This summer we’ve had the opportunity to test drive two vehicles; the 2019 Honda CRV and Clarity! It was a lot of fun to drive a crossover SUV and a hybrid vehicle to see what they are like when our family of 4 puts them to the test. Can they keep up with our day to day lives and what is the gas bill going to be like?
THE 2019 HONDA CRV
There is absolutely no hiding out love for the CRV. We own and drive an older model CRV. We often find ourselves comparing any vehicle we drive to the CRV. Why? Because so far it has proven to be the perfect vehicle for our family. The same is true for the 2019 Honda CRV.
As soon as we got in, we were comfortable. Have you ever gotten into a vehicle and it just feels ginormous and there are a bunch of blind spots that drive you crazy? The CRV isn’t like that. It’s the “just right” in all the Gold Locks stories. Almost everything about the CRV is just right and I wouldn’t have it any other way. It is definitely another strong year for the CRV.
It’s 
CAN THE CRV BE IMPROVED?
We were driving the 2019 Honda CRV Touring with a price point around $39,090. Honestly, with Honda making one of the most popular crossovers this years model didn’t see many changes. Why try to fix something that isn’t broken? There are a few things that we would still like to see improved upon. They are little, but we would notice if the changes happened!
While driving you can select seat 1 or 2 and use the driver seat memory to keep your settings stored in the vehicle. We all know the battle of finding the perfect settings of your seat. What we noticed is that we can’t do the same with the mirrors. My husband and I have different mirror setting preferences, we’d love to see this be tied into the seat position memory as well.
One thing we really love about the CRV is the amount of cargo space in the back. We always miss how our 2009 CRV has a hard, cargo shelf that is weight-bearing, foldable, and removable. Having this in our vehicle makes a huge difference in how we load the vehicle. It’s time for Honda to bring back the cargo shelf. The new models have options for getting a retractable cargo cover, which is a piece of structures fabric you can use to conceal what is in your vehicle. The rear space is also level with the door which means if you have items in the back there is a risk of them falling out. We would love to see this space dip down a little to give a lip and help prevent items from sliding and rolling out.
THE CRV IS OUR GO-TO FAMILY VEHICLE
If you asked us today what vehicle is our favourite between all the ones we’ve test-driven, we’d be quick to answer the CRV. It is our go-to family vehicle. There is all sorts of technology options for the CRV. The driver assist technology is some of my favourite providing indicators for if something is in your blind spot, land departure and more! Our kids were thrilled to learn that there are now heated seats for the external seats in the back, which is a nice update if driving with those who don’t need a car seat, and in colder weather.
As a family of 4, with two kids in car seats, we are all to fit comfortably in the CRV. There are anchor latch points on the outer seats in the back. I would love to see a change to the rear seat to make anchor points possible for 3 seats if needed. My husband and I both had plenty of legroom while driving or in the passenger seat. The gas mileage has definitely improved over the years. We averaged 9L / 100 km. The eco button is a huge help in this, making a difference in fuel consumption while driving in the city.
THE 2019 HONDA CLARITY
We test drove the 2018 Clarity and it left us surprised. We were excited to drive the 2019 Clarity and see what changes have come about. There is definitely a high demand for a plug-in hybrid with today’s gas prices and the ease of being able to use a standard outlet. The Touring model of the Clarity that we were driving prices in around $44,100. So, what’s changed? Honestly, not much. What was all new in the 2018 Clarity has carried over into the 2019.
WHERE CAN THE CLARITY IMPROVE?
The electric-only range is still not what we’d hope it would be for long distances. It’s spot-on for if you are driving to and from work daily for shorter distances. We could get away with my driving to work and home with electric power for a very long time. In order for the demand to increase for a plug-in hybrid car companies need to address the distance these vehicles can travel on the electric range. We want to be able to go further than 75km on one charge!
Our youngest daughter was quick to point out the suede material on the inside of the vehicle, she called it a teddy bear. This is something I can see quickly deteriorating and looking grubby quickly. I would prefer to see faux leather throughout. Something that is easy to clear. Another thing we noticed almost immediately was the display screen and how fingerprints were evident within a single tap. Perhaps a matte screen would improve things? It was actually very distracting to have so many visible fingerprints.
There are definitely more noticeable blindspots when sitting in the driver seat. Maybe it’s because of being lower to the ground when comparing to an SUV. Maybe its the overall design of the vehicle. As a driver, I would really appreciate this being addressed and see better visibility come about, whether with larger windows or an all-around change to the rear of the vehicle. I am not a fan of the split window in the back. It was brought to my attention how often I couldn’t see the vehicle behind me adequately and heaven forbid I was rear-ended and that driver took off. I wouldn’t be able to see their license plate properly because of the split window. Odd to think about I know, but that is how my brain works.
STILL GOING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION
The trunk space in the Clarity is ridiculous! We had no problem fitting an entire grocery shop in the back to restock our fridge and cupboards after being away for a week. There was still lots of room. If we had needed to, we could have easily gotten a full-size stroller in there too!
Driving the Clarity you will notice that if you have selected Econ mode, the vehicle stays in electric-only mode when you accelerate. The engine only triggers if you are really trying to push the limits. You will notice the vehicle switch to using the engine and gasoline. We loved noticing how when going down a hill we could coast and see the battery charging a bit.
Honda is still going in the right direction. With this only being the second year for the Clarity, there’s no place to go but to keep improving on it! I actually can’t wait to see what’s to come with the next years model. Bring on the 2020 Clarity!
