Auris Hybrid Ordered

Author
Discussion

Lowtimer

4,286 posts

168 months

Wednesday 18th June 2014
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The powertrain is in fact the same as on a current non-plug-in Prius.

Roo

11,503 posts

207 months

Wednesday 18th June 2014
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Had a couple of Auris hybrids.

Much nicer drive than a Prius as they fell more 'planted' and less prone to side winds.

The only downside on them compared to the Prius is the much smaller boot.

BIRMA

3,808 posts

194 months

Friday 20th June 2014
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My wife has been running a Yaris Hybrid now for just over a year, I like the fact that you can do long journeys in it if required and don't have the concerns about running out of juice, which once you dial it into your journeys is fine I guess but not one for us. Overall she gets nearly 70 mpg out of it all of the time and I use it for local running around and being a sports car man can actually live with it for short periods.
In fact I'm so sold on the Hybrid thing I'm looking at secondhand LS600h's.

Convert

3,747 posts

218 months

Friday 20th June 2014
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I've been running the Auris Hybrid Estate since November.

So far I've put 10K on it.

Average MPG is 55.

Not as refined as some would have you believe, the Anderson cycle engine can sometimes seem to rev it's nuts of for no real reason (Especially in 'B' mode).

Auto trans can be a bit clunky.

I've had to have the drop links done at the first service.


The airbag / seatbelt light is a real pain, fixed by some black tape.

Plenty of space though, and handing is only a little worse than my previous hack, a Golf Mk6 Bluemotion estate.


Overall I'm happy with it, especially as a 40% tax payer, cos it saves me a shed load of money to feed petrol to my V8 biggrin



wasserboxer

152 posts

119 months

Friday 20th June 2014
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Interested to know how a CVT (ie. no proper 'gears') can be clunky?

The revving you talk about is because of the CVT box, that's how it's designed to work. Maximum efficiency, all the time.

BIRMA

3,808 posts

194 months

Friday 20th June 2014
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Good point about the engine revving, I have tried to explain to my wife that on dual carriageways you have to look much further ahead than usual regarding the planning to overtake slower vehicles. Alas, I might as well talk to the hand, but as town/local roads are concerned you can't beat it.

Convert

3,747 posts

218 months

Friday 20th June 2014
quotequote all
wasserboxer said:
Interested to know how a CVT (ie. no proper 'gears') can be clunky?

The revving you talk about is because of the CVT box, that's how it's designed to work. Maximum efficiency, all the time.
Trust me, after 7+ months with it, it's clunky. Mainly on take up on drive, or switching from reverse to drive, or vice versa.

I'm well aware of CVT boxes, as my first company car, over 25 years ago, was a 1.4 Fiesta with a CVT box.


However the drivetrain of a Toyota Hybrid isn't a true CVT box.

Roo

11,503 posts

207 months

Friday 20th June 2014
quotequote all
It's not a real CVT box so can't be clunky.

The engine will rev like mad if you don't lift off the throttle at the earliest opportunity. That will also help to improve the MPG.

Lowtimer

4,286 posts

168 months

Saturday 21st June 2014
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Convert said:
Trust me, after 7+ months with it, it's clunky. Mainly on take up on drive, or switching from reverse to drive, or vice versa.

I'm well aware of CVT boxes, as my first company car, over 25 years ago, was a 1.4 Fiesta with a CVT box.


However the drivetrain of a Toyota Hybrid isn't a true CVT box.
Sounds like something is wrong in your final drive, or drive shafts / UJs. The transmission itself doesn't have anything in it capable of clunking.

nbetts

1,455 posts

229 months

Monday 23rd June 2014
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Convert said:
I've been running the Auris Hybrid Estate since November.

So far I've put 10K on it.

Average MPG is 55.

Not as refined as some would have you believe, the Atkinson cycle engine can sometimes seem to rev it's nuts of for no real reason (Especially in 'B' mode).

Auto trans can be a bit clunky.

I've had to have the drop links done at the first service.


The airbag / seatbelt light is a real pain, fixed by some black tape.

Plenty of space though, and handing is only a little worse than my previous hack, a Golf Mk6 Bluemotion estate.


Overall I'm happy with it, especially as a 40% tax payer, cos it saves me a shed load of money to feed petrol to my V8 biggrin
You nearly nailed it.

bozzy101

506 posts

139 months

Saturday 5th July 2014
quotequote all
Convert said:
I've been running the Auris Hybrid Estate since November.

So far I've put 10K on it.

Average MPG is 55.

Not as refined as some would have you believe, the Anderson cycle engine can sometimes seem to rev it's nuts of for no real reason (Especially in 'B' mode).

Auto trans can be a bit clunky.

I've had to have the drop links done at the first service.


The airbag / seatbelt light is a real pain, fixed by some black tape.

