With the debut of the Honda Clarity Plug-in, the Clarity now is now complete. Following the launch of the battery electric and fuel cell variants, the 2018 Clarity Plug-in is here to deepen Honda’s roots in the electric car biosphere.
Vehicle Overview
The Honda Clarity comes in three variants - 2018 Honda Clarity Fuel Cell hydrogen car, 2018 Honda Clarity Electric, and 2018 Honda Clarity Plug-in Hybrid sedans. The Clarity is similar in size to the Accord Hybrid, and the pricing of the PHEV is close to what one would pay for the top-level Accord Touring. But, the Honda Financial services, TX are always there to help you finance your purchase.
Here’s an outline of how the Clarity works – In typical conditions, the Clarity PHEV runs on its electric motor powered by a 17-kWh lithium-ion battery. Eventually, as the battery's charge is consumed, the Clarity's non-turbocharged 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine takes over.
Here’s an outline of how the Clarity works – In typical conditions, the Clarity PHEV runs on its electric motor powered by a 17-kWh lithium-ion battery. Eventually, as the battery's charge is consumed, the Clarity's non-turbocharged 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine takes over.
All the three Clarity vehicles look identical, but their power trains are different which gives each Clarity a different driving feel and performance. However, the PHEV version is expected to attract car buyers the most. It has an electric motor which produces 181 hp and 232 lb-ft of torque. The gasoline engine is used primarily to recharge the electric engine once it is consumed. However, at higher speeds, the engine can join the electric motor for driving the wheels directly as a parallel hybrid. When both the engines work together, they take the car’s power to 212 hp.
This Honda new,TX car takes around two and a half hours to fully charge the Clarity with a 240 volt tap and from a standard 120 volt-plug, it takes around 12 hours. With it battery full, the Clarity can travel for 48 miles on electricity before it fires up the gasoline engine, extending the total EPA estimate to 340 miles.
Modes and driving performance
The Clarity offers a choice of four driving modes – Econ, normal and Sport and HV. Each mode progressively delivering more acceleration and pedal response. The fourth mode of this Honda new Clarity has a different task of running the engine to charge the battery. This mode charges the battery up to 58 percent while driving. It has a regenerative braking system with four settings with braking pedals located to the right and left of the steering wheel.
On the road, the Clarity’s suspension is incredibly smooth. Though the whole plug-in hybrid concept may sound complex, it is simple when you get behind the wheel. You can simply get in and drive it like any other car. Owing to its multilink independent rear suspension, the ride quality is very refined and its steering perfectly cuts corners. Isolation from engine noise is impressive, making it a quite car both around town and the highway.
Interior and features
The cabin with its sophisticated leather outfitting, shows signs of finesse and the interior is roomier than a typical hybrid, and also has a much larger trunk size. Highlighting features include heated heats, dual zone automatic climate control and a host of driver assistance features. The Clarity is backed by an array of other standard features from Honda’s wheelbase, including the Sensing Suite, Smart entry, Homelink, and an 8-inch hi-res infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The car, with all its new-age features, reasonably affordable price tag, and Honda financial services, is indeed a good value for money.
In a nutshell, the Honda Clarity is a luxurious cruiser with a refreshing design which doesn’t constantly remind you that you’re driving an electric car. Anyone looking for a hybrid that doesn’t skimp on comfort, should definitely consider test driving this car at the car dealerships in Dallas, TX.