Honda FCX Clarity: which version to buy
The Honda FCX Clarity is not one car with a badge change. The catalogue lists two generations and four named versions: first-generation Fuel Cell AT (2008–2014), then second-generation AT, Fuel Cell AT, and 1.5 AT (from 2016). Body type is Sedan in every case. Drive is FWD and the gearbox is Automatic with 1 ratio on every row.
The Honda FCX Clarity is not one car with a badge change. The catalogue lists two generations and four named versions: first-generation Fuel Cell AT (2008–2014), then second-generation AT, Fuel Cell AT, and 1.5 AT (from 2016). Body type is Sedan in every case. Drive is FWD and the gearbox is Automatic with 1 ratio on every row. The buying question is therefore not “petrol or diesel” in the usual sense — it is which powertrain row matches the numbers you actually need: hydrogen hybrid, electric AT, or the 1.5 AT plug-in.
There are no prices in this dataset, so “what the extra money buys” is read as what extra output, tank, weight, and measured economy you get when you move from one named version to another.
Honda FCX Clarity generations compared for a buyer
1 generation (2008-01-01 to 2014-12-31) is a Sedan with 1 version. That version is Fuel Cell AT: Hybrid, Hydrogen, 136 hp (100 kW), 256 Nm, Automatic 1, FWD. It is the only Honda FCX Clarity row that records 0–100 and top speed: 10 s and 160 km/h. Tank is 17. Kerb weight is 1635 kg. Ground clearance is 170 mm — the only clearance figure in the whole model. CO2 is 0. City, highway, and mixed consumption are not measured.
2 generation (from 2016-01-01; end date not measured) is again a Sedan, now with 3 versions. Versus the first generation, the hydrogen row is not a small refresh: second-generation Fuel Cell AT is 174 hp and 300 Nm on a 1840 kg kerb with a 40 tank. That is +38 hp, +44 Nm, +23 tank units, and +205 kg versus first-generation Fuel Cell AT. Mixed consumption appears for the first time on this hydrogen row: 3.46. 0–100 and top speed on every second-generation version are not measured.
If the search is specifically “Honda FCX Clarity 2008 / 2009 hydrogen,” the only matching catalogue row is first-generation Fuel Cell AT. If the search is a later Clarity-era sedan with more than one powertrain, the second generation is the one with a real choice among AT, Fuel Cell AT, and 1.5 AT.
Honda FCX Clarity specs: every version, side by side
| Version | Generation | hp | Nm | Displacement | Fuel | Cylinders | Layout | Boost | Gearbox | Drive |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fuel Cell AT | 1 generation | 136 | 256 | not measured | Hydrogen | not measured | not measured | not measured | Automatic 1 | FWD |
| AT | 2 generation | 163 | 300 | not measured | Electro | not measured | not measured | not measured | Automatic 1 | FWD |
| Fuel Cell AT | 2 generation | 174 | 300 | not measured | Hydrogen | not measured | not measured | not measured | Automatic 1 | FWD |
| 1.5 AT | 2 generation | 212 | 155 kW / 135 Nm | 1498 | 95 | 4, Inline | Front, transverse | No | Automatic 1 | FWD |
Second-generation Fuel Cell AT and first-generation Fuel Cell AT share the same version name. They are not interchangeable: 174 hp versus 136 hp, 127 kW versus 100 kW.
1.5 AT is the only version with a measured displacement (1498), cylinder count (4), cylinder layout (Inline), valves per cylinder (4), engine location (Front, transverse), feed (Direct injection (direct)), compression (13.5), and bore × stroke (73 × 89.5). Boost is No. Fuel is 95. Power is 212 hp / 155 kW at 5500 rpm; torque is 135 Nm at 5000 rpm.
Second-generation AT is Electro / Electro, 163 hp / 119 kW at 4000–9500 rpm, 300 Nm at 0–3500 rpm. Second-generation Fuel Cell AT is Hybrid / Hydrogen, 174 hp / 127 kW; rpm bands for power and torque are not measured.
Chassis language is the same on every row: front suspension Independent, spring, rear Independent, spring, front brakes Ventilated disc, rear Disc. Wheel size is not measured on every version.
