To geek or to not geek, that is the query I requested myself whereas driving the 2018 Honda Readability Plug-in Hybrid (PHEV). Was it higher to look the automotive’s confounding variety of drive modes and delve into its effectivity knowledge, or simply take the wheel and drive, ending issues for issues higher left to the automotive’s personal smarts?

In Honda’s new plug-in hybrid, I may select between Eco, Regular and Sport drive modes, and layer on prime of any of these modes Hybrid Car or Hybrid Car Charging modes. Add the flexibility to select from 5 brake regeneration modes and, frankly, the mathematics to calculate these permutations is past me.

If I wished to pressure my mind, I may, however the Readability PHEV would fortunately make all these choices for me. If it has any of its 47 miles of pure electrical vary accessible, it’ll drive as an electrical automotive. When that vary runs down, it seamlessly and quietly fires up its 1.5-liter engine, becoming a member of that motivation to no matter electrons it may well collect to maintain the automotive shifting.

Frankly, there was just one quantity that mattered, the 83 mpg the Readability PHEV confirmed for a 100 mile journey that started with a totally charged battery.

The 2018 Honda Readability PHEV comes out because the final of three variations on this mannequin line, the primary two being the Clarity Fuel Cell Vehicle and Clarity Electric. The Readability collection are all mid-size sedans, much like the Honda Accord, with seating for 5 and ample trunk area.

Spokesman Chris Martin mentioned “The Readability is meant to be an environmental halo car for Honda, so it needs to be a definite mannequin from Accord.” For Accord customers, the Readability presents an possibility for patrons to check out a automotive that depends on electrical energy both totally or a few of the time.

Plug-in hybrids are somewhat bizarre, and never nicely understood. As a easy rationalization, the Readability PHEV is an electrical automotive with a back-up gasoline-electric drive system. Run out of electrical energy and the gasoline engine continues to make the automotive go.

As such, the phrase “your mileage could fluctuate” applies to a ridiculous diploma. Plug in each night time, drive a 20 mile commute every single day, and you will not use a drop of fuel. By no means plug in, and you’ll nonetheless get the Readability PHEV’s 42 mpg EPA-rated common, which continues to be superb for a giant sedan.

Underneath the hood and within the chassis, the Readability PHEV mixes a 1.5-liter 4 cylinder engine, a 17 kilowatt-hour battery pack and an electrical motor, all driving the entrance wheels. There isn’t any typical transmission, as the facility mixes in via a second motor and, I assume, a cousin of Maxwell’s demon.

Whole energy output for the Readability PHEV involves 212 horsepower, greater than most 4 cylinder mid-size sedans.

What actually impressed me about driving the Readability PHEV is that I often could not inform if the engine was operating or not. Cruising at 55 mph on a freeway, the distinction between pure electrical drive and hybrid mode was negligible. The drive system in both mode was just about silent, whereas sound deadening supplies minimized the noise from wind and tires.

Once I engaged Hybrid Car Charging mode, which makes the drive system cost the Readability PHEV’s battery as much as 58 p.c, the sound of the continuously operating engine grow to be extra obvious. Climbing a hill in normal Hybrid Car mode, the engine sounded strained, though the automotive stored its velocity simply advantageous.

Actually mashing the accelerator, even in full electrical mode, fires up the engine to maximise the Readability PHEV’s energy output, additionally growing the noise. Once I floored it to go one other automotive, I used to be underwhelmed by the acceleration.

Sport mode tuned up the Readability PHEV’s accelerator response in a considerable method, whereas Eco not solely detuned the throttle, but in addition scaled again the power sucking local weather management.

Taking the Readability PHEV out of its ingredient and driving up a winding mountain street, its suspension and steering carried out exceedingly nicely. Though removed from sports activities automotive dealing with, I felt no stomach-churning physique roll. On the similar time, it delivered a clean, comfy experience on freeways and suburban streets.

As a frontrunner for Honda’s electrification efforts, the Readability PHEV comes loaded with a formidable quantity of ordinary gear. LED headlights, Honda’s suite of superior security programs and an Eight-inch touchscreen-based infotainment system fill the record.

The adaptive cruise management system, which matches velocity to the move of site visitors, carried out nicely, braking at a snug price for slower site visitors forward. Nevertheless, the Readability PHEV additionally comes with a collision warning system, flashing a “Brake” message on the instrument panel. This method can even gentle up even when the automotive itself is doing the braking.

The Readability PHEV’s lane preserving system tracks a snug course within the heart of a lane, feeling extra superior than many aggressive vehicles. The automotive additionally comes with a system that retains the automotive from skittering round an excessive amount of when going over metallic gratings.

Honda goes its personal means with regards to blind spot monitoring. Somewhat than the illuminated warning icons of opponents, Honda places a digicam in the suitable aspect mirror. Signaling for a proper flip, I used to be handled to a view of the suitable lane on the automotive’s heart touchscreen, type of just like the back-up digicam. For left lane modifications, the Readability PHEV makes use of a bi-focal mirror that ought to cowl that aspect of the automotive.

With its high-tech focus, the Readability PHEV options an LCD instrument panel exhibiting a digital energy gauge. Within the Touring trim mannequin I drove, matte-finish wood-look trim was a pleasant contact across the cabin, as was the smooth suede-like materials on dashboard and door panels.

Honda made good strides on its infotainment programs lately, and the Readability PHEV advantages. The Eight-inch LCD options an easily-understood graphic interface, and responsive touchscreen controls imply no ready after inputs.

The navigation system gives one-box vacation spot search, which let me enter a enterprise title or deal with with out having to seek for the suitable menu. If I wanted somewhat assist, I may dig into points-of-interest classes, together with one for electrical car charging stations.

The navigation system maps within the Readability PHEV look massive and colourful, exhibiting site visitors move and landmarks. I used to be impressed when, underneath route steering, the system confirmed a photographic picture of a freeway junction. That picture helped me acknowledge the place I wanted to show, however the system solely offers that form of element for some areas.

Android and iPhone customers will doubtless simply use the Readability PHEV’s integration with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, each programs which mirror sure options, corresponding to navigation and audio apps on the automotive’s dashboard LCD. As in different vehicles, I did have to plug my iPhone into the automotive’s USB port to make use of Apple CarPlay.

The 2018 Honda Readability Plug-in Hybrid goes for $33,400 base, and $36,600 in Touring trim, and that is earlier than a possible $7,500 federal tax credit score, the place the online worth may come right down to the mid- to high-20s. The Touring trim brings in nicer inside touches, together with navigation software program. Past these two selections, there is not a lot in the best way of an possibility record for the Readability PHEV.

I will surely think about the bottom mannequin, as saving $three,200 makes good sense. The navigation software program is not all that needed, as the bottom mannequin nonetheless helps Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. Nevertheless, I might miss some the nicer cabin supplies of the Touring trim.

Honda will get to say that the Readability PHEV gives the most effective pure electrical vary of any plug-in hybrid sedan, resulting from the truth that the Chevrolet Volt, which runs for 53 miles on its battery pack, is a hatchback. Extra importantly, Honda can boast considerably higher inside and cargo area than the Volt.

The Toyota Prius Prime and Hyundai Ioniq PHEV additionally compete on this class, though each of these vehicles include far inferior electrical vary, at 25 miles and 27 miles respectively.

With the Readability Plug-in Hybrid, Honda does very nicely on the numbers in a automotive that is each comfy and refined.