In May, I had the opportunity to test drive not only the plug-in hybrid electric vehicle, but also (at the complete other end of the spectrum) the edition. And while both vehicles are very different, each has its own strengths and practicalities depending on your needs.
Here’s a breakdown of what I liked best about these two very different vehicles.
2018 Honda Clarity plug-in hybrid electric vehicle
$10 — that’s how much I spent on gas the week I drove the Clarity and that included commuting back and forth (Monday to Friday)Ěý from Southeast Â鶹´«Ă˝Ół»to our office near the Cambie Street Bridge — and a couple of trips downtown for after-work functions. And that was with only plugging it in once.
The next thing that surprised me about this mid-size sedan, besides how quiet it is, is how spacious the interior is. I had previously equated electric and hybrid with tiny, but the Clarity’s interior is about the same size as the Accord’s, has a trunk carrying capacity of 439-litres and is a comfy five-seater so there’s plenty of room for anything life throws at you. I was also surprised to realize the driving experience is pretty much the same as getting behind the wheel of any vehicle.
Unlike the hydrogen cell version produced for use in California only, the Clarity hybrid was designed to stand up to the often tough driving conditions found across Canada. With a combined fuel economy of 2.1Le/100-km and an all-electric range of up to 76 kilometres, I would have no concern driving the Clarity to Whistler or the Okanagan for a weekend getaway because the gas engine is ready to kick in should you run out of battery power. I should note the Clarity’s gas tank is small, only 26.5 litres, but following my week-long test drive I had used less than a quarter tank of fuel and with gas prices hovering around $1.60 a litre in Vancouver, that was a pleasant surprise.
When it comes to design, I initially wasn’t a fan of the fixed fender skirts on the Clarity until I found out they’re there to help reduce drag, so think function rather than fashion. But fender skirts aside, the Clarity is a sleek, attractive sedan with an urban look. And with standard features like Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, the Clarity is also well connected.
As for incentives, B.C. residents, businesses, non-profit organizations and local government organizations who purchase or lease qualifying new vehicles, including the Clarity, are eligible for up to $5,000 off the final vehicle price for new battery electric, fuel-cell electric, and plug-in hybrid electric vehicle. Visit cevforbc.ca for more information.
2018 Honda Odyssey Touring
After test driving the Odyssey during a recent long-weekend road trip to Osoyoos accompanied by three other adults, a baby and an eight-year old boy, it became immediately clear why this eight-passenger vehicle includes a built-in vacuum system. Who knew granola bars and Goldfish crackers could make such a mess?
The Odyssey takes the minivan concept to a whole new level with CabinWatch and CabinTalk features, which allow the driver to communicate with everyone in the vehicle without turning around — on our trip it was mostly used by my adult son to do Darth Vader impersonations when we stopped for gas or lunch.
The Odyssey Touring was redesigned for 2018 to include conveniences such as power sliding doors and a hands-free tailgate with programmable height. And while we didn’t have the issue of squabbling kids, the Odyssey has a lifesaving feature that allows you to slide seats apart to put a halt to, “She’s touching me!”
And you also won’t hear any, “Are we there yet?” with the app built into the rear entertainment system. Using multiple background themes and animation, kids can track their trip’s progress in fun, interactive ways. That’s as long as they’re not already busy watching a movie on the available Honda Blu-ray system with streaming capability.
And when it comes to car seats, the Odyssey includes standard lower anchors and tethers for children that offer three secure restraint positions in the second row, while the third row has two options.
As for storage and space, we were initially concerned about fitting enough suitcases, diaper bags, cooler, snacks, car seats, tablets, you name it, for the entire family into the Odyssey for our road trip, but we had room to spare and we were able to pack so essential items were accessible at any time.
During our road trip the Odyssey’s 3.5-litreV6 engine with 280 horsepower had no problem showing Highway 3 from Â鶹´«Ă˝Ół»to Osoyoos who’s boss, but unlike the Clarity we used a lot more than $10 worth of gas — more than 10 times that amount. But when it came to space, convenience and features designed to make life easier for a crowd, the Odyssey really has it all.
Safety
When it comes to safety these are just some of the safe technology features found in both the Clarity and Odyssey Touring:
- Four-wheel, anti-lock braking system: The brake assist is engineered to apply brake pressure when a panic stop is detected.
- Vehicle stability assist: This feature is designed to correct oversteer and understeer scenarios and to enhance cornering stability.
- Hill start assist: This feature makes sure your vehicle doesn’t roll backwards when you take your foot of the brake on an incline. (As someone who lives at the bottom of a steep hill, I liked this feature a lot.)
- HondaLink Assist Automatic Emergency Response: If your airbags deploy, your display audio system will automatically attempt to connect you to an operator who will forward your location to first responders.
@sthomas10
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