2017 head-to-head · Midsize Car
2017 Honda Clarity vs Volkswagen Passat
MPG, range and what each one really costs you to fuel, from official EPA ratings and recalculated with your own gas and electricity prices.
FWD · Electric motor (130 kW) · Single-speed · 68 MPGe
The 2017 Volkswagen Passat is the cheaper one to run. Driving 15,000 miles a year with $36.00/kg hydrogen and $3.10/gal regular gas, it costs about $1,722 a year to fuel (27 MPG), versus $7,941 for the 2017 Honda Clarity (68 MPGe). That's roughly $6,219 a year, or about $31,095 over five years.
Your numbers
Change these to match your driving and local prices. Every figure and chart on this page updates.
Fuel cost over 10 years
- Honda Clarity
- Volkswagen Passat
Side by side
| Honda Clarity | Volkswagen Passat | |
|---|---|---|
| $7,941 | Your annual fuel cost | $1,722 |
| 68 MPGe | Combined efficiency | 27 MPG |
| 69 MPGe | City | 23 MPG |
| 67 MPGe | Highway | 34 MPG |
| 366 mi | Driving range | — |
| 102 cu ft | Passenger volume | 102 cu ft |
| 12 cu ft | Cargo volume | 16 cu ft |
| 0 g/mi | Tailpipe CO₂ (g/mi) | 329 g/mi |
| 10/10 | EPA fuel economy score | 6/10 |
| 10/10 | EPA greenhouse gas score | 6/10 |
| Fuel cell | Powertrain | Gas |
| Hydrogen | Fuel | Regular gasoline |
| Electric motor (130 kW) | Engine / motor | 1.8L 4-cyl turbo |
| Single-speed | Transmission | 6-speed automatic |
| FWD | Drivetrain | FWD |
✓ marks the better value. EPA scores run 1–10 (10 is best). Volumes come from the EPA interior volume index and aren't published for every body style.
Honda Clarity vs Volkswagen Passat across model years
- Honda Clarity
- Volkswagen Passat
Annual fuel cost of the most efficient configuration of each model year, at your prices. Click a point to open that year.
How they differ
Per EPA interior volume figures, the Volkswagen Passat has more cargo space (16 vs. 12 cu ft).
Among 67 2017 midsize cars, the Honda Clarity ranks 67th and the Volkswagen Passat 31st for lowest fuel cost.
The powertrains differ: the Honda Clarity is a hydrogen fuel-cell vehicle, while the Volkswagen Passat is a conventional gas model.
Frequently asked questions
Which is more fuel-efficient, the 2017 Honda Clarity or the 2017 Volkswagen Passat?
Measured by cost to drive, the Volkswagen Passat. The Honda Clarity is rated 68 MPGe combined and the Volkswagen Passat 27 MPG (EPA, most efficient configuration of each).
How much does it cost to fuel the 2017 Honda Clarity vs. the Volkswagen Passat per year?
At 15,000 miles a year with $36.00/kg hydrogen and $3.10/gal regular gas, about $7,941 for the Honda Clarity and $1,722 for the Volkswagen Passat.
Which has more cargo space?
The Volkswagen Passat, with 16 cu ft of luggage volume versus 12 cu ft (EPA interior volume index).
Honda Clarity vs Volkswagen Passat in other years
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