Self charging hybrids. Why?
Discussion
CABC said:
haven't driven one yet. reviewers of the fwd and awd hybrid talk of the awd having a lot more shove and better response (there's an additional motor on the rear axle). i have a petrol cvt Rav currently, excellent car and totally fit for purpose - comfortable transportation. i think CVTs get a bad rap. they're smooth and mostly quiet. want to drive 'sporty', get a sports car. no g'box on earth would make a Rav sporty 
I've got a 2017 Rav4 Hybrid. It can do 0-60 in 8.4 secs, which is plenty for me. I use my sports coupe for spirited driving.Elroy Blue said:
I'm not sure they actually have 'torque' due to the CVT gearbox. Don't they make lots of noise until the speed catches up with the revs
Name me a car that doesn't make the most noise when required to undertake maximum acceleration through the gears, and then quietens down when you level off the speed and let it change up. Same thing on these, really. If you accelerate more gently then you get less noise.littleredrooster said:
The Gen IV (2016>) is significantly more economical than the earlier versions. AFAIK, the Prius is the only one using the Gen IV powertrain, all others (e.g. Auris, CH-R, various Lexii) use the Gen III.
Agreed. I miss my Gen 4 Prius. I used to get 75-95mpg in the summer time! Motorway journeys were 65-70mpg no problem. People forget that it's got great aerodynamics, which helps at speed. It's a big improvement over the Gen 3 in terms of efficiency. 
...and meant to add this picture taken today. My journey home on fast A-roads with a few congested villages on a cold, wet evening.Slower speeds and higher temperatures would have helped, but 18 miles in 28 minutes shows I was not hanging about...
Computer is accurate to within ~1.5mpg at worst.
Computer is accurate to within ~1.5mpg at worst.
littleredrooster said:
FiF said:
Presumably the new Corolla will be Gen4?
So I've heard - also has a 2l hybrid option which I know nothing about yet.Derek Smith said:
Thanks for that.
I'm told that people with hybrids tend to drive more economically even if they had lead feet in the past. I tend to stick to 70mph on motorways regardless of inclines.
I'm told that people with hybrids tend to drive more economically even if they had lead feet in the past. I tend to stick to 70mph on motorways regardless of inclines.
dmsims said:
Derek a PHEV might be even better[/quo
I've done a bit of research on the matter, Given the oncosts, with installing a charging unit and the costs of electricity at remote locations, it is likely that the savings would be minimal.
Derek, I'd echo the suggestion of a PHEV. BMW 330e (2 years old) are available for £15K (make sure you get folding rear seats!). It obviously depends on your driving patterns but you would never bother with remote charging and you don't really need a charging post, as long as you have a power socket within reach of the car. The first 15-20 miles costs ~7 kWh of electricity; with the Octopus Go tariff this is 5p/kWh so less than 30p. A full recharge takes 4 hoursI've done a bit of research on the matter, Given the oncosts, with installing a charging unit and the costs of electricity at remote locations, it is likely that the savings would be minimal.
I decided to try one and had a Lexus NH300h for the weekend. Drove like a nun, but only managed 37mpg. It was very refined around town, but accelerating onto a motorway slip road caused the cvt gearbox to scream it’s head off, with not a lot of progress.
I quite liked it overall, but not quite sure it’s the car for me
I quite liked it overall, but not quite sure it’s the car for me
Petrolhead here awaiting delivery of my company car Hybrid.
This came about after being offered a run-out model 320d - I was previously driving a Golf GTD so this was a nice upgrade.
But the tax!
It basically wiped out the modest pay rise I was getting from the new job - and then some more.
I thought I’d just get another Golf. 33 week delivery. Same with Skoda Octavia, Audi A3 / A4 etc - any sporty diesel was off the list due to extended lead times.
So what about a GTE? You can’t order one of those
(actually, why is it even in the brochure? It is even printed in the brochure that VW aren’t taking GTE orders!)
So, how much money could I save?
Toyota Auris - too dull, not great due to relatively high list price and not many gadgets
Kia Niro hybrid - looks like a baby SUV, not for me
MINI Countryman PHEV - basically a de-tuned i8 in an SUV body with one great stat - 0-60 time due to the “temporary” AWD. Then there’s the limited options with a bare-bones MINI - no thanks
I’ve chosen a Korean car - a Hyundai Ioniq. Makes so much sense as a company car, plus the low BIK % meant I could go for a top-spec Premium SE with all the toys. Years ago I’d have been in the camp of “you couldn’t pay me to drive one of those” the reality is if I do over 50 miles and achieve ~ 65mpg I will literally be doing just that!
