2017 Honda Clarity Electric Reviews, Pricing & Specs
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The Honda FCX Clarity made headlines a decade ago, even though most people have still never seen one. As a hydrogen fuel-cell vehicle, it was one of the earliest demonstrations of commitment by a major manufacturer to alternative fuel. Buyers of the rebooted Clarity Fuel Cell have been pretty much limited to Southern California, but Honda is now expanding the Clarity range to include both a plug-in hybrid and a full electric vehicle (EV). While it’s a significant step, the Clarity Electric looks like it will still be sold only in California and Oregon, although the plug-in variant should be available nationwide. The 2017 Clarity Electric is supposedly part of Honda’s goal to quintuple its EV sales over the next four years, although that might prove to be a challenge. In addition to the Clarity Electric’s limited availability, it has an inferior range compared to established EVs already on the market and isn’t particularly competitive on price.
From the outside, most people will likely mistake the Clarity Electric for an Accord. It shares its basic platform and electric powertrain with the Clarity Fuel Cell, and it runs on a total output of 161 hp and 221 lb-ft of torque. Its 25.5 kWh lithium-ion battery pack is located beneath the floor and behind the rear seats, in an effort to maximize interior room. Additionally, it’s expected to get the fuel-economy equivalent of 120 mpg city, 102 highway, and 111 combined.
The most important measure to EV buyers is range, and the Clarity Electric just doesn’t stack up. With a range of 80 miles, it falls well behind competition like the 107-mile Nissan Leaf, 114-mile BMW i3, 115-mile Ford Focus Electric, 124-mile Volkswagen e-Golf, and of course the 238-mile Chevrolet Bolt. That being said, buyers will largely be urban commuters who drive less than 80 miles in a day anyway, and with its fast charging capability, it can reach 80% battery capacity in half an hour. As for driving feel, it should be comparable to other EVs—it’s a relatively heavy car, but it carries its weight low down in the chassis and benefits from the instant torque provided by the electric motor.
The interior of the Clarity Electric seats 5 comfortably, and because the EV model doesn’t have the fuel-cell variant’s cumbersome hydrogen tank, there’s additional trunk space. Features should mirror those of the Clarity Fuel Cell and include power-adjustable heated front seats, a reversing camera, dual-zone climate control, an 8.0-inch touchscreen, and Android Auto and Apple CarPlay capability. Clarity Fuel Cell reviewers have noted that the interior is particularly high quality and has a futuristic feel.
Like the rest of the Clarity lineup, the Clarity Electric will be equipped with Honda’s Sensing driver-assistance suite, which comes with adaptive cruise control, forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and active lane control. As a new model, it has not yet been crash tested.
The Clarity Electric is a bit of an oddball—its availability is limited to two states, despite there being demand for EVs in cities across the country. Its price is also expected to be around $35,000 (before tax incentives), which puts it in the same price bracket as other EVs that easily beat it on range. The introduction of the 2018 Clarity Plug-in Hybrid also makes the Clarity Electric somewhat unnecessary, as the plug-in variant will not only be available nationwide but also boasts a range several times that of the Clarity Electric, thanks to its gasoline-powered range extender. Honda clearly wants to make a shift towards more electrified vehicles, but this is not the model that’s going to shake things up.
