Reviewed byKelly HellwigKelly Hellwig
Overview
The wildly styled Honda Clarity Fuel Cell is a hydrogen-powered, five-passenger sedan that's available for lease only in California. It's built in Japan, has front-wheel drive, and is about the same size as a Honda Accord. Like an electric vehicle, it's powered by a battery pack, but you don't plug it in and charge it up like an EV. Instead, the Clarity uses fuel-cell technology that converts hydrogen into electricity. As a result, it drives very much like an electric car. It's smooth and silent with an enjoyable kick of power off the line and a comfortable ride. It isn't as quick as an electric car like the Tesla Model 3, but fill-ups only take about five minutes to complete compared to the hours it can take to charge an electric vehicle. Plus, Honda includes $15,000 worth of hydrogen in the lease. Driving range on a tank of hydrogen is about 340 miles. That should be plenty for most buyers, but it is less range than you get in both of its rivals, the Toyota Mirai sedan and the pricier Hyundai Nexo compact crossover. The problem is the lack of infrastructure to support fuel cell vehicles like the Clarity. There aren't many hydrogen stations around, so make sure there's one near your house before leasing a Clarity.
Positives
Impressive driving range per fill-up. Smooth ride. Excellent build quality.
Considerations
Polarizing exterior design. Cramped rear-seat legroom. Limited number of hydrogen stations.
Verdict
If you live near a hydrogen station, the smooth-riding hydrogen-powered Honda Clarity Fuel Cell is a compelling emissions-free option for environmentally conscious buyers.
What's New for2021
The Honda Clarity Fuel Cell receives no significant updates or changes for the 2021 model year.
Trims and Pricing
The 2021 Honda Clarity Fuel Cell is available in just one trim level. It's available for lease only in California, includes up to $15,000 of hydrogen fuel over the lease period, and is eligible for thousands of dollars in tax incentives.
Fuel Cell
The Clarity costs $59,485, including a destination fee, and it's available for lease for $379 a month. It comes very well equipped with a long list of features. Standard equipment includes LED headlights and taillights, 18-inch wheels, remote keyless entry, heated front seats, digital gauges, dual-zone climate control, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, navigation, a 12-speaker audio system, and an 8-inch touchscreen.
Battery and Performance
The Honda Clarity Fuel Cell runs on hydrogen, but electricity gets it down the road. To store the hydrogen, the Clarity has an aluminum onboard tank wrapped in carbon fiber for extra strength. From the tank, the hydrogen is mixed with air in the Fuel Cell stack, where a chemical reaction involving the oxygen in the air and hydrogen creates the electricity that powers the sedan through a battery pack. Like an electric vehicle, the Clarity is smooth, silent, and emissions-free. The only by-product of its fuel cell technology is water vapor. With 174 horsepower, the Clarity isn't quite as powerful as the Toyota Mirai, but it's powerful enough for most buyers. Acceleration from zero to 60 mph takes about 8.1 seconds, which is about one second quicker than the Mirai. The Hyundai Nexo is as quick as the Clarity. Electric sedans, like the Tesla Model 3, are significantly faster, but the Clarity rides smoothly and handles well enough.
Range and ChargingTime
The Honda Clarity Fuel Cell is rated by the Environmental Protection Agency to return 68 MPGe during city driving and 67 MPGe on the highway. The Toyota Mirai earns 76/71 MPGe city/highway for the XLE and 67/64 MPGe for the Limited model. The Hyundai Nexo is rated 65/58 MPGe city/highway.
On a tank full of hydrogen, the Clarity's range is 340 miles. This is enough for most buyers but lags the competition. The Mirai XLE has a driving range of 402 miles, while the Mirai Limited's range is 357 miles. The Nexo's driving range is 380 miles.
Refueling the Clarity with hydrogen is very similar to filling up a car with gasoline. There's a pump and a nozzle, just like at a gas station, and the process takes about five minutes. Like the Mirai and the Nexo, the Clarity comes with $15,000 of complimentary fuel.
Interior
The Honda Clarity's interior design isn't as funky as its exterior. It is attractive and modern, and the build quality is exceptional. The Honda's digital gauges are easy to read, and all the controls are where they should be. Don't let its push-button shifter scare you, it's easy to use. The cupholders are big and well-placed on the console, which is swoopy and futuristic. There's plenty of interior storage. The seats are comfortable, and the heater cranks up quickly. The back seat is spacious enough for three, but the rear-seat legroom is a bit snug.
The Clarity has 11.8 cubic feet of trunk space, which is considerably less than the similarly sized Honda Accord. The Toyota Mirai provides 9.6 cubic feet of trunk space, but the Hyundai Nexo offers nearly 30 cubic feet.
Infotainment and Connectivity
The Honda Clarity's infotainment system features an 8-inch touchscreen, navigation, and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity. The system is easy to use but feels dated compared to the system in the Toyota Mirai with its 12.3-inch touchscreen, better graphics, and intuitive menus. While the Honda's standard 12-speaker audio system sounds great, there isn't a traditional volume knob. Touching the screen to adjust the volume can be distracting while driving, not to mention frustrating. This is an ergonomic snafu Honda has fixed in other models.
Safety
The 2021 Honda Clarity Fuel Cell hasn't been crash-tested by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) or the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS).
The Honda Sensing suite of safety and driver-assist features is standard and includes automated emergency braking, lane-departure warning with lane-keeping assist, and adaptive cruise control. The Toyota Mirai and Hyundai Nexo also come with similar safety technologies.
Honda Clarity vs. theCompetition
Buyers looking for an emissions-free vehicle they don't have to plug in don't have many choices. If you live near a hydrogen station, the Honda Clarity is an excellent choice. It's comfortable, well-equipped, and has a larger trunk than the Toyota Mirai. But the Mirai has a more luxurious interior, a superior infotainment system, and offers more driving range per tank of hydrogen. A small crossover, the Hyundai Nexo offers more cargo space than the Honda, plus it has a superior infotainment system and more driving range.
Honda Clarity vs. Hyundai NEXO
Honda Clarity vs. Toyota Mirai
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