The only thing that annoys me is that I ordered one in December based on the brochure at the time and by the advice of the literature and the local dealership I opted out of the no-cost 17” alloys. Now they’re saying that (due to the WLTP testing I assume) the CO2 figure is the same with the 17s as it is with the 15s....which I’ll have
Still, can’t beat nice squishy tyres and even better MPG...
This came about after being offered a run-out model 320d - I was previously driving a Golf GTD so this was a nice upgrade.
But the tax!
It basically wiped out the modest pay rise I was getting from the new job - and then some more.
I thought I’d just get another Golf. 33 week delivery. Same with Skoda Octavia, Audi A3 / A4 etc - any sporty diesel was off the list due to extended lead times.
So what about a GTE? You can’t order one of those
(actually, why is it even in the brochure? It is even printed in the brochure that VW aren’t taking GTE orders!)So, how much money could I save?
Toyota Auris - too dull, not great due to relatively high list price and not many gadgets
Kia Niro hybrid - looks like a baby SUV, not for me
MINI Countryman PHEV - basically a de-tuned i8 in an SUV body with one great stat - 0-60 time due to the “temporary” AWD. Then there’s the limited options with a bare-bones MINI - no thanks
I’ve chosen a Korean car - a Hyundai Ioniq. Makes so much sense as a company car, plus the low BIK % meant I could go for a top-spec Premium SE with all the toys. Years ago I’d have been in the camp of “you couldn’t pay me to drive one of those” the reality is if I do over 50 miles and achieve ~ 65mpg I will literally be doing just that!
The only thing that annoys me is that I ordered one in December based on the brochure at the time and by the advice of the literature and the local dealership I opted out of the no-cost 17” alloys. Now they’re saying that (due to the WLTP testing I assume) the CO2 figure is the same with the 17s as it is with the 15s....which I’ll have
Still, can’t beat nice squishy tyres and even better MPG...
ajprice said:
There's a new small Lexus UX coming, sort of replacing the CT200. The UX will have a 2.0 hybrid too. Not sure if the UX is new Prius/Corolla based, or if it's the same 2.0 hybrid as this new Corolla option.
Yes, the FWD hybrid powertrain on the UX is that of the new Corolla. However there will also be a 4wd version with electric drive to the back end. Presumably this is intended to get you out of muddy fields and up icy driveways rather than help you drift through corners.Lowtimer said:
Elroy Blue said:
I'm not sure they actually have 'torque' due to the CVT gearbox. Don't they make lots of noise until the speed catches up with the revs
Name me a car that doesn't make the most noise when required to undertake maximum acceleration through the gears, and then quietens down when you level off the speed and let it change up. Same thing on these, really. If you accelerate more gently then you get less noise.and I usally drive big V8's.
Currently running around in a hire Yaris Hybrid. Christ it's slow.
Secondly, in the 1.5 mile from the hire place to home, the engine stopped and started just how many times?
Thirdly waiting at the station to collect someone couldn't figure out how to get the heater working while parked. Seemed to need engine running, but how to do that. Figured it out after a good read of the manual overnight but Christ froze my arse off last night.
Just seems so complicated a setup. Unless the new Corolla is a lot better that's a hybrid off my list.
Secondly, in the 1.5 mile from the hire place to home, the engine stopped and started just how many times?
Thirdly waiting at the station to collect someone couldn't figure out how to get the heater working while parked. Seemed to need engine running, but how to do that. Figured it out after a good read of the manual overnight but Christ froze my arse off last night.
Just seems so complicated a setup. Unless the new Corolla is a lot better that's a hybrid off my list.
We were looking to replace a 2009 diesel Q5 about 18 months ago. Didn't want a diesel - the majority of our driving is suburban, with the odd longer trip and so had been looking at the then-new Q5 in petrol form. Unfortunately - the new £40k+ additional tax loading had just come in, and that really stuck in the throat. Looking at the 'old' model petrol Q5 (when you could even find one - diesel was very much the choice of 95% of Q5 drivers), the value just wasn't there any more. For context: our 3 year-old 2.0TDI had cost us £22k from a BMW garage. The equivalent age / mileage / petrol 2.0TFSI would have been closer to £30k...
