2020 Honda Clarity Hybrid Plug-In Reviews, Pricing & Specs

Honda’s Clarity lineup includes hybrid and plug-in-hybrid variants. The five-seat Clarity Hybrid Plug-In receives no major updates for...

Honda’s Clarity lineup includes hybrid and plug-in-hybrid variants. The five-seat Clarity Hybrid Plug-In receives no major updates for 2020.

Most of the time, the Clarity Plug-In Hybrid gets motivated by a 181-horsepower electric motor and a 17-kilowatt-hour battery pack. A 1.5-liter inline 4-cylinder engine onboard mainly acts as a generator. When needed, it connects to the front wheels via a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT) and aids the electric motor, for 212 net hp. Fuel economy for the Clarity Plug-In Hybrid sits at 110 miles-per-gallon equivalent (MPGe) in hybrid mode, with 48 miles of electric range. With gasoline only, it achieves 42 mpg combined. Recharging takes 2.5 hours from a Level 2 (240-volt) household charger.

The Clarity Plug-In Hybrid comes in Base and Touring trims. The Base gives you LED exterior lighting, an 8-inch infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, keyless access and push-button start, heated front seats, and a 60/40 split-folding backseat. Choose the Touring and you’ll gain a leather-wrapped steering wheel, leather seating, remote climate conditioning, navigation, voice recognition, and power front seats.

Every Clarity Plug-In Hybrid benefits from the Honda Sensing suite of driver safety technology. That gets you a rear-view camera, forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping assist, and lane-departure warning. For 2020, Honda adds a pedestrian alert, which alerts people on foot to the otherwise-silent car’s presence at low speeds. Due to low sales volumes, no version of the Clarity has been crash-tested by either the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) or the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

The 2020 Honda Clarity Plug-In Hybrid continues to offer the comfort and convenience of a regular sedan with impeccable fuel economy and significant all-electric range.