Hybrids

Author
Discussion

The Livster

Original Poster:

222 posts

116 months

Wednesday 28th September 2016
quotequote all
Hi, anyone got any real life experience of running one as a daily drive. Would be interested in mpg and range in normal use. Any feedback welcome and appologies if this has been done before.
Did toy with getting into an i8 but there were too many compramises to be made.

Swoxy

2,800 posts

210 months

Wednesday 28th September 2016
quotequote all
I don't suppose you want info on a CT200h.

jkh112

21,966 posts

158 months

Wednesday 28th September 2016
quotequote all
There are quite a few threads on the various hybrids over in the EV & Alternative fuel section.
I run an Outlander hybrid, but if you have been looking at an i8 then I doubt you have this on your list.

E65Ross

35,050 posts

212 months

Wednesday 28th September 2016
quotequote all
I think it will vary massively on your driving type. Lots of town driving and shorter trips they'd be great. Lots of long, motorway driving and no real benefit over a "normal" car.

liner33

10,690 posts

202 months

Wednesday 28th September 2016
quotequote all
We (Well my wife) has a Prius that we bought about 18 months back, its averages 53-55mpg, real world fill to fill, on some trips you can get high 60's but its used on the daily commute which features a fair bit of motorway and we dont take it easy. I'm not convinced that hybrids really make a great deal of sense purely on the fuel saving aspect since they are expensive and you need to do a lot of miles to make them worthwhile, and as said long motorway trips where most people do most miles are not there strength.

We bought the Prius as my wife likes them and they are easy and relaxing to drive. Its much more spacious than people realise and also a fair bit quicker than many think, I thought it would be used solely for her but i often grab the keys , dont mind driving it and its gradually being used more and more as our main family car , I can see my Octavia estate going next year and the money being spent on a better weekend toy , so for that reason alone its a winnersmile

I'd rather have one over a diesel as well and that would be the only option for a car of this size that can average this kind of economy in fact its around 10mpg better than our previous car with its 2.0 l VAG diesel

swisstoni

16,949 posts

279 months

Wednesday 28th September 2016
quotequote all
Have got a 2011 Lexus RX450h. Potters about town most of the time with short journeys and lots of cold starts and returns about 33mpg. Not too bad for a 3.5V6 4x4 but not startling.
It is zero fun to drive and the ride isn't great but its a very competent package overall and gets used the most of the cars on the drive because its just the most suitable for most tasks.

tankplanker

2,479 posts

279 months

Wednesday 28th September 2016
quotequote all
I also had a 450h, great car but I only managed late 30s, my new D5 XC90 is bigger and manages at least that, more if I'm sensible.


LeoZwalf

2,802 posts

230 months

Wednesday 28th September 2016
quotequote all
In May last year I took a punt on a 2007 (Gen 2) Prius with 205,000 km (I'm in NL, not UK) and no written history (seller told me it's all digital at the dealers) but it was around a grand cheaper than the rest.

Now on 228,000km. Not used daily as sometimes I cycle to work but most journeys are mixed urban/highway.

Fuelly says the following:


Currently I'm on a very frugal tank, looks like I might get 1000km from one fill! The computer is saying 4.1 l/100km average for this tank which is a ridiculous 68.9 MPG.

Positives:

The car has needed NO repairs. Nothing has broken or fallen off. Everything works. Maintenance is basically an oil change once a year. One small belt on the engine (water pump) which takes 10 mins to change. It is lovely to drive in town: no gears/clutch, total silence when stopping at red lights, traffic jams etc. Great acceleration to around 65 km/h which is usually more than enough. Obviously fuel economy is amazing for the size/class of car. In NL you get a slight road tax reduction because it's a hybrid.

Negatives:

It is boring to look at and to drive. Mine has no MP3 support or USB/Aux input for musics, just FM/AM and CD player. Interior is dull looking but seems pretty hard wearing. Seats aren't that comfy on longer drives (according to my OH; I can stand them ok). They get thrown around a bit by sidewinds and aren't great higher speed cruisers. Having said that, we've been to Frankfurt and back in it a few times and survived fine smile

As a tool which doesn't get in the way of your life it is just great. Fill it, switch on and drive it. Leave it anywhere, not too fussed if it gets a supermarket trolley dent or whatever, nobody wants to steal it, or race you.

If you can get over the name and the supposed image they have, they are good cars and I would recommend one smile

MrOrange

2,035 posts

253 months

Wednesday 28th September 2016
quotequote all
I know you said the i8 was compromised but I run an i8 as a daily and only car. Bought new in March. If you wanted to ask questions about compromises from a real user.

Total miles so far is 5k, average MPG is 43.

Real range is between 300 and 400 miles, about £35 to refill. Half my journeys are '80/20% leccy/fuel. I'm sure I'd get over 50 or even 60 if I didn't use it in sport mode for enthusiastic early morning blasts when the MPG is irrelevant (under 30).