Looking around, I figured for c. £25k we could get a nice previous model RX450h with warranty, from Lexus. Test drove one and quite liked it, but then managed to get a deal on a new shape 66-plate RX ex-demo car. Registered pre the £40k tax loading - but still managed to get Lexus new car financing rate on it, which made it pretty affordable over 3 years.
Took the plunge and - occasional gripes about the size of the thing aside - we love it. The old Q5 was registering a lifetime average of 34mpg (mostly town & suburban driving). The Lexus is doing around 32mpg, and will run downhill to school 80% on electric (motors back up the hill, though...)
Fuel economy isn't great on longer motorway runs (based ion Edinburgh we are off to places like Manchester, Newcastle, Aviemore, Glasgow maybe once a month) but it's a lovely place to be. Not sporty in the slightest - but plenty rapid.
Definitely a stepping stone to a plug-in, but depending on where you do your driving they definitely have a place.
Looking around, I figured for c. £25k we could get a nice previous model RX450h with warranty, from Lexus. Test drove one and quite liked it, but then managed to get a deal on a new shape 66-plate RX ex-demo car. Registered pre the £40k tax loading - but still managed to get Lexus new car financing rate on it, which made it pretty affordable over 3 years.
Took the plunge and - occasional gripes about the size of the thing aside - we love it. The old Q5 was registering a lifetime average of 34mpg (mostly town & suburban driving). The Lexus is doing around 32mpg, and will run downhill to school 80% on electric (motors back up the hill, though...)
Fuel economy isn't great on longer motorway runs (based ion Edinburgh we are off to places like Manchester, Newcastle, Aviemore, Glasgow maybe once a month) but it's a lovely place to be. Not sporty in the slightest - but plenty rapid.
Definitely a stepping stone to a plug-in, but depending on where you do your driving they definitely have a place.
Thought I’d chime in...
Got a Volvo V60 D6, second hand they’re about £15k. Had it for two months and my average is over 200mpg over 1200 miles. Gets 51mpg on diesel, does 20miles electric
My commute is 11 miles but I charge at work. Only filled the tank twice in two months, used to use £150 diesel a month, now down to £50ish (all long drives).
An hour long drive to the parents 110mile round trip get 65.7mpg, my 2l diesel Astra would get less, even on longer drives it’s been good.
Would recommend as a possible alternative to (3/5)30e or the outlander
Got a Volvo V60 D6, second hand they’re about £15k. Had it for two months and my average is over 200mpg over 1200 miles. Gets 51mpg on diesel, does 20miles electric
My commute is 11 miles but I charge at work. Only filled the tank twice in two months, used to use £150 diesel a month, now down to £50ish (all long drives).
An hour long drive to the parents 110mile round trip get 65.7mpg, my 2l diesel Astra would get less, even on longer drives it’s been good.
Would recommend as a possible alternative to (3/5)30e or the outlander
lovett1991 said:
Thought I’d chime in...
Got a Volvo V60 D6, second hand they’re about £15k. Had it for two months and my average is over 200mpg over 1200 miles. Gets 51mpg on diesel, does 20miles electric
My commute is 11 miles but I charge at work. Only filled the tank twice in two months, used to use £150 diesel a month, now down to £50ish (all long drives).
An hour long drive to the parents 110mile round trip get 65.7mpg, my 2l diesel Astra would get less, even on longer drives it’s been good.
Would recommend as a possible alternative to (3/5)30e or the outlander
Interesting, we considered one before ending up with an Outlander due to a slightly cheaper price and less potential bork factor (from online reviews at least). You're getting much better figures than we are though... Got a Volvo V60 D6, second hand they’re about £15k. Had it for two months and my average is over 200mpg over 1200 miles. Gets 51mpg on diesel, does 20miles electric
My commute is 11 miles but I charge at work. Only filled the tank twice in two months, used to use £150 diesel a month, now down to £50ish (all long drives).
An hour long drive to the parents 110mile round trip get 65.7mpg, my 2l diesel Astra would get less, even on longer drives it’s been good.
Would recommend as a possible alternative to (3/5)30e or the outlander
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