Honda is making new progress in delivering hybrid technology to its clients. The 2020 Honda Clarity Plug-In Hybrid begins arriving at dealerships.
With a price of $33,400, the 2020 Clarity PHEV carries forward all the elements that have made it a fixture among Kelley Blue Book’s Best Buys award winners since its introduction three years ago.
New for the 2020 model year is an updated Acoustic Vehicle Alert System (AVAS) that functions whenever the car is operating at low speeds on electric power only (unless in Park), enhancing awareness for pedestrians, bicyclists and other road users.
The 2020 Clarity PHEV received a 47 miles of all-electric driving range rating with a full charge and an EPA fuel economy rating of 110 MPGe. For longer trips, the hyper-efficient 1.5-liter Atkinson cycle 4-cylinder gasoline engine engages to generate electricity for the electric motor and, under certain conditions, to act as a direct power source. When using the gasoline engine, Clarity received 44/40/42 MPG EPA fuel economy ratings (city/highway/combined), and a 340-mile EPA total driving range rating. Drivers can select between Normal, Econ and Sport to customize their driving experience to maximize efficiency or performance, while a special HV mode that maintains the battery’s state of charge can be used in all modes.
Clarity PHEV’s drive motor produces 181-horsepower and 232 lb.-ft. of torque, drawing power from electricity generated by the gasoline engine and from a 17-kilowatt hour (kWh) battery pack with a recharge time of just 2.5 hours at 240 volts. Total system output of the Clarity Plug-in Hybrid’s two-motor hybrid powertrain is 212 horsepower.
Clarity PHEV comes standard with a Display Audio system with an 8-inch touchscreen that includes Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration, pushbutton smart and keyless entry, heated front seats, rain-sensing wipers, and the Honda Sensing suite of safety and driver-assistive technologies.
