5 tips to find a first-class example of a second-hand Honda Clarity or Toyota Prius Prime.

The 2017-2022 Toyota Prius Prime and 2018-2021 Honda Clarity are two plug-in hybrid models that directly competed for shoppers seeking an electrified driving experience to take a big bite out of their fuel bills.

Both models are front-wheel drive and powered by a four-cylinder gasoline engine. More importantly, this teams up with an electric motor driven by a rechargeable battery pack to enable dozens of kilometres of all-electric driving before the gas engine needs to engage.

With regular overnight charging at home in your driveway while you sleep, each of these machines intends to give its driver a fuel-free commute and daily errands, while only using gasoline on longer trips.

Whether you’re considering a used Honda Clarity or a used Toyota Prius Prime, you’re on your way to driving a car that functions as an all-electric on your shorter drives, with hundreds of kilometres of gasoline backup available.

Below, we’ll dig into some facts, figures, tips and advice to be aware of as you research, test drive, and decide which of these two plug-in hybrid cars is right for you.

The Toyota Prius Prime launched for model-year 2017, offering more than 1,000 kilometres of combined range on a full tank of fuel and a fully charged battery. An evolution of the earlier Prius Plug-In Hybrid, the Prime got a new, more aerodynamic exterior, upgraded interior and equipment packaging, and a long list of standard safety features.

If you’re upgrading from an earlier Prius Plug In Hybrid, you’ll find the Prime to be about 40 percent more efficient, thanks to an upgraded engine, battery, and motor setup that combine to enable about twice the all-electric range. That’s more than 40 kilometres of driving possible before any gasoline is required.

The smaller Prius Prime delivers a slight advantage in front head room, front leg room and rear head room.

Fuel efficiency lands around 1.8 Le/100 km, and the Prius Prime delivers a combined 121 horsepower.

The Honda Clarity made its debut for model-year 2018, boasting a slightly lower efficiency of 2.1 Le/100 km in exchange for its larger size and quicker acceleration. With 212 horsepower, performance is the more pleasing of the pair. All-electric driving range from the Clarity is also more impressive: its fully charged battery can deliver over 75 kilometres of all-electric driving per charge — nearly double that of the Prius Prime — and more than many PHEV models coming to market today.

Note that the Clarity is considered a mid-sized car, while the Prius Prime is considered a compact. On your test drive, be sure to take note of the interior size and space of each model, especially in the cargo area and rear seats.

Before buying any used hybrid or plug-in hybrid (PHEV), begin with the basics.

First, ensure you’ll be able to have the vehicle you’re considering inspected by a hybrid-trained technician as a final step before your purchase, and ideally in a dealer setting. This may involve having the seller meet you at the dealership, or arranging to take the vehicle there yourself. Make an appointment to schedule the inspection ahead of time, planning on about 90 minutes. You’ll be given a print-out showing the results of dozens of inspections when the inspection is complete, providing insight into the overall health of the vehicle.

This inspection may cost $150 to $250, but it could save you thousands of dollars worth in headaches or repairs.

Next, assess the condition of the charging cable or travel charger provided with the vehicle, if applicable. Rips or tears to the cord insulation, damaged prongs or transformers, or visible scorching or melting are key signs to budget for a replacement. Use of damaged charging equipment is dangerous, could damage your vehicle, and may cause problems not covered by warranty.

Check the vehicle’s charge door for proper operation, confirming that it opens and closes as expected. Be sure to start a charge with the provided charging equipment, confirming that charging is successful and that no error messages are present. If that’s not the case, have the equipment (or vehicle) inspected further. Various factors can stop a vehicle from charging, including a worn-out latch or clip on the charging cable.

Always use a charging cable or travel charger that’s automaker-approved and from a reputable brand. Use of low-quality, low-cost, knock-off charging equipment can lead to damage, wear, and even melting of electric terminals that’s not covered by warranty.