The Livster

Original Poster:

222 posts

116 months

Wednesday 28th September 2016
quotequote all
Thanks for the replys

Will do a bit of reading up in the appropriate section

The Livster

Original Poster:

222 posts

116 months

Wednesday 28th September 2016
quotequote all
MrOrange said:
I know you said the i8 was compromised but I run an i8 as a daily and only car. Bought new in March. If you wanted to ask questions about compromises from a real user.

Total miles so far is 5k, average MPG is 43.

Real range is between 300 and 400 miles, about £35 to refill. Half my journeys are '80/20% leccy/fuel. I'm sure I'd get over 50 or even 60 if I didn't use it in sport mode for enthusiastic early morning blasts when the MPG is irrelevant (under 30).
Its mainly lack of space that was the big compromise, also dont think I could open the doors sufficiently to get out in my garage. It would need to have a range of at least 350 mles on a run to be practicle for me too . Grear car to drive tho, bet you are enjoying yours .

arfursleep

818 posts

104 months

Wednesday 28th September 2016
quotequote all
Lexus GS300h F-Sport.

Lives mainly in Sport / Sport+ mode because Eco mode is like driving an oil tanker in terms of response time.

I've had it a year, done 20k - mainly commuting which is a 34 mile mix of m-way, A, B, and C roads each way, every day.

Average for the year according to the car is 39.5 mpg, I gave up counting manually when I realised it wasn't that wrong and i'd man maths'd the car at 35mpg.

55 litres (tank full) of unleaded gets me 800km (500m) = 14km (8.75m) per litre (39.4mpg).

Pleasure to drive, bar ECO mode; quiet, refined and really comfy

ETA - you do have to watch pedestrians when you're in a car park and its EV mode, they're usually nose to phone and don't hear you coming so will happily walk out from between cars or behind walls without looking properly. I've got adept at driving really slowly and leaning on the horn occasionally smile

Edited by arfursleep on Wednesday 28th September 15:17

RicksAlfas

13,387 posts

244 months

Wednesday 28th September 2016
quotequote all
Merc C350e (plug in).
Current average 57.6mpg over 2,000 miles.
9 mile journey to work this morning... 166.2mpg.

BUT!!
The majority of my miles are urban, short journeys which is where this kind of car scores.
If I was ploughing the motorways I would be better with a TDI something.
In answer to your range question, I've no idea. Lovely car though.

jason61c

5,978 posts

174 months

Wednesday 28th September 2016
quotequote all
v60 d5 twin engine.

About 2 weeks old, 1200 miles. 44ish mpg motorway.

30000000mpg if you plug it in.

For me 7%bik, decent on fuel, nice motorway ride/seats/stereo smile


bitchstewie

51,106 posts

210 months

Wednesday 28th September 2016
quotequote all
IS 300h which I've only had 2 weeks but 57mpg so far though I've not yet done my own calcs so am going off the computer.

It's very quiet to the point where you forget how quiet it is until you open the window and hear what seems a right racket outside.

The Livster

Original Poster:

222 posts

116 months

Wednesday 28th September 2016
quotequote all
The Lexus 300 's sound interesting, will have to take a look

raspy

1,468 posts

94 months

Wednesday 28th September 2016
quotequote all
2016 Prius - 65mpg average since July 2016. Mostly urban use.

Gets 80mpg+ when I drive 12 miles into Central London from the suburbs.

I have managed to get more than 95mpg on some drives, but that involved driving very gently in terms of acceleration.

43 litre tank equals range for me of around 600 miles in my own use. If I were to spend all day in the city, then probably closer to 800 miles a tank.

Handling, whilst still far behind even a regular Focus or Golf, is vastly superior to the previous generation. Above MPG figures are summer when the AC was on.


alvinsu

10 posts

163 months

Wednesday 28th September 2016
quotequote all
tankplanker said:
I also had a 450h, great car but I only managed late 30s, my new D5 XC90 is bigger and manages at least that, more if I'm sensible.
Hi, hows the xc90 compared to the 450h?

Xaero

4,060 posts

215 months

Wednesday 28th September 2016
quotequote all
I have a gen 1 Prius at the completely other end of the market. Very cheap to purchase and run. I find it good for short runs and around town like shopping trips with family, excellent in fact. However it is tedious to drive anywhere long distance. A barge for a second car complements it well which is what I do with a 530d. It's an unusual pairing perhaps, whatever car I drive someone out there will hate it for the opposite reason as the other but it works for me.

tankplanker

2,479 posts

279 months

Thursday 29th September 2016
quotequote all
alvinsu said:
Hi, hows the xc90 compared to the 450h?
The 450h was quieter in all scenarios than the XC90, one of the quietest cars I've driven for road and wind noise. The XC90 is noticeably faster and much more spacious. Interior quality is about the same, excellent. Obviously the tech inside the XC90 is better (autopilot 2 is particularly impressive on a long drive) but then it's five years younger so it should be. Oh, and the seats are more comfy in the XC90, those are just amazing.