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Whether you’re buying gas or buying a car right now, you’re going to pay a pretty penny to get what you need. However, with the Honda Clarity Plug-in Hybrid, you can save some of those pennies even during these tempestuous times. Believe it or not, it’s actually a pretty good time to buy one of these weird-looking hybrid sedans on the used market.

2019 Honda Clarity is on display at the 111th Annual Chicago Auto Show.
2019 Honda Clarity is on display at the 111th Annual Chicago Auto Show. | Raymond Boyd/Getty Images)

Is the Honda Clarity Plug-in Hybrid a good car to buy?

2019 Honda Clarity is on display at an auto show
2019 Honda Clarity is on display at the Chicago Auto Show. | Raymond Boyd/Getty Images

Yes, the Honda Clarity is a great choice if you’re looking for a plug-in hybrid to save money on fuel costs. According to U.S. News, the Clarity’s cabin is “spacious, refined, and equipped with plenty of driver-assist features.” However, you’ll have to look past its “ho-hum passing power” and “distracting infotainment controls.”

Aside from those cons, one major positive to buying a Honda Clarity right now is that it’s affordable even in the current market conditions. A nationwide search on CarGurus reveals that many Honda Clarity models are priced between $18,000 and $25,000 depending on the car’s location, condition, and mileage. But considering what you get for that price, it’s quite the bargain.

And while the Clarity is now discontinued, it was built from 2018 to 2021, which means that it still has a lot of modern features that you can find in newer cars.

What does the Honda Clarity come with?

Every Honda Clarity Plug-in Hybrid is equipped with a 1.5-liter, four-cylinder engine that’s tied to two electric motors and a lithium-ion battery pack. Its combined power rating is 212 hp, which provides power to the front wheels. According to Car and Driver’s testing, the Clarity can reach 60 mph from a standstill in just 7.7 seconds, which is far quicker than a Toyota Prius (10.8 seconds).

What’s even better is that the Clarity can be driven on fully electric power for up to 48 miles and it only takes 2.5 hours to charge with a 240-volt charger – 12 hours with a 110-volt outlet. That means that you can charge the car overnight and if you have a short commute every day, you’ll never use the gas in the tank.

But if you do have to use the gas, then the car will switch to a hybrid powertrain and return around 40 mpg on average. In essence, it’s a dual-purpose sedan with a lot to offer.

On the inside, the Clarity also comes with plenty of onboard technology like Apple Carplay, Android Auto, an 8-inch touchscreen, two USB ports, dual-zone climate control, heated seats, and a push-button start.

Is the Clarity a safe car?

2019 Honda Clarity is on display at the 111th Annual Chicago Auto Show.
2019 Honda Clarity is on display at the 111th Annual Chicago Auto Show. | Raymond Boyd/Getty Images)

Yes, the Honda Clarity comes standard with the Honda Sensing suite of driver-assist features. That list of features includes:

  • Lane-keep assist
  • Lane-departure warning
  • Road departure mitigation
  • Forward collision warning
  • Automatic emergency braking
  • Adaptive cruise control
  • Honda LaneWatch

As you can see, there’s a lot to like about the Honda Clarity despite the fact that you can only find it on the used market now. However, its fair price, excellent fuel economy, dual-mode hybrid nature, and a hefty list of standard features make it quite the bargain. If you’re looking for a stout hybrid sedan that won’t make you cry when you visit the gas station, the Honda Clarity is worth a look.

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