Test the brakes carefully, visually inspecting visible components (rotors) for signs of rust, grooves, or corrosion, and testing the ‘feel’ of the brakes on your test drive. Excessive rotor rust, or a scraping, squealing, or roughness to the operation of the brakes are signs of possible trouble. Remember that hybrid brakes do less work than the brakes on regular cars, making them more susceptible to corrosion-related problems than most cars. Proper maintenance and regular driving are two solutions.

Both the Prius Prime and Honda Clarity have a conventional 12-volt battery used to power accessories, in addition to their high-powered hybrid traction battery. Numerous owners have reported disappointing lifespan of the 12-volt battery in both models, and a multitude of issues become possible when that 12-volt battery falls weak. Having the 12-volt battery tested (and replaced if necessary) is great way to start your ownership experience off right.

Finally, assume that any hybrid system related maintenance is overdue until you have proof to the contrary. Open the owner’s manual to the maintenance and service schedule, and verify that the servicing at each interval has been completed by checking service records and receipts. Skipping or stretching maintenance, including hybrid battery pack air-filter changes, cabin air-filter changes, coolant inspections and changes, and braking-system maintenance can lead to costly trouble in vehicles like these.

The Toyota Prius Prime was subject to various recalls to remedy latent safety defects, free of charge. Depending on the model-year of the unit you’re considering, recalls may have been applied to fix problems with the electrical system, brakes, and powertrain, many of which were fixed with software updates and (sometimes) replacement hardware.

You can look up any recalls that might apply to the Prius Prime you’re considering by entering its VIN on this web page.

If the Prius Prime you’re considering has been regularly dealer serviced, or if it’s sold as part of a dealership Certified Pre-Owned (CPO) program, chances are any applicable recall work has already been completed. Note that recalls affect certain units and not necessarily all models.

Other checks for the Prius Prime should include the front windshield, which some owners say is easily damaged, chipped or cracked. A damaged windshield can fail a safety inspection and negatively affect the operation of certain safety features, so be on the lookout.

Elsewhere, check the rear cargo area (and the body beneath the cargo area) for signs of a water leak reported by a small number of owners. If you detect moisture or standing water in this area, a leaky rear window or hatch may be to blame.

One of the most commonly reported issues among Honda Clarity owners is the sudden and seemingly random illumination of various warning lights and error messages in the instrument cluster. This seems to present as a software or electronic glitch, which may appear at random and cause multiple warning lights to appear in the instrument cluster. In some cases, this problem may appear alongside sudden non-functionality of the cruise-control system, or a loss of engine drive power.

Though a fresh 12-volt battery can help prevent issues like these, numerous owners have had multiple trips to dealerships to address this issue, typically with a reset of the affected computer systems. One or more component software updates may be required to fix this problem too.

Carefully assess the operation of the Clarity’s air conditioner on your test drive, confirming that cool air arrives quickly and remains consistent. Some owners have had leaky or defective condensers replaced under warranty to remedy non-functional or poorly performing air conditioners.

On your test drive, be sure to connect the used Clarity you’re considering to a Level 2 charger, confirming proper operation. Some owners have reported that their Clarity won’t start charging, or won’t charge fully, when connected to this type of charger. If you experience this issue, a software update is the likely fix. Ask your dealership to take a look, and to check into Service Bulletin 18-907. Note that this issue only affected certain model-year units, primarily from MY-2018.

Other owners have reported shorter-than-expected lifespan from the Clarity’s key-fob batteries, and ignition switches that could malfunction or fail, causing a no-start situation.

These tips were designed for test driving shoppers to more easily identify problems reported by some owners. A careful and attentive test drive that focuses on the areas above can help you find a first-class example of a second-hand Honda Clarity or Toyota Prius Prime.

Justin Pritchard is a Sudbury, Ontario based automotive journalist and award-winning presenter, photographer, videographer and technical writer. Every week, Justin uses his keyboard, voice and cameras to share his latest automotive reviews and discoveries with his audience, via multiple Canadian television programs, print and online publications.

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