Compare the2021 Honda Clarity Fuel CellVS 2021 Hyundai Nexo

The Honda Clarity Fuel Cell has a standard driver’s side knee airbag mounted low on the dashboard. The knee airbag helps prevent the driver from sliding under the seatbelts or the main frontal airbag; this keeps the driver better positioned during a collision for maximum protection. A knee airbag also helps keep the legs from striking the dashboard, preventing knee and leg injuries in the case of a serious frontal collision. The Nexo doesn’t offer knee airbags.

Using vehicle speed sensors and seat sensors, smart airbags in the Clarity Fuel Cell deploy with different levels of force or don’t deploy at all to help better protect passengers of all sizes in different collisions. The Clarity Fuel Cell’s side airbags will shut off if a child is leaning against the door. The Nexo’s airbags don’t have smart features and will always deploy full force.

Both the Clarity Fuel Cell and the Nexo have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, front wheel drive, height adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems and rearview cameras.

There are over 27 percent more Honda dealers than there are Hyundai dealers, which makes it easier should you ever need service under the Clarity Fuel Cell’s warranty.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2021 Auto Issue reports that Honda vehicles are more reliable than Hyundai vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Honda 1 place higher in reliability than Hyundai.

The Clarity Fuel Cell’s electric motor produces 13 more horsepower (174 vs. 161) than the Nexo’s electric motor.

On the EPA test cycle the Clarity Fuel Cell gets better fuel mileage than the Nexo:

For better traction, the Clarity Fuel Cell has larger tires than the Nexo (235/45R18 vs. 225/60R17).

The Clarity Fuel Cell’s tires provide better handling because they have a lower 45 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Nexo’s standard 60 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Clarity Fuel Cell has standard 18-inch wheels. Smaller 17-inch wheels are standard on the Nexo.

The Clarity Fuel Cell has .7 inches more front legroom, 1.6 inches more front hip room, 2.4 inches more front shoulder room, 2.1 inches more rear hip room and 1.7 inches more rear shoulder room than the Nexo.

When two different drivers share the Clarity Fuel Cell, the memory seats make it convenient for both. Each setting activates different, customized memories for the driver’s seat position. The Nexo doesn’t offer memory seats.

The Clarity Fuel Cell has a standard heads-up display that projects speed readouts in front of the driver’s line of sight, allowing drivers to view information without diverting their eyes from the road. The Nexo doesn’t offer a heads-up display.

The Clarity Fuel Cell’s front and rear power windows all open or close fully with one touch of the switches, making it more convenient at drive-up windows and toll booths, or when talking with someone outside the car. The Nexo’s rear power window switches have to be held the entire time to open or close them fully.

If the windows are left open on the Clarity Fuel Cell the driver can close them all at the outside door handle. On a hot day the driver can lower the windows at the outside door handle or from a distance using the keyless remote. The driver of the Nexo can only operate the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

The Clarity Fuel Cell’s power window, power lock, power mirror and cruise control switches are lit from behind, making them plainly visible and easier to operate at night. The Nexo’s power mirror switches are unlit, making them difficult to find at night and operate safely.

The Clarity Fuel Cell’s rain-sensitive wipers adjust their speed and turn on and off automatically based on the amount of rainfall on the windshield. This allows the driver to concentrate on driving without constantly adjusting the wipers. The Nexo’s standard manually variable intermittent wipers have to be constantly adjusted.

Both the Clarity Fuel Cell and the Nexo have standard heated front seats. The Clarity Fuel Cell also has standard heated rear seats to keep those passengers extremely comfortable in the winter. Heated rear seats aren’t available in the Nexo.

Consumer Reports® recommends the Honda Clarity Fuel Cell, based on reliability, safety and performance.

The Honda Clarity outsold the Hyundai Nexo by over 20 to one during 2020.