MOMENT OF CLARITY

WITH THE CHEVROLET VOLT DISCONTINUED, HONDA’S PHEV HAS AN OPPORTUNITY TO SHINE

- KELLY LIN

Wait a minute—that’s no Accord. Unless you’ve done your research, you probably haven’t heard of this Accord lookalike (albeit one with a funkier rear end). It’s the Clarity, which Honda offers with three powertrains. There’s a lease-only hydrogen fuel cell version that requires the use of our nation’s very limited hydrogen infrastructure, as well as an EV with a mere 89 miles of range.

That’s why we’re most interested in the practical plug-in hybrid variant, which can travel 47 miles on pure electricity and hundreds more when the gas engine comes alive. Plus, if you drive solo to work, the Clarity PHEV still gains you access to California’s carpool lanes.

Most plug-in hybrids can’t compete with the Clarity’s all-electric range, with the exception of the now-departed Chevrolet Volt. GM killed the Volt to concentrate on pure-electric vehicles. But a case can still be made for PHEVs when folks still suffer from EV range (and recharging) anxiety. As such, can the as-tested $37,530 Clarity fill the gap left by the industry’s most popular plug-in hybrid riding off into the sunset?

Here’s how the Clarity works. Typically, it runs only on an electric motor that produces 181 hp and 232 lb-ft of torque. This motor gets electricity from a lithium-ion battery pack. A four-cylinder gas engine with 103 hp kicks in only when needed. It provides additional driving range when the battery is low and more potent acceleration when you press the pedal past a certain point. Total system output is 212 hp.