Would you buy a hybrid/electric car?

[white_goodman]

Well, despite them having a lot of experience in this field and offering a hybrid version of most of their vehicles, I wouldn't buy a Toyota hybrid. Slow, heavy and mediocre handling. The fuel economy isn't that impressive either really, when any diesel worth its salt will do 50mpg+ and a decent turbocharged petrol will do close to that too (the 1.2 Golf that I hired recently although not that quick at the top end, was plenty lively enough at lower rpm and did an easy 45mpg). They only really make sense if you drive into Central London regularly (which I don't). Likewise, the Nissan Leaf. 30k for a rather bland, dull hatchback with a very limited range. No thanks.

These three cars however do intrigue me and make me wonder whether hybrid/electric has some merit.

Honda CRZ



Well for a start, it has a manual transmission which I like. Does any other hybrid offer this? Secondly, it looks a bit like a 1980s Honda CRX, which is a car that I am quite fond of. I think that it would potentially make a stylish, economical and different commuter amongst the sea of diesel Golfs, A3s and 1-Series (a MINI of some description would be the only other viable alternative). Not that fast but that's not necessarily a problem if it handles well (the Ford Puma was always a fun steer despite low power) but a bit more power might have been nice. I'm also a bit confused about the seating situation. I thought it was a 2+2 but in pictures of ones for sale that I have seen here (Canada) it doesn't appear to have rear seats, which I would want, as I have two young children. Still on sale here but have Honda quietly withdrawn it from sale in the UK (can't find any details on its website)?

BMW i8



I'm not sure if it's good looking but it does look very cool and futuristic (laser-powered headlamps for instance) and yes, it's a cliche but it could actually be the supercar that you really can use every day. Only 30mpg+ rather than the claimed 134mpg but that's still pretty good for the performance and obviously better if you're running solely in electric mode. However, it shares an engine with the MINI Cooper (albeit in a higher standard of tune) that costs less than a fifth of the price. Would it not be even better (and not much less economical) with an M3 engine plus electric hybrid? Difficult to choose one over an AMG GT, Audi R8 or Nissan GTR for the same/less money when they all have "proper" engines though (or am I missing the point)?

Tesla Model S



Well apart from the relatively high price, this is quite an easy car to make a case for. Quite good looking and different, more practical than a conventional super saloon (two boots, hatchback, option of extra seats etc), fast , decent range and peanuts to run. There are only a handful of journeys when a M5/RS6/AMG Merc would be more convenient i.e, on a really long road trip, it's quicker to refill a petrol car than recharge a hybrid but the rest of the time, it makes the others seem a bit silly! I would love one apart from I guess it's missing a heart (a bit of passion and emotion) but with one of these at your diposal for the mundane driving, imagine the bonkers car that you could own for fun!

Can you see the benefits of hybrid/electric at the present time and are there any hybrid/electric vehicles that you would be tempted to own at the moment?

[white_goodman]

Justin Case said:

Nothing hybrid and interesting has been made since the original Honda Insight. It's on my bucket list, but try finding a decent one for sale

Is the CRZ not a similar idea but improved?

[white_goodman]

LordGrover said:

According to wikipedia: 'excluding North American models where the backseat is removed'

Bugger! I wonder why. Would have to move back to the UK if I wanted one then!

[white_goodman]

Super Slo Mo said:

I suppose it depends on what you're comparing them too, but the Toyota hybrids are an easy match for a 'standard' 140 or so bhp Diesel, in terms of performance and economy. If anything, their performance is more accessible due to having more or less full power available at any road speed.

I'd suggest the Toyotas are a reasonable alternative to a run of the mill equivalent from any of the other manufacturers, and, at least from my experience of the Auris, will easily out handle a Golf. Obviously if you're trying to compare one to a sports car, they're crap, but on a like for like basis, they're very comparable. Steering feel is non-existent though, but grip and braking power is astonishing for what is an ordinary family car.

Having said that, they're not particularly exciting, but then nothing equivalent is either.

Not sure why this has been moved off GG, as presumably the people that read this are more likely to own a hybrid/EV or be a fan (not that your opinions aren't valid but a bit like asking on the RS owners forum whether an Escort RS Turbo or Golf GTi is better).

To be fair I haven't driven a Toyota hybrid but my grandfather-in-law has had three (2 old-shaped Priuses and an Auris). When he had the Priuses, I had MkV Golf TDIs as company cars and no, the 1.5 litre Prius wasn't as quick as my 2.0 TDI (140), was heavier and less economical. He went for the Auris with the bigger 1.8 litre engine next because the Prius had shot up in price (to be fair the Golfs have too). He said that it handled better than the Prius but was less economical. He now has a Skoda Yeti. Ironically, I now have a North-American spec Toyota Corolla (basically an Auris saloon). I have hired a Golf in the UK recently and I would say although the Corolla is fine, the Golf is a more fun drive. Independent rear suspension would be a big contributing factor to this I would say.

[white_goodman]

Super Slo Mo said:

I thought the latest Auris has multi-link suspension. Anyway, I can't really describe it as fun, more that it's extremely competent. Mind you, I wouldn't really describe anything in its class as fun anyway, although I guess a Focus is quite good in comparative terms, but not build quality.
I've gone from a Superb (so basically a stretched Golf) to an Auris estate, which despite having narrower and taller tyres, would run rings around the Skoda, which in itself was fairly impressive.

Well for some reason, if yours is a 1.6, then it does have independent suspension (according to the Toyota website) otherwise torsion beam like mine and every other North American spec Corolla. How much difference does it really make in a mid-range family car? I don't know but the cars that I have driven of that size with it (golf, focus and my civic) all drive sharper imho. The Corolla drives fine and I wouldn't be surprised that your auris handles better than a superb, as the superb is much bigger and heavier than the auris. A vw Passat also handles pretty well but not as nimble as a golf.