Compare the2022 Subaru Crosstrek HybridVS 2021 Honda Clarity Plug-In Hybrid

In the past twenty years hundreds of infants and young children have died after being left in vehicles, usually by accident. When turning the vehicle off, drivers of the Crosstrek Hybrid are reminded to check the back seat if they opened the rear door before starting out. The Clarity Plug-In Hybrid doesn’t offer a back seat reminder.

The Crosstrek Hybrid has standard Whiplash-Reducing Front Seats, which use a specially designed seat to protect the driver and front passenger from whiplash. During a rear-end collision, the Whiplash-Reducing Front Seats system allows the backrest to travel backwards to cushion the occupants and the headrests move forward to prevent neck and spine injuries. The Clarity Plug-In Hybrid doesn’t offer a whiplash protection system.

Over 200 people are killed each year when backed over by motor vehicles. The Crosstrek Hybrid has standard Reverse Automatic Braking that uses rear sensors to monitor and automatically apply the brakes to prevent a rear collision. The Clarity Plug-In Hybrid doesn’t offer backup collision prevention brakes.

The Crosstrek Hybrid has all-wheel drive to maximize traction under poor conditions, especially in ice and snow. The Clarity Plug-In Hybrid doesn’t offer all-wheel drive.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the Crosstrek Hybrid’s standard rear cross-path warning system uses sensors in the rear bumper to alert the driver to vehicles approaching from the side, helping the driver avoid collisions. The Clarity Plug-In Hybrid doesn’t offer a cross-path warning system.

The Crosstrek Hybrid’s driver alert monitor detects an inattentive driver then sounds a warning and suggests a break. According to the NHTSA, drivers who fall asleep cause about 100,000 crashes and 1500 deaths a year. The Clarity Plug-In Hybrid doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

Both the Crosstrek Hybrid and the Clarity Plug-In Hybrid have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, 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.

For its top level performance in IIHS driver and passenger-side small overlap frontal, moderate overlap frontal, side impact, roof strength and head restraint tests, with its optional vehicle-to-vehicle front crash prevention system, with its optional vehicle-to-pedestrian front crash prevention system, and its standard headlight’s “Good” rating, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the Crosstrek Hybrid its highest rating: “Top Pick Plus” for 2021, a rating granted to only 74 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The Clarity Plug-In Hybrid has not been tested, yet.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2021 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Subaru vehicles are more reliable than Honda vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Subaru 17th in reliability. With 20 more problems per 100 vehicles, Honda is ranked 27th.

The flat cylinder configuration of the boxer engine in the Crosstrek Hybrid lowers its center of gravity, enhancing handling stability without compromising ground clearance. The Clarity Plug-In Hybrid doesn’t offer a boxer engine configuration.

The Crosstrek Hybrid has 6.2 gallons more fuel capacity than the Clarity Plug-In Hybrid (13.2 vs. 7 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

The Crosstrek Hybrid’s standard front and rear disc brakes are vented to help dissipate heat for shorter stops with less fading. The rear discs on the Clarity Plug-In Hybrid are solid, not vented.

The Crosstrek Hybrid stops much shorter than the Clarity Plug-In Hybrid:

For better maneuverability, the Crosstrek Hybrid’s turning circle is 3 feet tighter than the Clarity Plug-In Hybrid’s (35.4 feet vs. 38.4 feet).

The Subaru Crosstrek Hybrid may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 350 pounds less than the Honda Clarity Plug-In Hybrid.

The Crosstrek Hybrid is 1 foot, 4.2 inches shorter than the Clarity Plug-In Hybrid, making the Crosstrek Hybrid easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The front grille of the Crosstrek Hybrid uses electronically controlled shutters to close off airflow and reduce drag when less engine cooling is needed. This helps improve highway fuel economy. The Clarity Plug-In Hybrid doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

The Crosstrek Hybrid has .7 inches more front headroom, .9 inches more front legroom, .5 inches more rear headroom and .5 inches more rear legroom than the Clarity Plug-In Hybrid.

To allow full utilization of available cargo room, the Crosstrek Hybrid’s cargo door uses gas strut supported hinges that don’t intrude into the cargo area. The Clarity Plug-In Hybrid’s useful trunk space is reduced by its intrusive beam hinge.

A standard locking glovebox (which can’t be accessed with the valet key) keeps your small valuables safer in the Crosstrek Hybrid. The Clarity Plug-In Hybrid doesn’t offer locking storage for small valuables.

The Crosstrek Hybrid has a 1000 lbs. towing capacity. The Clarity Plug-In Hybrid has no towing capacity.

The engine in the Crosstrek Hybrid is mounted longitudinally (North-South), instead of sideways, as in the Clarity Plug-In Hybrid. This makes it easier to service and maintain, because the accessory belts are in front.

The power windows standard on both the Crosstrek Hybrid and the Clarity Plug-In Hybrid have locks to prevent small children from operating them. When the lock on the Crosstrek Hybrid is engaged the driver can still operate all of the windows, for instance to close one opened by a child. The Clarity Plug-In Hybrid prevents the driver from operating the other windows just as it does the other passengers.

In case you lock your keys in your vehicle, or don’t have them with you, you can let yourself in using the Crosstrek Hybrid’s exterior PIN entry system. The Clarity Plug-In Hybrid doesn’t offer an exterior PIN entry system.

To improve rear visibility by keeping the rear window clear, the Crosstrek Hybrid has a standard rear wiper. The Clarity Plug-In Hybrid doesn’t offer a rear wiper.

While driving with high beams on, sensitive light sensors standard on the Crosstrek Hybrid detect other vehicles which could be blinded and automatically switch to low beams. The Clarity Plug-In Hybrid doesn’t offer automatic dimming high beams.

To help drivers see further while navigating curves, the Crosstrek Hybrid has standard adaptive headlights to illuminate around corners automatically by reading vehicle speed and steering wheel angle. The Clarity Plug-In Hybrid doesn’t offer cornering lights.

On extremely cold winter days, the Crosstrek Hybrid’s optional heated steering wheel provides comfort, allowing the driver to steer safely and comfortably before the vehicle heater warms up. The Clarity Plug-In Hybrid doesn’t offer a heated steering wheel.

Consumer Reports® recommends both the Subaru Crosstrek Hybrid and the Honda Clarity Plug-In Hybrid, based on reliability, safety and performance.

The Subaru Crosstrek outsold the Honda Clarity by almost 36 to one during the 2021 model year.