Although the latest model of the Honda Clarity debuted not too long ago in 2015, the car lived a short life. The Clarity, which was all electric and had three different engine options, was originally a push from Honda
to get away from diesel and gas-powered vehicles altogether. But in 2020, only five years after it hit the roads, Honda announced plans to completely discontinue the Clarity.
The Honda Clarity Plug-In Hybrid, Fuel-Cell, and Electric have all been discontinued as of 2021, for a variety of reasons. While the car might not be around today in any capacity, Jerry
, the car ownership super app
, has two great Honda Clarity alternatives that’ll more than make up for the Honda discontinuation. Why was the Honda Clarity discontinued?
Before we jump into the Honda Clarity alternatives, let’s quickly talk about why the car was discontinued in all capacities in the first place.
The first model of the Honda Clarity to go was the electric, and that’s likely because it just couldn’t compare to its competitors. According to MotorBiscuit
, the Clarity Electric only offered 89 miles of driving range before needing a charge, while electric cars from other brands could go close to 300 miles before drivers had to charge them. The Honda Clarity Fuel-Cell and Plug-In Hybrid followed shortly after the electric, both being discontinued in 2021. The Fuel-Cell was reportedly discontinued to make room for battery-powered vehicles in the Honda fleet, although it's still available for lease through the end of 2022. The Plug-In Hybrid likely followed the discontinuation trend due to low sales and bad reviews from car critics.
Honda Clarity alternatives: Another Honda
If you love the Honda brand and want to keep it in the family, the Honda Accord is a great Honda Clarity alternative.
The Accord is available with gas-powered engines, but also has a hybrid model if you’re interested in staying electric. Car and Driver
reports the base model of the 2021 Honda Clarity Plug-In Hybrid costs about $34,000, while the Hybrid Honda Accord costs around $28,000, so you’ll actually be saving with the switch. Not to mention, the Accord was actually named the best hybrid vehicle by some sources. In addition to similar prices, both the Honda Accord and Honda Clarity have similar interiors that are roomy and spacious, as well as approximately the same amount of cargo space. Plus, because both cars are in the Honda family, you can expect similar safety features and technology for two cars of the same model year.
Honda Clarity alternatives: Subaru
The Subaru Legacy is another car that compares in many ways to the Honda Clarity, and Consumer Reports
recommends it as a similar model. The 2021 Subaru Legacy comes in six different trims: Base, Premium, Sport, Limited, Limited XT and Touring XT. Although none of these models are electric, the Legacy compares to the Honda Clarity in terms of seating capacity, trunk space, comfort, technology and more. If you opt for the base model of the Subaru Legacy, you’ll only be spending about $24,000, which is significantly cheaper than the Honda Clarity.
For that price and a gas-powered engine, drivers get a fuel economy of 27 mpg in the city and 35 mpg on the highway. That means, you won’t have to worry about fueling up as much as you would with the Honda Clarity. But, if having an electric vehicle is important to you, opt for the Honda Accord over the Subaru Legacy as an alternative.