The Honda Clarity is an eco-friendly sedan that was discontinued for the 2021 model year.
It is nicely equipped, provides a smooth ride, and has slick styling.
In this article, we’ll be taking a look at all of the best and worst model years of the Clarity.
Table of Contents
Here’s The Short Answer To What The Best And Worst Years For The Honda Clarity Are:
The best Honda Clarity model years are 2021, 2020, and 2017. The worst model years of this model are 2018 and 2019. This is based on auto industry reviews, NHTSA statistics, reported problems, and consumer feedback.
What Are The Best Years For The Honda Clarity?
2021 and 2020 Honda Clarity
The 2021 and 2020 Clarity models are the final 2 model years ever produced.
Both models have a comfortable, well-appointed cabin that is filled with a variety of standard safety and entertainment features.
It appeals to eco-conscious car buyers and is available in 2 versions: a hydrogen fuel cell car or a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV).
The former utilizes a fuel cell to power an electric power and drives similar to a battery-powered electric vehicle.
The fuel cell assembly turns hydrogen into electricity which is then used by the electric motor (174 horsepower, 221 pound-feet of torque), providing as much as 360 miles of range.
The latter, on the other hand, makes use of a small battery pack that is paired with a gasoline engine as the main source of power.
Specifically, this variant is powered by a 1.5-liter 4-cylinder engine (212 horsepower, 232 pound-feet of torque) with a 17-kWh lithium-ion battery pack.
With electric-only driving, owners can achieve 47 miles of range. The gasoline engine provides even greater distance traveled.
Owners like both models for their comfort, reliability, manufacturing quality, driving experience, and overall ride quality.
2021 Clarity:
- Edmunds: 4.3 / 5.0
- Kelley Blue Book: 4.5 / 5.0
2020 Clarity:
- Edmunds: 4.1 / 5.0
- Kelley Blue Book: 4.5 / 5.0
2020 Clarity, Edmunds Review:
“ … By far the best choice is the Honda Clarity, and we even like it better than the Volt. It gets about the same electric range (about 47 miles) and total range (400 miles), but it is way more spacious and comfortable.”
2017 Honda Clarity
At the time of its initial release, the Clarity was considered to be Honda’s most advanced and environmentally-centered vehicle on the market.
It is available in two flavors – the Clarity Fuel Cell and Clarity EV.
The Clarity EV is equipped with a 25.5 kilowatt-hour/161-hp electric motor offering 221 pound-feet of torque and a sub-par 89 miles of range.
The Clarity Fuel Cell is powered by a 130-kilowatt/174-hp electric motor that produces 221 pound-feet of torque and achieves an EPA score of 366 miles of range on full hydrogen tanks. Refuelling takes 3-5 minutes.
Highlights include a feature-laden cabin, ample room for 5 adult passengers and an easygoing cruising demeanor.
- Edmunds: 3.0 / 5.0
- Kelley Blue Book: 4.5 / 5.0
2017 Clarity, Edmunds Review:
“Very happy with the 2017 Honda Clarity Electric. The only other fully electric car with this much room is a Tesla. Car drives great . Very comfortable in city/highway driving. Love all the HondaSense technology…”
2017 Honda Clarity
Consumer Scores For Best Honda Clarity Years
| Model Year | Edmunds Consumer Rating | Kelley Blue Book Consumer Rating |
| 2021 Honda Clarity | 4.3 / 5.0 | 4.5 / 5.0 |
| 2020 Honda Clarity | 4.1 / 5.0 | 4.5 / 5.0 |
| 2017 Honda Clarity | 3.0 / 5.0 | 4.5 / 5.0 |
Related: 7 Most Common Honda Clarity Problems (Explained)
What Are The Worst Years For The Honda Clarity?
2018 and 2019 Honda Clarity
The 2018 and 2019 Clarity model years are the most problematic versions ever produced.
The chief complaint online is issues with vehicle power. Owners reported a variety of speed-related issues, including:
- Sudden unintended acceleration
- Loss of power while driving
- Malfunctioning cruise control
“On a random basis our new clarity suddenly loses power and sounds like we have shifted into neutral even though we are just continuing in drive mode. This has happened several times a month since we bought the car in June 2019. We have had the car tested at the dealership where we bought the car and they could not replicate the problem…” – NHTSA.gov
Several owners also reported about poor exterior lighting, particularly when driving in the evening.
Headlights were reportedly too dim and have made the driving experience hazardous on dark roads.
“The headlights that come with the car are too dim. it becomes a hazard on very dark roads, especially when it’s raining. Because of the dimness it is also difficult to see when the vehicle drives past you from the opposite direction.it results in the vehicle being driven than slower speed limits.” – NHTSA.gov
- The 2018 Clarity had a total of 3 complaints on CarComplaints.com and 78 problems based on NHTSA data.
- The 2019 Clarity had a total of 2 complaints on CarComplaints.com and 22 problems based on NHTSA data.
Other common problems:
- High RPM intermittently
- Loss of power
- Poor sound system
- Gas door will not open
Related: Honda Clarity Alarm Going Off? (12 Common Causes)
What Years Have The Most Complaints?
| Model Year | Complaints (CarComplaints.com) | Problems (NHTSA.gov) | Recalls (NHTSA.gov) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 Honda Clarity | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| 2020 Honda Clarity | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| 2019 Honda Clarity | 2 | 22 | 1 |
| 2018 Honda Clarity | 3 | 78 | 0 |
| 2017 Honda Clarity | 0 | 1 | 0 |
What Problems Do Honda Clarity Have?
- High RPM intermittently
- Loss of power
- Poor sound system
- Gas door will not open
What Are The Best Alternatives To The Honda Clarity?
| Make & Model | Score | MSRP | Fuel Economy (MPG) |
| Honda Accord Hybrid | 8.6 | $26,137 – $36,682 | City: 44 – 48 /Highway: 41 – 48 |
| Hyundai Sonata | 8.5 | $25,674 – $30,444 | City: 45 – 50 /Highway: 51 – 54 |
| Toyota Camry Hybrid | 8.5 | $25,109 – $34,536 | City: 44 – 51 /Highway: 47 – 53 |
| Honda Insight | 8.3 | $17,918 – $29,863 | City: 51 – 55 /Highway: 45 – 49 |
| Hyundai Elantra Hybrid | 8.3 | $24,095 – $26,465 | City: 49 /Highway: 52 |
| Toyota Avalon Hybrid | 8.3 | $24,583 – $40,972 | City: 43 /Highway: 43 – 44 |
| Toyota Corolla Hybrid | 7.9 | $18,482 – $30,804 | City: 53 /Highway: 52 |
| Hyundai Ioniq | 7.7 | $22,779 – $34,305 | City: NA /Highway: NA |
| Toyota Prius | 7.7 | $19,226 – $32,044 | City: 51 – 58 /Highway: 47 – 53 |
| Toyota Prius Prime | 7.5 | $21,166 – $35,277 | City: NA /Highway: NA |
| Honda Clarity | 7.4 | $30,436 – $56,750 | City: NA /Highway: NA |
Source: cars.usnews.com, edmunds.com
Related: 8 Best & Worst Toyota Mirai Years (Facts & Stats)
References
https://www.caranddriver.com/honda/clarity
https://cars.usnews.com/cars-trucks/honda/clarity
https://www.edmunds.com/honda/clarity/
https://www.kbb.com/honda/clarity-plug-in-hybrid/
https://www.jdpower.com/cars/2021/honda/clarity-plug-in-hybrid
https://www.carcomplaints.com/Honda/Clarity_Plug-In_Hybrid/
https://www.cars.com/research/honda-clarity_electric/recalls/
