Late November I had the chance to test drive the new Honda Clarity Plug-In Hybrid in California’s scenic (and sunny!) Napa Valley. The vineyards were still holding onto their golden leaves and sunlight was reflecting off Clear Lake as we came around the bend on the 80-mile test drive. I was behind the wheel of a Clarity Plug-In Hybrid (PHEV), which is surprisingly luxurious for a mid-range vehicle. It provided a quiet and comfortable ride with ample room in the back seat and sizable cargo space. 

The ride was quiet, in part, because the PHEV features 47 miles of all-electric range and almost 300 miles of range provided by the gas engine, resulting in over 340-mile on a single charge/tank! The PHEV allows drivers to do all or nearly all of their driving around town on electricity alone, while still allowing them the flexibility to drive this car cross-country if they so desired! The Clarity PHEV would be a great fit for one-car households, people who may rely solely on workplace and public charging, or people who want to go electric, but have some reservations. 

Honda also had the all-electric Clarity (or BEV, battery electric vehicle) and Clarity Fuel Cell available for shorter test drives allowing for easy comparison between the three vehicles. The all-electric Clarity would make a great around-town vehicle for families or drivers who may want to keep another car for road trips and use this for their city slicker needs. The Fuel Cell is a great option for drivers in California who are interested in innovative technologies and live or work by a fueling station. Each of these vehicles fills a different set of needs for drivers allowing everyone to choose their own adventure.

The Clarity PHEV starts at $34,290 and the Clarity BEV is available only for lease starting at $899 down and $199/mo for 36 months. The Clarity BEV is available in both Oregon and California and the PHEV is available in all 50 states. Both the Clarity Electric and the Clarity PHEV qualify for Oregon’s $2,500 EV Rebate and the Clarity PHEV qualifies for Washington State’s sales tax exemption. All three vehicles also qualify for the federal tax credits available for alternative fuel vehicles.

A big thank you to our friends at American Honda Motor Company for inviting Forth to the test drive!