2018 Honda Clarity Plug-In Hybrid

Bearing a name previously used on a fuel-cell electric vehicle sold in small numbers in the U.S., the Clarity is Honda’s latest electrified vehicle, and its first plug-in hybrid (PHEV) for the Canadian market.

This is a mid-size sedan with a wind-cheating shape that we think takes some getting used to, but it’s certainly no more controversial than the contemporary generation of Toyota’s Prius.

Notably, the Clarity represents Honda’s first serious competitor to the Prius, a car that is practically a brand unto itself in the hybrid segment. Honda has only recently gotten serious about hybrids, with a hybrid version of the previous generation Accord being the company’s first worth serious consideration in nearly a decade.

Power comes from a 1.5L four-cylinder engine that works in concert with an electric motor to generate 212 hp and 232 lb-ft of torque. Honda says the Clarity is capable of 77 km of electric driving range on a full charge of its battery pack, a figure that puts this car near the front of the class among the current crop of PHEVs. Coordination of gas and electric power is managed by a continuously variable transmission, which delivers power to the front wheels.

The Clarity’s battery capacity is 17 kWh, which is enough to allow the car to quality for maximum hybrid electric vehicle rebates in various Canadian provinces. As of spring of 2018, those add up to $5,000 in British Columbia, $8,000 in Quebec and a whopping $14,000 in Ontario. That means an Ontario buyer could drive away in a Clarity for about $26,000, which makes this car less expensive than the nicely equipped Civic Touring sedan.

The Clarity seems designed to appeal to buyers who want to flaunt their affinity for vehicular electrification with styling that sets this car apart in a way that buyers of plug-in versions of the Hyundai Sonata and Ford Fusion, for example, don’t enjoy. This car conveys a high-tech image that we think will find favour with Honda’s target audience.

Clarity’s base model boasts interior niceties like a 180-watt, eight-speaker sound system, 8.0-inch infotainment touchscreen display with support for the Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone integration systems, split-folding rear seat, dual-zone automatic climate control with remote climate pre-conditioning, heated front seats, multi-angle backup camera and passive keyless entry.

On the outside, the wheels are 18-inch alloys and lighting is LED all around. Active safety features include forward collision warning with automatic emergency braking, lane keeping assist with lane departure warning, road departure mitigation and adaptive cruise control.

An uplevel Touring trim adds navigation, leather seating and steering wheel trim and satellite radio.