2021 head-to-head · Midsize Car
2021 Honda Clarity Plug-in Hybrid vs Nissan Leaf
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 · 1.5L 4-cyl · CVT · 110 MPGe + 42 MPG
The 2021 Nissan Leaf is the cheaper one to run. Driving 15,000 miles a year with 18¢/kWh electricity and $3.10/gal regular gas, it costs about $821 a year to fuel (111 MPGe), versus $910 for the 2021 Honda Clarity Plug-in Hybrid (110 MPGe + 42 MPG). That's roughly $89 a year, or about $444 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 Plug-in Hybrid
- Nissan Leaf
Side by side
| Honda Clarity Plug-in Hybrid | Nissan Leaf | |
|---|---|---|
| $910 | Your annual fuel cost | $821 |
| 110 MPGe + 42 MPG | Combined efficiency | 111 MPGe |
| 117 MPGe / 44 MPG | City | 123 MPGe |
| 102 MPGe / 40 MPG | Highway | 99 MPGe |
| 31 kWh | Electricity use (kWh/100 mi) | 30.4 kWh |
| 340 mi | Driving range | 149 mi |
| 48 mi | All-electric range | — |
| 102 cu ft | Passenger volume | 92 cu ft |
| 16 cu ft | Cargo volume | 24 cu ft |
| 57 g/mi | Tailpipe CO₂ (g/mi) | 0 g/mi |
| 10/10 | EPA fuel economy score | 10/10 |
| 10/10 | EPA greenhouse gas score | 10/10 |
| 2.2 hrs | Charge time at 240V | 8 hrs |
| Plug-in hybrid | Powertrain | Electric |
| Regular gas + electricity | Fuel | Electricity |
| 1.5L 4-cyl | Engine / motor | Electric motor (110 kW) |
| CVT | Transmission | Single-speed |
| 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 Plug-in Hybrid vs Nissan Leaf across model years
- Honda Clarity Plug-in Hybrid
- Nissan Leaf
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
The Honda Clarity Plug-in Hybrid goes farther between stops: about 340 miles on a full tank and charge, compared with 149 miles for the Nissan Leaf.
Per EPA interior volume figures, the Honda Clarity Plug-in Hybrid has more passenger space (102 vs. 92 cu ft); the Nissan Leaf has more cargo space (24 vs. 16 cu ft).
Among 54 2021 midsize cars, the Honda Clarity Plug-in Hybrid ranks 9th and the Nissan Leaf 5th for lowest fuel cost.
Because the Nissan Leaf is fully electric, it has no tailpipe emissions and its running cost depends almost entirely on your electricity rate. Cheap overnight home charging widens its advantage over the Honda Clarity Plug-in Hybrid; relying on DC fast chargers can erase it.
Frequently asked questions
Which is more fuel-efficient, the 2021 Honda Clarity Plug-in Hybrid or the 2021 Nissan Leaf?
Measured by cost to drive, the Nissan Leaf. The Honda Clarity Plug-in Hybrid is rated 110 MPGe + 42 MPG combined and the Nissan Leaf 111 MPGe (EPA, most efficient configuration of each).
How much does it cost to fuel the 2021 Honda Clarity Plug-in Hybrid vs. the Nissan Leaf per year?
At 15,000 miles a year with 18¢/kWh electricity and $3.10/gal regular gas, about $910 for the Honda Clarity Plug-in Hybrid and $821 for the Nissan Leaf.
Which has more range?
The Honda Clarity Plug-in Hybrid: about 340 miles versus 149 miles.
Which has more cargo space?
The Nissan Leaf, with 24 cu ft of luggage volume versus 16 cu ft (EPA interior volume index).
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