2024 Honda Clarity Plug-In Hybrid Changes, Colors – The 2024 Honda Clarity is a plug-in hybrid electric car with a hydrogen fuel cell version, making it another eco-friendly sedan in the arsenal of a Japanese automaker. Hydrogen fuel cell technology is critical since it can power an electric motor to help it move. Putting hydrogen through its paces entails filling the tank, burning it to generate electricity, and then feeding that electricity into the electric motor. Due to this innovation, the user no longer needs to wait for the battery to charge.
The rumor mill has it that Honda will stop making the Clarity fuel cell in 2024, and while the automaker hasn’t confirmed anything about the 2022 Honda Clarity, if it does come out, it won’t be much different from the current model. In contrast to the Honda Clarity’s pure, environmentally friendly emissions, the hydrogen fuel cell model is now only accessible in California due to the state’s superior hydrogen storage infrastructure. The Toyota Mirai Fuel Cell and the Hyundai Nexo are only two of the various eco-friendly sedans on the market that the current version must compete with.
2024 Honda Clarity Plug-In Hybrid Redesign
For a car with such a blatantly eco-friendly philosophy and the super-advanced technology that makes it such, the Clarity Fuel Cell doesn’t stand out from the crowd. Like the now-defunct Clarity Electric and Plug-in Hybrid, it has a classic Honda-like sedan shape, with an angular front grille and sleekly curved hood, rearward sweeping outlines, and a sloping coupe-like roofline, all completed by an integrated decklid spoiler. Sharp LED headlights, L-shaped LED daytime running lights, and sleek 18-inch alloy wheels are all standard equipment.
The Honda PHEV is more prolonged (192.7 inches) and wider (73.9 inches) than many other cars on the market. The car’s height of 58.2 inches and wheelbase of 108.3 inches is below average for its size. It’s quite a bit heavier than it appears, as is the case with most electrically assisted automobiles. The curb weight for the standard trim is 4,052 pounds, and the importance for the high-end edge is 4,059 pounds. This is quite hefty compared to the Honda Accord, which is also a hybrid.
There are five different paint options for the exterior. Solar Silver Metallic, Modern Steel Metallic, and Crystal Black Pearl are the three primary colors available at no extra cost. The remaining colors, Crimson Pearl or Platinum White Pearl, can be applied for $395. Besides price, there are no constraints on who can use it.
Interior
The Clarity’s cabin is styled in the same way as other Honda vehicles, with a mixture of plush materials and brighter colors (as well as a two-tone aesthetic) that come off as sophisticated and well-coordinated. Though there is not much to discuss here, the layout is relatively straightforward. While the infotainment system’s giant touchscreen dominates the dashboard’s center, there are quite a few buttons to play with underneath. The cabin is large enough for five people to sit comfortably without feeling crowded. While spacious and comfy, the front seats may be too low for sure passengers. You can stretch out completely since the area is so vast. All 2022 clarities will have the same.
Three adults can travel reasonably comfortably without cramming into the backseat. Since the hydrogen storage tank is located beneath the back seats, those seats are positioned slightly higher than the front ones. The trunk is not ideal because the hydrogen fuel tank takes up a lot of room; the trunk’s 11.8 cubic feet is sufficient for most trips. Nonetheless, careful packing is recommended.
Engine
The futuristic, cutting-edge technology is hidden behind the unconventional exterior of the 2024 Honda Clarity Fuel Cell. The fuel cell is a 103 kW, 33-liter Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell. This is sent to an AC electric motor producing 174 horsepower and 221 pound-feet of torque, which are not very impressive numbers. The Clarity has a front-wheel drivetrain, a direct-drive transmission, and one forward gear. While the FWD Clarity’s performance benefits from quick and brisk electric torque off the line and throughout the low-speed range, the powertrain’s enthusiasm begins to dwindle once the vehicle’s speed reaches 60 mph. As a result, highway performance becomes rather mundane, yet it is still possible to merge and initiate overtaking highway maneuvers. Despite this, the low-end city usability appeals to us the most, as it combines the advantages of an electric engine with the purity of hydrogen. Like many other EVs, the Clarity Fuel Cell has no towing capacity.
At its foundation, the new Honda Clarity Fuel Cell’s appeal lies in its eco-friendly attitude and relative efficiency compared to the gas mileage of conventionally-powered vehicles, both of which it can provide, in addition to the benefit of conveniently short recharging periods. In contrast, conventional electric vehicles (EVs) can take hours to charge and sometimes have a range too short to be practical. Compared to the Hyundai Nexo, which offers just 65/58/61 MPGe in the city/highway/combined, the Clarity Fuel Cell’s ratings from the EPA are impressive at 68/67/68 MPGe. The New Toyota Mirai XLE scores 76/71/74 MPGe, which is outstanding. The Clarity Fuel Cell has a remarkable 360-mile range thanks to its fuel cell and 1.7kW lithium-ion battery. The Clarity Fuel Cell’s fuel tank has a capacity of 5.46 kg (12 lbs). However, the Toyota Mirai range is up to 402 miles.
2024 Honda Clarity Plug-In Hybrid Release Date and Price
The Honda Clarity Fuel Cell is exclusively available through leasing; hence, there is no purchase price. It’s currently only sold at a few locations throughout the Golden State. After an initial payment of $2,878, $379 will be due each month for the next 36 months. That works to a hefty sum, but Honda throws in free hydrogen fuel for three years, or $15,000, to make up for it. In addition to being entitled to use California’s HOV lanes, the state’s clean car rebate of up to $4,500 is available to those who purchase a Clarity Fuel Cell because it produces no emissions. Regarding pricing, the new Toyota Mirai is one of Honda’s main competitors on the market, starting at $49,500 in the United States. The release date for the 2024 Clarity Plug-In Hybrid in the United States is expected for the summer of 2024.
Is the 2024 Honda Clarity Plug-in Hybrid a good car?
The Honda Clarity Plug-in Hybrid is a decent car in its own right, but it could look more cutting-edge compared to newer hybrids and electric vehicles. Still, for the asking price, it has a lot to recommend it.
The drivetrain won’t blow your mind, especially in light of the swift acceleration times offered by today’s pure-electric vehicles, but it will get you where you must go with minimal hassle. With 42 mpg in combined driving or 110 mpg when using gas and electric systems, it is also very efficient for a car that still relies heavily on fossil fuels. In addition, compared to competing hybrids, it provides consumers with a more roomy and well-appointed cabin and a more usable trunk.
Hybrid drivers frequently prioritize cost-effectiveness, although there are better alternatives than this. It can’t compete with the Toyota Prius in terms of price or gas mileage, and there are better options available within Honda’s lineup, such as the Insight and the Accord. The glitter is shown to be more pyrite than actual gold when you examine how poorly it handles and how similarly priced rivals provide more luxury and technology. The Clarity is a competent and efficient vehicle for daily use, but there are now better options available, and many more are on the way soon.