Plenty of space though, and handing is only a little worse than my previous hack, a Golf Mk6 Bluemotion estate.


Overall I'm happy with it, especially as a 40% tax payer, cos it saves me a shed load of money to feed petrol to my V8 biggrin
Hi Convert

It shouldn't be clunky at all. The wheels are connected to the engine/motor using a planetary gear system. This is always connected and so shouldn't clunk like a regular transmission as nothing actually moves when shifting between gears. When reversing, the wheels are only powered by the electric motor. The engine doesn't do anything apart from come on sometimes to keep the battery pack charged. The "B" setting on the gearbox is used to control the car down a steep hill, it does this by using engine braking. That's why it revs higher when selected. Only use this function for that purpose.

Oh, it's an Atkinson cycle engine btw.


Edited by bozzy101 on Saturday 5th July 16:53

JonnyVTEC

3,005 posts

175 months

Monday 7th July 2014
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xjay1337 said:
Sorry, how are they more efficient and less complex?

Diesel engines are very simple mechanically compared to petrol engines, are not burdoned by complex regenerative braking and automatic fuel switch technology ... as for reliability that is largely much of a muchness these days.
Sorry what?

Diesels have alternators and fuel injectors dont they?

Lowtimer

4,286 posts

168 months

Monday 7th July 2014
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And turbos, and DPFs

JonnyVTEC

3,005 posts

175 months

Monday 7th July 2014
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But the Auris Hybrid doesn't....

Lowtimer

4,286 posts

168 months

Monday 7th July 2014
quotequote all
... making it, although 'different' actually quite a simple piece of machinery: sophisticated through basic design rather than complication.

If there is anyone left on here who has not yet had a play with the Toyota hybrid drivetrain simulation to get a feel for how the oily bits transfer various forms of energy into movement and vice-versa, this is a good time to give it a plug:

http://eahart.com/prius/psd/

Frimley111R

15,661 posts

234 months

Monday 7th July 2014
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Q: Are hybrids economical? I see, for example an IS300h doing 35mpg and wonder how much extra is electric? Any? Or is it just not measured? Would it be doing 50mpg overall when elec is taken into consideration? I can see the plug in feature being useful but without that...

Lowtimer

4,286 posts

168 months

Monday 7th July 2014
quotequote all
If it's only doing 35 mpg either it's poorly or being hammered to death.

Even Richard Hammond couldn't batter it down below mid 40s mpg overall when tested for Top gear magazine, and the owner reports on Honest John are averaging over 50 mpg.
http://www.honestjohn.co.uk/realmpg/lexus/is-2013/...

Edited by Lowtimer on Monday 7th July 18:41

AmitG

3,298 posts

160 months

Monday 7th July 2014
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Lowtimer said:
... making it, although 'different' actually quite a simple piece of machinery: sophisticated through basic design rather than complication.
yes

Compare the Toyota hybrid system to a modern diesel auto - which is the closest thing in terms of fuel economy and driving experience.

The Toyota system adds the following:
  • Traction battery
  • 2 motor/generators (MG1 and MG2)
  • DC/DC converter
But this allows it to remove the following:
  • Turbo assembly (MG1/MG2 provide performance boost)
  • DPF (it's petrol not diesel)
  • DMF
  • Alternator (battery is charged by MG1/MG2 acting as generator)
  • Starter motor (MG1 does this)
  • Transmission (engine/MG1/MG2 are permanently connected through the power split device)
  • Drive belt plus pulleys etc. (all ancillaries are electrically powered)
  • Starter battery (traction battery does this)
  • All the cabling, pipework and sensors associated with the above
This makes the drivetrain quite a lot simpler, and more robust.

AnotherClarkey

3,596 posts

189 months

Monday 7th July 2014
quotequote all
Frimley111R said:
Q: Are hybrids economical? I see, for example an IS300h doing 35mpg and wonder how much extra is electric? Any? Or is it just not measured? Would it be doing 50mpg overall when elec is taken into consideration? I can see the plug in feature being useful but without that...
The IS300H is not a plug in hybrid - all the energy to run the car comes from the petrol in the tank. Where do you see one doing 35mpg? Most databases seem to have them mid 40's to low 50's mpg.

Jonny_

4,128 posts

207 months

Monday 7th July 2014
quotequote all
Lowtimer said:
... making it, although 'different' actually quite a simple piece of machinery: sophisticated through basic design rather than complication.

If there is anyone left on here who has not yet had a play with the Toyota hybrid drivetrain simulation to get a feel for how the oily bits transfer various forms of energy into movement and vice-versa, this is a good time to give it a plug:

http://eahart.com/prius/psd/
thumbup

Ta for posting that! Very interesting to poke about with, and led me to this one:

http://prius.ecrostech.com/original/PriusFrames.ht...

which explains the hybrid gubbins really well.