Toyota hybrids - the best out there?

Simonigs1.0

The thoughts of a Honda CRZ are slowly being pushed to the back of my mind and both the Prius and Auris Hybrid are coming into serious consideration.

I do like the Prius, they seem to be the best known hybrid out there today, they seem like a very nice car, and I think I could see myself buying one. In particular, the T spirit. I have read a lot of good things about the Prius on the internet and on here. But I have not heard a lot about the Auris hybrid. I quite like the look of the Auris also, also in T spirit guise. I presume the Auris and Prius share the same engine and mechanical bits, but why aren't the Auris as popular as the Prius?

Toyota hybrids, mainly the Prius, seem to be more popular than Honda (CRZ, insight), so I think it might be a safe bet to perhaps buy a Toyota, parts availability will be good and presumably the Toyota will be more reliable.

Would it be wrong to discount the CRZ or Insight, or any other hybrid like the CT200h, because the well known Toyota might be more reliable and have better parts availability?

Tea 1000

The CT200h is a Toyota Hybrid system, so that might be the best bet. But I wouldn't discount the rest. In terms of efficiency and development of the technology Toyota have the most experience, but the Honda options will be every bit as reliable. Drive them all and see which one you like best. There's more to a car than it's powertrain.

Leonard Hofstadter

The Auris hybrid is exactly the same as a Prius. It's got the same powertrain and the same chassis. The Prius is more common because well it's a Prius. I'd much rather the Auris, could never understand the need to broadcast out loud that I want to save money and the planet, then again eco cars aren't really my thing .

I would say this much, a hybrid is infinitely more reliable than a diesel, so if you're doing a lot of town driving it's a no brainer as long as you don't mind an automatic gearbox. Also being petrol powered it will be a lot quieter and more refined than an equivalent diesel.

There's also the Yaris hybrid as well, far better value than a regular model once you bring the regular model up to the same spec as the hybrid.

mickdw

Get a Gs 450h.
A proper hybrid

Bigus

There's a fundamental tax saving with the Toyota hybrids in Ireland because they can drive on ev alone giving them a big advantage vrt wise

mickdw

Is there really?
I didnt think they get any special treatment.

Simonigs1.0

I had not realised the CT200h had a Toyota hybrid system. At the moment cargiant.co.uk have one on their site which is slightly over budget, but I would like to consider one, they seem like very nice cars.
I don't do very much long distance driving, so a diesel car was very much out the window months ago. My driving mainly consists of short trips around the city. I looked into the Yaris hybrid briefly but they aren't big enough for my needs.
As for a GS450h, I wish! I have not heard anything about tax savings on Toyota hybrids, so any info on that would be greatly appreciated.

650Ginge

Tea 1000 wrote: »

The CT200h is a Toyota Hybrid system, so that might be the best bet. But I wouldn't discount the rest. In terms of efficiency and development of the technology Toyota have the most experience, but the Honda options will be every bit as reliable. Drive them all and see which one you like best. There's more to a car than it's powertrain.

Honda had a hybrid before toyota.

Bigus

650Ginge wrote: »

Honda had a hybrid before toyota.

Honda hybrid fecked up legislation wise as it can't drive on ev alone so vrt rates and rebates not as favourable in Ireland and EU

PADRAIC.M

Thought the Prius was mass produced in 1997 and the insight was released in 1999?

unkel

650Ginge wrote: »

Honda had a hybrid before toyota.

Porsche had a hybrid about 100 years before either of them...

Oafley Jones

Simonigs1.0 wrote: »

I had not realised the CT200h had a Toyota hybrid system. At the moment cargiant.co.uk have one on their site which is slightly over budget, but I would like to consider one, they seem like very nice cars.
I don't do very much long distance driving, so a diesel car was very much out the window months ago. My driving mainly consists of short trips around the city. I looked into the Yaris hybrid briefly but they aren't big enough for my needs.
As for a GS450h, I wish! I have not heard anything about tax savings on Toyota hybrids, so any info on that would be greatly appreciated.

Quite liked the idea of a Prius, until I had a loan of a ct200. It's exactly the same power plant and I genuinely hated it. Not gone on the old Gs450h either, massively powerful it may be. Having said that I'm almost certainly be buying a car with Toyota HSD technology next. Just have to wait for the prices to come down. As for tax advantages all you have to do is look at them. Eg. The rx is almost 2 ton, almost 300hp and just 280 euro tax.

Simonigs1.0

Oafley Jones wrote: »

Quite liked the idea of a Prius, until I had a loan of a ct200. It's exactly the same power plant and I genuinely hated it. Not gone on the old Gs450h either, massively powerful it may be. Having said that I'm almost certainly be buying a car with Toyota HSD technology next. Just have to wait for the prices to come down. As for tax advantages all you have to do is look at them. Eg. The rx is almost 2 ton, almost 300hp and just 280 euro tax.

Can I ask, what did you not like about the CT200h? I quite like the looks of them, and I would strongly consider one if I could get one close to my budget.

PADRAIC.M

Just to add about the CT, I found them smaller than a Prius inside and suspension is a lot stiffer, but the mode switch in the middle is a nice touch... It's basically an auris chassis with a different body style and tighter interior design,

Simonigs1.0

Thank you for that, gives me a bit more to think about. I wouldn't like to discount them yet despite what I'm hearing about them online, as they are a nice looking car.

Zubeneschamali

Simonigs1.0 wrote: »

I do like the Prius, they seem to be the best known hybrid out there today, they seem like a very nice car,

A very nice hybrid eco car, perhaps.

Not a very nice car, though, compared to almost anything that runs on rendered whale blubber.

Apart from other Toyotas, I mean, their whale-powered cars are pretty dull, too.

coolbeans

I'd drive a Prius but not a CT200. I had a spin in the latter and apart from the looks which are a complete mess, the suspension is way too hard for what isn't a very sporty car.

coolbeans

Zubeneschamali wrote: »

A very nice hybrid eco car, perhaps.

Not a very nice car, though, compared to almost anything that runs on rendered whale blubber.

Apart from other Toyotas, I mean, their whale-powered cars are pretty dull, too.

Whale blubber?? Huh??!!

Zubeneschamali

coolbeans wrote: »

Whale blubber?? Huh??!!

What did you think your car runs on?

Fossils?

The whole world is only 6000 years old!

quenching

Zubeneschamali wrote: »

A very nice hybrid eco car, perhaps.

Not a very nice car, though, compared to almost anything that runs on rendered whale blubber.

Apart from other Toyotas, I mean, their whale-powered cars are pretty dull, too.

I disagree, I have one and I think its a very nice car to drive. Fill a car with small children and whats important in a car changes, effortless driving rises up the list a LOT