Performance, mpg, and what is not measured
0–100 and top speed. Only first-generation Fuel Cell AT has both: 10 s to 100 and 160 km/h. For second-generation AT, second-generation Fuel Cell AT, and 1.5 AT, 0–100 is not measured and maximum speed is not measured. You cannot rank the later cars on sprint from this catalogue.
Consumption.
- First-generation Fuel Cell AT: city not measured, highway not measured, mixed not measured.
- Second-generation AT: city not measured, highway not measured, mixed not measured.
- Second-generation Fuel Cell AT: mixed 3.46; city not measured; highway not measured.
- 1.5 AT: city 5.3, highway 5.9, mixed 5.6.
On mixed figures that exist, second-generation Fuel Cell AT at 3.46 sits 2.14 below 1.5 AT at 5.6. 1.5 AT is the only version with a three-way mpg split; highway 5.9 is 0.6 above city 5.3.
CO2. First-generation Fuel Cell AT and second-generation Fuel Cell AT both list 0. AT and 1.5 AT: not measured. Eco class: not measured on all four.
Honda FCX Clarity dimensions and weight (buyer-relevant)
| Version | Generation | Kerb | Gross | Clearance | Tank | Wheels |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fuel Cell AT | 1 generation | 1635 | not measured | 170 | 17 | not measured |
| AT | 2 generation | 1827 | not measured | not measured | not measured | not measured |
| Fuel Cell AT | 2 generation | 1840 | not measured | not measured | 40 | not measured |
| 1.5 AT | 2 generation | 1840 | not measured | not measured | not measured | not measured |
Gross weight is not measured on every version. Ground clearance is not measured after the first generation. Tank is not measured on second-generation AT and on 1.5 AT.
Kerb ranking is simple: first-generation Fuel Cell AT is lightest at 1635 kg. Second-generation AT is 1827 kg (+192 kg). Both second-generation Fuel Cell AT and 1.5 AT sit at 1840 kg (+205 kg versus gen-1 Fuel Cell AT, +13 kg versus second-generation AT).
Hydrogen tank: 17 on first-generation Fuel Cell AT, 40 on second-generation Fuel Cell AT — 2.35× the listed tank figure, or +23.
Which Honda FCX Clarity version to choose
Use the four named rows only. Do not invent a fifth.
If you want the lightest hydrogen sedan in this catalogue: 1 generation Fuel Cell AT (136 hp)
First-generation Fuel Cell AT is 1635 kg, 136 hp, 256 Nm, tank 17, clearance 170 mm, CO2 0. Weight per horsepower: 1635 / 136 ≈ 12.0 kg/hp. It is the only Honda FCX Clarity with a measured 10 s 0–100 and 160 km/h top speed.
What you give up versus later hydrogen: 38 hp, 44 Nm, and 23 tank units. You also give up a mixed consumption figure (second-generation Fuel Cell AT has 3.46; this row does not). Choose this row when the brief is explicitly 2008–2014 Honda FCX Clarity hydrogen, not when you need the strongest or largest-tank hydrogen car in the set.
If you want hydrogen with more power and a larger tank: 2 generation Fuel Cell AT (174 hp)
Same version name as above, different numbers: 174 hp (127 kW), 300 Nm, Hybrid, Hydrogen, kerb 1840 kg, tank 40, mixed 3.46, CO2 0.
Versus first-generation Fuel Cell AT: +38 hp (+28%), +27 kW, +44 Nm (+17%), tank 40 vs 17, kerb +205 kg. Weight per horsepower improves: 1840 / 174 ≈ 10.6 kg/hp against ≈ 12.0 kg/hp. The extra mass is more than offset by the extra output on this ratio.
Versus second-generation AT (same generation, different fuel): +11 hp, same 300 Nm, +13 kg, and you gain a mixed figure of 3.46 plus tank 40 and CO2 0. AT has no tank, no mixed, no CO2 in the data.
Versus 1.5 AT: −38 hp but +165 Nm (300 vs 135). Mixed 3.46 vs 5.6. Same kerb 1840 kg. Fuel is Hydrogen vs 95. If peak horsepower is not the goal and the mixed number matters, second-generation Fuel Cell AT is the stronger economy row among versions that publish mixed consumption.
