2021 head-to-head · Midsize Car

2021 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.

Swap sides
✓ Cheaper to run
$7,941/ year to fuel
68 MPGe

FWD · Electric motor (130 kW) · Single-speed · 68 MPGe

✓ Cheaper to run
$1,661/ year to fuel
28 MPG

FWD · 2.0L 4-cyl turbo · 6-speed automatic · 28 MPG

The 2021 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 $1,661 a year to fuel (28 MPG), versus $7,941 for the 2021 Honda Clarity (68 MPGe). That's roughly $6,280 a year, or about $31,402 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 ClarityVolkswagen Passat
$7,941 Your annual fuel cost $1,661
68 MPGe Combined efficiency 28 MPG
68 MPGe City 24 MPG
67 MPGe Highway 36 MPG
360 mi Driving range —
102 cu ft Passenger volume 102 cu ft
16 cu ft Cargo volume 16 cu ft
0 g/mi Tailpipe CO₂ (g/mi) 314 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 2.0L 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

Among 54 2021 midsize cars, the Honda Clarity ranks 54th and the Volkswagen Passat 24th 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 2021 Honda Clarity or the 2021 Volkswagen Passat?

Measured by cost to drive, the Volkswagen Passat. The Honda Clarity is rated 68 MPGe combined and the Volkswagen Passat 28 MPG (EPA, most efficient configuration of each).

How much does it cost to fuel the 2021 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 $1,661 for the Volkswagen Passat.

Honda Clarity vs Volkswagen Passat in other years

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