2018 Honda Clarity FCV: MPG and fuel economy
The 2018 Honda Clarity FCV is rated by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency at 68 combined MPG, with 69 MPG in the city and 67 MPG on the highway. That puts it well above the average for cars in the Midsize Cars class in the same model year.
This page collects every fuel-economy figure the EPA publishes for the 2018 Honda Clarity FCV. Below you will find the headline combined, city, and highway MPG, the estimated annual fuel cost at three different driving levels, the tailpipe CO₂ emissions, and a full breakdown of the engine and drivetrain. If you want to know whether this generation got more or less efficient over the years, the year-over-year table further down covers every model year the EPA has rated.
Key takeaways
- Returns 109% better combined MPG than the average car in the Midsize Cars class for the 2018 model year (32.6 MPG class average).
- The most efficient car in the Midsize Cars class for the 2018 model year is the Hyundai Ioniq Electric at 136 MPG.
- EPA estimates this car saves around $10,750 in fuel over five years compared with an average new vehicle of the same model year.
Fuel economy at a glance
These are the EPA's official ratings for the 2018 Honda Clarity FCV. The numbers come from a standardised laboratory test cycle and are the same figures that appear on the window sticker of every new car. Real-world mileage varies with driving style, weather, fuel quality, and how heavily loaded the car is.
Combined MPG is a 55/45 weighted blend of the city and highway test cycles. The EPA uses it as the single number you can compare across the entire dataset, including hybrids and EVs (which use the equivalent MPGe figure).
| Combined MPG | 68 MPG |
| City MPG | 69 MPG |
| Highway MPG | 67 MPG |
| Annual fuel cost | $0 |
| Tailpipe CO₂ | — |
| Fuel type | Hydrogen |
How the 2018 Honda Clarity FCV compares
The 2018 Honda Clarity FCV returns 68 combined MPG. Cars in the Midsize Cars class for the same model year average 32.6 MPG, which puts this car ahead of the class average by about 109%.
The most efficient car in the Midsize Cars class for the 2018 model year is the Hyundai Ioniq Electric at 136 MPG. The bar chart below puts the Honda Clarity FCV alongside the class best and the class average so you can see the full picture.
For broader context, the average new car of the 2018 model year (across all classes) returns 25.6 MPG. Larger vehicles pull the all-cars average down, so do not use that figure on its own to judge a small car or a hybrid. The full list of the most efficient cars of the 2018 model year is on its own page.
Year-over-year MPG for the Honda Clarity FCV
The EPA has rated the Honda Clarity FCV across 5 model years, from 2017 Honda Clarity FCV through 2021 Honda Clarity FCV. The numbers below are the best combined MPG figure the EPA published for each year, which lets you see when the car was at its most efficient and how recent generations stack up.
Combined MPG has stayed in roughly the same range across the run, hovering close to 68 MPG.
| Year | Combined MPG | Open year page |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 68 MPG | 2021 Honda Clarity FCV |
| 2020 | 68 MPG | 2020 Honda Clarity FCV |
| 2019 | 68 MPG | 2019 Honda Clarity FCV |
| 2018 | 68 MPG | this page |
| 2017 | 68 MPG | 2017 Honda Clarity FCV |
Compare against other Midsize Cars for 2018
If you are cross-shopping the 2018 Honda Clarity FCV, the most useful comparison is against the other cars in the Midsize Cars class for the same model year. The list below shows the highest-MPG peers, ranked from most to least efficient. Click any of them to open its full page.
The Hyundai Ioniq Electric leads this group at 136 MPG, 68 MPG ahead of the 2018 Honda Clarity FCV.
Specifications
Engine, transmission, and drivetrain together drive most of the variation in fuel economy across trims. A larger engine moves the car with less effort but burns more fuel. A turbo lets a small engine punch above its weight, often without much MPG penalty. All-wheel drive adds traction and weight, and usually costs a couple of MPG compared with two-wheel drive of the same engine.
- Vehicle class
- Midsize Cars
- Transmission
- Automatic (A1)
- Drivetrain
- Front-Wheel Drive
- Fuel type
- Hydrogen
- Annual petroleum use
- 1.8 barrels per year
Common questions about the 2018 Honda Clarity FCV
Quick answers to the questions people most often search for when looking up the 2018 Honda Clarity FCV.
-
Is the 2018 Honda Clarity FCV fuel efficient?
Yes. The 2018 Honda Clarity FCV returns 68 combined MPG, which beats the average car in the Midsize Cars class for the same model year by about 109%. -
What MPG does the 2018 Honda Clarity FCV get?
The EPA rates the 2018 Honda Clarity FCV at 68 combined MPG, 69 MPG in city driving, and 67 MPG on the highway. Real-world numbers depend on your driving style, the weather, and how loaded the car is. -
How much does it cost to fuel a 2018 Honda Clarity FCV per year?
The EPA estimates an annual fuel cost of $0 for the 2018 Honda Clarity FCV. That figure assumes 15,000 miles of driving per year, a 55% city and 45% highway split, and the EPA's published average fuel price for the rated fuel grade. -
What fuel does the 2018 Honda Clarity FCV use?
The EPA lists the 2018 Honda Clarity FCV as running on hydrogen. Using a different grade than the manufacturer specifies can affect fuel economy and engine longevity. -
Has the Honda Clarity FCV become more fuel efficient over time?
Combined MPG has stayed close to flat across the run. Both the earliest (2017 Honda Clarity FCV, 68 MPG) and most recent (2021 Honda Clarity FCV, 68 MPG) versions sit in the same range. -
What is the difference between the city and highway MPG of the 2018 Honda Clarity FCV?
City driving returns 69 MPG and highway driving returns 67 MPG. A flat (or city-better) split is the signature of a hybrid or electric drivetrain, where regenerative braking recovers energy that would otherwise be lost in stop-start city traffic. -
What transmission and drivetrain does the 2018 Honda Clarity FCV have?
The 2018 Honda Clarity FCV comes with a automatic (a1) transmission and front-wheel drive. -
How does the 2018 Honda Clarity FCV compare to the best car in its class?
The most efficient car in the Midsize Cars class for the 2018 model year is the Hyundai Ioniq Electric at 136 combined MPG. The Honda Clarity FCV returns 68 MPG, a gap of 68 MPG. If you are comparing on fuel economy alone, the class leader is worth a look. -
How much does the 2018 Honda Clarity FCV save on fuel compared to an average car?
The EPA estimates that over five years, the 2018 Honda Clarity FCV will save you about $10,750 in fuel compared with an average new vehicle of the same model year. That figure uses the same 15,000 mile per year and EPA fuel-price assumption as the annual fuel cost. -
How much petroleum does the 2018 Honda Clarity FCV use per year?
The EPA estimates the 2018 Honda Clarity FCV consumes about 1.8 barrels of petroleum per year, based on the standard 15,000 miles of driving. A barrel is 42 U.S. gallons of crude oil, which is refined into gasoline plus other products.
Source: U.S. EPA fuel economy dataset. Annual fuel cost figures assume 15,000 miles of driving per year and a 55% city, 45% highway split. Real-world mileage varies with driving conditions, vehicle maintenance, fuel quality, and driver behaviour.