-zone automatic climate control
• Keyless entry with push-button start
• Heated front seats
• Eight-speaker audio system
• 8-inch touchscreen display with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
• Honda Sensing
• Collision mitigation braking (warns if a front impact is imminent and applies the brakes if you don't respond in time)
• Lane keeping assist (warns you of a lane departure when a turn signal isn't used and can automatically steer to maintain lane position)
• Adaptive cruise control (adjusts speed to maintain a constant distance between the vehicle and the car in front)

Clarity Plug-In Hybrid Touring Stepping up to the Touring trim doesn't change the Clarity's performance, but you do get a few more standard features, including:

• Power-adjustable front seats
• Leather upholstery
• Navigation

Clarity Fuel Cell The Clarity Fuel Cell includes all of the Plug-In Hybrid Touring's features and adds:

• Head-up display
• 12-speaker audio system with a subwoofer