2014 Honda FCX Clarity Reviews, Pricing & Specs
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Due for one exciting redesign next year, the 2014 Honda FXC Clarity continues unchanged since its 2009 debut. Not that anyone outside of southern California really knows what the Clarity has been these last 5 years—the name of this 4-door, 4-passenger, front-wheel-drive hatchback is anything but fitting until you gain some insight, think accordingly, and then step it up a notch.
Which is to say, the Clarity is a lot like Honda's Insight hybrid; they share an electric motor, battery pack and regenerative brake technologies for a relatively similar driving experience. For instance, highway speeds are still achieved in a relatively slow 12.5 seconds with the 134-hp and 189-lb-ft torque engine, and the trunk is a touch on the small side with about 13.1 cubic feet to spare including the extra underfloor storage. However, the Clarity is also a lot like Honda's gas-powered Accord sedan in terms of feature content, overall feel, driving range, and fill-up time, despite being entirely mechanically unique to Honda's lineup.
The key difference is what goes in and what comes out. Namely, hydrogen and water, respectively. Mixing hydrogen with oxygen to charge its 288-volt lithium-ion battery pack and power its 100kW electric motor, the FXC Clarity is what's known as a fuel-cell car. This, of course, comes with its own set of quirks beyond your usual hybrid, especially as it's such a new technology, but Honda is reportedly hard at work to eliminate many of those oddities in the next generation due to debut for 2015.
Reported to offer full seating for 5 with a new fuel-cell stack housed entirely under the hood with some 60% more power and efficiency improved by a third over its current 60 miles per kilogram, the next Clarity requires a mere 3 minutes to fill its default tank capable of a range of well over 300 miles. I say default because the current arrangements for a double-capacity tank may carry over, leaving the whirr of its compressor at start-up and general loudness as Honda's only remaining refinement interests.
That said, in spite of being 3 times more efficient per kilogram of hydrogen relative to a gallon of gas in your average car, the Clarity's overall reach is still a big question due to that change in fuel. Although California is rapidly expanding its hydrogen fuel stations with Oklahoma coming in a tight second, the combined efforts of Honda and GM to expand these facilities may not be enough to merit a nationwide debut anytime soon. At least you can rest assured by the time a hydrogen fuel station does pop up near you, there's a refined option to make use of it.
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2014 Honda FCX Clarity Pricing
Trims & specs
Air Conditioning
Automatic climate control front air conditioning · Dual front air conditioning zones
Airbags
Dual front airbags · Passenger airbag deactivation: occupant sensing deactivation · Front side airbags · Front side curtain airbags
Audio System
Antenna Type: mast · Bluetooth auxiliary audio input · Single disc in-Dash CD · MP3 player: CD MP3 Playback · AM/FM radio · Satellite Radio: SiriusXM · Total Number of Speakers: 6
Brakes
ABS: 4-wheel · Front brakes: ventilated disc · Rear brakes: disc
Comfort Features
Armrests: rear center folding with pass-thru · Floor Mat Material: carpet · Floor Material: carpet · Floor Mats: front
Convenience Features
Assist handle: rear · Center console: front console with armrest and storage · Cruise control: adaptive · Cupholders: front · Multi-function remote: trunk release · One-touch windows: 2 · Power outlet(s): 12V front · Power windows: lockout button · Reading lights: rear · Steering wheel: tilt and telescopic · Steering wheel mounted controls: multi-function screen controls · Storage: door pockets · Universal garage door opener: Homelink · Vanity mirrors: illuminated passenger
Engine
Electric Motor Battery Type: lithium ion · Electric Motor HP: 134 · Electric Motor Power Output (Kilowatts): 100 · Electric Motor Torque: 189
Exterior Features
Door handle color: chrome · Front bumper color: body-color · Grille color: chrome surround · Mirror color: body-color · Rear bumper color: body-color · Window trim: chrome
Headrests
Front headrests: adjustable · Number of front headrests: 2 · Number of rear headrests: 2
In Car Entertainment
Infotainment: HondaLink · Infotainment screen size: 7 in.
Instrumentation
Fuel economy display: MPG · Warnings and reminders: maintenance reminder
Lights
Headlights: Auto on/off · Tail and brake lights: LED
Mirrors
Exterior mirrors: power
Rear Seats
Type: 40-20-40 split bench
Safety
Active head restraints: driver · Camera system: rearview · Child seat anchors: LATCH system · Crumple zones: front · Impact sensor: alert system · Rearview monitor: in dash
Seatbelts
Emergency locking retractors: front · Front seatbelts: 3-point · Seatbelt pretensioners: front · Second row seatbelts: 3-point
Seats
Driver seat manual adjustments: height · Front seat type: bucket · Passenger seat manual adjustments: height · Rear headrests: adjustable · Rear seat folding: split · Upholstery: premium cloth
Steering
Steering ratio: 16.1 · Turns lock-to-lock: 3.3
Suspension
Front Shock Type: gas shock absorbers · Front Spring Type: coil springs · Front Stabilizer Bar: diameter 29 mm · Front Suspension Classification: independent · Front Suspension Type: double wishbones · Rear Shock Type: gas shock absorbers · Rear Spring Type: coil springs · Rear Stabilizer Bar: diameter 14 mm · Rear Suspension Classification: independent · Rear Suspension Type: multi-link
Telematics
Navigation system: with voice recognition · Phone wireless data link: Bluetooth
Tires
Type: all season
Tires and Rims
Wheel type: aluminum alloy
Windows
Front wipers: variable intermittent