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2017 Honda Clarity Electric Pricing
Trims & specs
Air Conditioning
Automatic climate control front air conditioning · Dual front air conditioning zones
Airbags
Dual front airbags · Driver knee airbags · Passenger airbag deactivation: occupant sensing deactivation · Front side airbags · Front side curtain airbags
Audio System
Antenna Type: mast · Voice recognition audio system · Auxiliary audio input: iPod/iPhone integration · Pandora internet radio · AM/FM radio · Satellite Radio: SiriusXM · Total Number of Speakers: 8 · 180 watts
Brakes
ABS: 4-wheel · Braking assist: hill start assist · Electronic parking brake: auto off · Front brake diameter: 12.3 · Front brakes: ventilated disc · Rear brake diameter: 12.2 · Rear brakes: disc
Comfort Features
Armrests: rear center with cupholders · Floor Mat Material: carpet · Floor Material: carpet · Floor Mats: front · Steering wheel trim: leather
Convenience Features
Adaptive stop and go cruise control: semi-automatic · Assist handle: rear · Autonomous lane guidance: lane centering · Center console: front console with armrest and storage · Cruise control: adaptive · Cupholders: rear · Dimming rearview mirror: auto-dimming · Memorized settings: 2 driver · Multi-function remote: keyless entry with panic alarm · One-touch windows: 4 · Power outlet(s): 12V front · Power windows: lockout button · Reading lights: rear · Rear power outlet: 12V · Rear view camera: multi-view · Steering wheel: tilt and telescopic · Steering wheel mounted controls: cruise controls · Storage: front seatback · Universal garage door opener: Homelink · Vanity mirrors: dual illuminating
Driver Seat
Adjustable lumbar support: power · Power adjustments: 8
Drivetrain
Axle ratio: 3.83
Engine
EV battery capacity: 25.5 kWh · Electric Charge Cord: 120 volt · Electric Motor Battery Type: lithium ion · Electric Motor HP: 161 · Electric Motor Power Output (Kilowatts): 120 · Electric Motor Torque: 221 · Electric motor charger: DC fast charging · Electric motor charger connector: SAE Combo CCS · Electric motor charging time: 3.1 hours · Electric motor charging time (120V): 19 hours · Electric motor miles per charge: 89
Exterior Features
Door handle color: body-color · Front bumper color: body-color · Grille color: black with chrome accents · Mirror color: body-color · Rear bumper color: body-color · Rear spoiler: decklid · Rear spoiler color: body-color · Window trim: chrome
Headrests
Front headrests: adjustable · Number of front headrests: 2 · Number of rear headrests: 3
In Car Entertainment
Connected in-car apps: Google search · Infotainment: Android Auto ready · Infotainment screen size: 8 in.
Instrumentation
Fuel economy display: range · Instrument cluster screen size: 7 in. · Warnings and reminders: low battery
Lights
Daytime running lights: LED · Headlights: LED · Tail and brake lights: LED
Mirrors
Exterior mirrors: heated
Passenger Seat
Power adjustments: 4
Rear Seats
Type: 60-40 split bench
Safety
Automatic emergency braking: front · Blind spot safety: passenger side camera · Child seat anchors: LATCH system · Crumple zones: front · Pre-Collision Warning System: visual warning · Pre-collision warning system: pedestrian detection · Rearview monitor: in dash
Seatbelts
Emergency locking retractors: front and rear · Front seatbelts: 3-point · Seatbelt force limiters: front · Seatbelt pretensioners: front · Seatbelt warning sensor: driver and passenger · Second row seatbelts: 3-point
Seats
Driver seat power adjustments: height · Front seat type: bucket · Passenger seat power adjustments: reclining · Rear headrests: adjustable · Rear seat folding: split · Upholstery: perforated
Security
Power door locks: anti-lockout
Spare Tire
Kit: tire sealant
Steering
Steering ratio: 12.7 · Turns lock-to-lock: 2.4
Suspension
Front Arm Type: lower control arms · Front Shock Type: gas shock absorbers · Front Spring Type: coil springs · Front Stabilizer Bar: diameter 28 mm · Front Suspension Classification: independent · Front Suspension Type: MacPherson struts · Rear Shock Type: gas shock absorbers · Rear Spring Type: coil springs · Rear Stabilizer Bar: diameter 22 mm · Rear Suspension Classification: independent · Rear Suspension Type: multi-link
Telematics
Electronic messaging assistance: with read function · Navigation system: with voice recognition · Phone: voice activated · Phone wireless data link: Bluetooth
Tires
Type: all season
Tires and Rims
Wheel type: aluminum alloy
Windows
Front wipers: variable intermittent · Power windows: with safety reverse · Solar-tinted glass: front