The Honda Clarity does 42 mpg combined (44 city, 40 highway), which works out to about $914 a year in fuel at $3.20 a gallon and 12,000 miles. Against other Plug-in hybrid cars it sits above the average of 35.6 mpg.
Every Honda Clarity engine, compared
The Honda Clarity was rated in a single specification, so its gas mileage does not vary by version — only by model year. Yearly cost assumes 12,000 miles at $3.20 a gallon.
| Engine | Combined | City / Highway | Years | Fuel per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.5L 4-cyl Plug-in hybrid | 44 / 40 | 2018–2021 | $914 |
What that actually costs
The Honda Clarity burns a gallon every 42 miles, so 12,000 miles takes about 286 gallons a year. At $3.20 that is what the table below adds up to.
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| Cost per mile | $0.076 |
| Fuel per year | $914 |
| Fuel over five years | $4,570 |
| Against other Plug-in hybrid cars | −$165 a year |
| EPA's own estimate | $1,500 a year |
City or highway — who is this car for
The Honda Clarity is one of the cars that does better in town than out of it — 44 in the city against 40 on the highway. That is $87 a year in favour of the commuter stuck in traffic, and it usually means a hybrid drivetrain recovering energy every time you brake.
| Measure | Value | Reading |
|---|---|---|
| City | 44 mpg | $873 a year if you only drive in town |
| Highway | 40 mpg | $960 a year if you mostly commute |
| Gap | -4 mpg (-9%) | Reversed — it does better in town than on the open road |
How the Clarity changed over the years
Combined figure across the 4 model years the Clarity was rated in, all of them at 42 mpg. Jumps usually mark a new generation or a new engine; dips often mean a heavier body or added all-wheel drive.
| Model year | Combined | City / Highway | Engines offered | Fuel per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 44 / 40 | 1 | $914 | |
| 2020 | 44 / 40 | 1 | $914 | |
| 2019 | 44 / 40 | 1 | $914 | |
| 2018 | 44 / 40 | 1 | $914 |
MPG is a number. Dollars per year is the answer.
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How we count
This page rests on 4 EPA ratings of the Honda Clarity — 1 engine across 2018–2021. The mileage is EPA's laboratory figure, unchanged; the yearly bill is ours, at 12,000 miles and $3.20 a gallon, against EPA's own estimate of $1,500. Full method.
Frequently asked questions
What mpg does the Honda Clarity get?
42 mpg combined on average — 44 in the city and 40 on the highway, per EPA ratings across 2018–2021.
How much does a Honda Clarity cost in fuel per year?
About $914 at 12,000 miles and $3.20 a gallon — roughly $4,570 over five years, or 0.076 dollars a mile.
Which Clarity engine is the most economical?
The 1.5L 4-cyl Plug-in hybrid at 42 mpg.
Is the Clarity good on fuel compared with similar cars?
Against other Plug-in hybrid cars it sits above the average of 35.6 mpg, computed across 157 ratings.
Are these real-world Clarity figures?
No — they are EPA laboratory ratings, the same ones printed on the window sticker, and EPA's own annual fuel estimate for the Honda Clarity is $1,500 against the $914 we compute at 12,000 miles. Expect a little worse in practice: the spread between the city and highway figures is smaller than the spread between two drivers of the same one.
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