0–100 and top speed on this Fuel Cell AT are not measured, so you cannot claim it is quicker than the first generation’s 10 s / 160 km/h from this table.
If you want the electric Automatic row: 2 generation AT (163 hp)
Second-generation AT is Electro, 163 hp / 119 kW at 4000–9500 rpm, 300 Nm from 0–3500 rpm, Automatic 1, FWD, kerb 1827 kg.
It is 27 hp above first-generation Fuel Cell AT and 11 hp below second-generation Fuel Cell AT. Torque matches the later hydrogen car at 300 Nm and beats first-generation Fuel Cell AT by 44 Nm and 1.5 AT by 165 Nm. The 0–3500 torque band is the widest low-rpm window in the model.
Kerb 1827 kg is the lightest second-generation figure (13 kg under both Fuel Cell AT and 1.5 AT). Weight per horsepower: 1827 / 163 ≈ 11.2 kg/hp — between first-generation hydrogen (≈ 12.0) and second-generation hydrogen (≈ 10.6), and well above 1.5 AT (≈ 8.7).
What this row does not give you: displacement, cylinders, tank, consumption, CO2, 0–100, top speed, and clearance are all not measured. Choose AT when the catalogue fuel label Electro is the requirement and 300 Nm with a 1827 kg kerb is enough; do not choose it if you need a published mpg or tank number.
If you want the most horsepower and the only petrol displacement: 1.5 AT (212 hp)
1.5 AT is Plug-in, 212 hp / 155 kW, 135 Nm, 1498 displacement, fuel 95, 4 cylinders Inline, Front, transverse, boost No, Automatic 1, FWD, kerb 1840 kg.
It is the peak-power Honda FCX Clarity: +38 hp vs second-generation Fuel Cell AT, +49 hp vs AT, +76 hp vs first-generation Fuel Cell AT. Weight per horsepower is the best in the set: 1840 / 212 ≈ 8.7 kg/hp.
Power per litre (only this version has litres): 212 / 1.498 ≈ 142 hp/l (155 / 1.498 ≈ 103 kW/l). Torque is the outlier the other way: 135 Nm is 165 Nm below the two second-generation 300 Nm rows and 121 Nm below first-generation Fuel Cell AT at 256 Nm. Peak torque arrives at 5000 rpm, not in a 0–3500 window.
Economy that is measured: city 5.3, highway 5.9, mixed 5.6. Mixed is 2.14 higher than second-generation Fuel Cell AT at 3.46. Tank is not measured (the hydrogen Fuel Cell AT rows are the only ones with 17 and 40). CO2 is not measured. 0–100 and top speed are not measured.
Choose 1.5 AT when the decision is driven by 212 hp, a documented 1498 engine, and a full city/highway/mixed trio. Do not choose it if the comparison is torque or mixed consumption against second-generation Fuel Cell AT.
Short decision map
- Same name, two cars: Fuel Cell AT at 136 hp (1 generation, 1635 kg, tank 17, 10 s, 160 km/h) is not Fuel Cell AT at 174 hp (2 generation, 1840 kg, tank 40, mixed 3.46).
- Most hp / best kg per hp: 1.5 AT, 212 hp, ≈ 8.7 kg/hp.
- Most torque: second-generation AT and second-generation Fuel Cell AT, both 300 Nm (+44 vs gen-1 Fuel Cell AT, +165 vs 1.5 AT).
- Lowest mixed figure that exists: second-generation Fuel Cell AT, 3.46 (only rival with mixed is 1.5 AT at 5.6).
- Lightest / only clearance / only sprint figures: first-generation Fuel Cell AT, 1635 kg, 170 mm, 10 s, 160 km/h.
- Largest listed tank: second-generation Fuel Cell AT, 40 vs 17.
- Electro without a tank or mpg row: second-generation AT, 163 hp, 1827 kg.
Reliability and “is Honda Clarity a good car” are not measured in this dataset. Interior, MSRP, and for-sale listings are also absent. The version choice that this catalogue can support is the one that follows the table: hydrogen Fuel Cell AT by generation and horsepower, electric AT, or 1.5 AT plug-in — four rows, four different number sets, one Sedan shape.