00:00 Hi, I'm Kim Reynolds with Motor Trend Magazine,
00:02 and we're at California Speedway today to test this car.
00:05 This is the Honda Clarity.
00:07 It's a sort of a sedan of the future.
00:11 (upbeat music)
00:13 Is this the future of the family car?
00:20 This sci-fi looking hatchback
00:21 is the 2019 Honda Clarity plug-in hybrid electric vehicle.
00:24 The touring model we have here costs $37,530
00:28 with no available options.
00:30 Like the Chevrolet Volt and the Toyota Prius Prime,
00:33 this is a plug-in hybrid.
00:34 That means a 1.5 liter Atkinson cycle inline four
00:38 plus a 181 horsepower electric motor
00:40 for a combined output of 212 horsepower.
00:43 With a 17 kilowatt hour lithium ion battery,
00:46 the Clarity is EPA rated for 48 miles of all electric travel
00:49 before the gasoline engine kicks in.
00:52 When pushed, the Clarity accelerates
00:53 to 60 miles per hour in 7.6 seconds.
00:56 That's quick enough for a hybrid,
00:58 but still a couple of seconds off the performance
00:59 of a regular Honda Accord
01:01 with its two liter turbocharged engine.
01:03 The quarter mile arrives in 16.1 seconds
01:05 at 86.6 miles per hour.
01:07 And the Honda Clarity made the stop from 60 in 121 feet.
01:11 Associate road test editor, Eric Iapana,
01:13 noted decent brake feel and good body control
01:15 for a car tuned for a cushy ride.
01:17 Around the figure eight, the Clarity was well behaved,
01:21 completing the lap in 27.5 seconds at an average of 0.63 G.
01:26 Though those aren't superstar numbers,
01:27 testing director, Kim Reynolds,
01:29 called the Clarity well behaved,
01:30 especially allowing for its efficiency minded setup,
01:33 including regenerative braking,
01:35 low rolling resistance tires, and a CVT.
01:38 - It's able to do this.
01:39 It's able to behave itself.
01:41 It's not doing anything.
01:42 It's predictable.
01:44 And that's really what you're looking for here
01:47 is to see if it exhibits any nasty habits.
01:51 And it doesn't.
01:53 It doesn't exhibit any performance either,
01:54 or high performance.
01:56 But again, that's really not the mission of this car.
01:58 - The takeaway?
01:59 The Clarity is a solid choice for families
02:01 looking for comfortable, efficient transportation.
02:03 The interior is well put together and familiar.
02:06 And the plug-in hybrid drivetrain combines EV efficiency,
02:09 at least for 48 miles,
02:10 with the range of an internal combustion car.
02:12 For the full story, go to MotorTrend.com.
02:14 (upbeat music)
02:17 you
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