Editor’s note: This Car Seat Check was written in September 2018 about the 2018 Honda Clarity Plug-In Hybrid. Little of substance has changed with this year’s model. To see what’s new for 2019, click here, or check out a side-by-side comparison of the two model years.
Honda’s Clarity lineup started with the very unattainable fuel-cell model (available only in California), but it’s now expanding into more widely available vehicles with electric and plug-in hybrid versions. For this Car Seat Check, we tested the Clarity Plug-In Hybrid, which the EPA estimates can go 48 miles on a charge. Ample backseat legroom helped it get good grades.
How many car seats fit in the second row? Two
Related: More Car Seat Checks
Solid
- Rear-facing convertible, grade A: This seat fit well, and we had an easier time connecting to the car’s Latch anchors with the car seat’s chunky connectors.
So-So
- Latch, grade B: The two sets of lower anchors are not set too deeply, but the upholstery is stiff, so connection requires some muscle — especially with the infant seat’s skinny connectors. Connection is much easier with the convertible seat’s chunky connectors. The three top tether anchors on the rear shelf are clearly marked for easy connection.
- Infant, grade B: There was enough room for this seat, but it lost points because we needed to use some muscle to connect to the lower Latch anchors.
- Forward-facing convertible, grade B: It was easy to install this seat with its rigid, chunky Latch connectors, but the Clarity’s fixed head restraint pushed the car seat off the seatback a bit; it should be flush. We also needed to consult the owner’s manual for guidance on top tether connection since the head restraint is fixed. If the top tether strap is two pieces, go around the head restraint; if it’s one, go over. Ours was two, and connection was easy.
- Booster, grade B: The fixed head restraint interfered less with how the booster sat on the seat, but the Clarity’s floppy buckles will likely make it difficult for kids to buckle up independently.
Skip It
- None
Grading Scale
Solid indicates an A grade for optimum ease of use and fit. So-So indicates B or C grades for one to two ease-of-use or fit issues. Skip It indicates D or F grades.
A: Plenty of room for the car seat and the child; doesn’t impact driver or front-passenger legroom. Easy to find and connect to Latch and tether anchors. No fit issues involving head restraint or seat contouring. Easy access to the third row.
B: One room, fit or connection issue. Some problems accessing third row when available.
C: Marginal room plus one fit or connection issue. Difficult to access third row when available.
D: Insufficient room, plus multiple fit or connection issues.
F: Does not fit or is unsafe.
About Cars.com’s Car Seat Checks
Editors Jennifer Geiger, Jennifer Newman and Matt Schmitz are certified child safety seat installation technicians.
For the Car Seat Check, we use a Graco SnugRide Classic Connect 30 infant-safety seat, a Britax Marathon convertible seat and Graco TurboBooster seat. The front seats are adjusted for a 6-foot driver and a shorter passenger. The three child seats are installed in the second row. The booster seat sits behind the driver’s seat, and the infant and convertible seats are installed behind the front passenger seat.
We also install the forward-facing convertible in the second row’s middle seat with the booster and infant seat in the outboard seats to see if three car seats will fit; a child sitting in the booster seat must be able to reach the seat belt buckle. If there’s a third row, we install the booster seat and a forward-facing convertible. Learn more about how we conduct our Car Seat Checks.
Parents should also remember that they can use the Latch system or a seat belt to install a car seat, and that Latch anchors have a weight limit of 65 pounds, including the weight of the child and the weight of the seat itself.
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