Hi - Any advice for Hybrid Owners?

steveowatt · 6 Nov 2017 at 14:14

Hi To all.

I am a company car driver who has finally got the option to get a Hybrid that I like (the C-HR) I was getting it set up (going for the Dynamic range still toying on which grey to get but that's another story) And then I stopped.

I have a couple of concerns I guess mainly around the economy. I drive from Essex to Wembley most days of the week (generally go M25 M1 then A406 or sometimes M25, M11 A406) I currently drive a BMW 1 Series 1.6 Diesel Efficient Dynamic so my fuel economy is pretty good. I am driving to a place of work so pay for my own fuel.

I am now slightly torn between going back to a diesel or taking the "punt" shall we say and go for a C-HR, I now have a VW Golf 1.6 SE TDI and a Toyota 1.8 Hybrid Dynamic sitting in my orders ready to go just gotta pick one!

I was wondering if anyone could perhaps give me some ideas of economy on long motorway trips in this area, as anyone is aware the M25 is generally a car pack so my theory is that I would probably be a case to say that a Hybrid would probably fair pretty well in that environment.

Also, anyone who happens to have a C-HR who can give me some feedback, have test drove one over the weekend and was really impressed!

Anyone with their thoughts would be great

Thanks

Nasher · 6 Nov 2017 at 14:35

I'd much rather have the C-HR than a 1.6 diesel. Small diesel engines are especially terrible. Also the C-HR is pretty good in general, but people say the non-hybrid drives better.

Dr House · 6 Nov 2017 at 23:49

No idea on the CHR. But my hybrid has about a 12 mile all electric range. So while doing short trips in london I drive more or less 80 to 90 percent on electricity only. Then on the motorways I recharge the batteries. My average is about 38mpg which I think is not bad.

fadetoblack · 7 Nov 2017 at 05:01

Nasher said:
I'd much rather have the C-HR than a 1.6 diesel. Small diesel engines are especially terrible. Also the C-HR is pretty good in general, but people say the non-hybrid drives better.

1.6 diesel terrible? Maybe 10 years ago

Relentless81 · 7 Nov 2017 at 08:02

Dr House said:
No idea on the CHR. But my hybrid has about a 12 mile all electric range. So while doing short trips in london I drive more or less 80 to 90 percent on electricity only. Then in the motorways I recharge the batteries. My average is about 38mpg which I think is not bad

I'm considering an Auris Estate as my next car but 38mpg? My current 1.8 Petrol Civic has done 35mpg over 7k miles and my commute on the way home can take an 45 mins to an hour to do 6 miles so you can imagine the traffic (straight run on the way to work) Any reason you think its that low? The Hybrid models are more expensive to buy than the 1.2T model by a good couple of grand too

sovietspybob · 7 Nov 2017 at 08:59

I get about 42-43mpg average out of my regular non hybrid 1.8 Toyota Avensis with the 2ZR-FAE engine which i assume is fairly closely related to the one in the CHR just with the simulated atkinson cycle so that should make it a bit more efficient even before the hybrid stuff.

Howard · 7 Nov 2017 at 09:03

fadetoblack said:
1.6 diesel terrible? Maybe 10 years ago

No, they're still terrible.

Randomface74 · 7 Nov 2017 at 09:24

Toyota hybrids are basically petrol cars 90% of the time. With a very loud transmission noise when you floor it.

May as well just buy a good petrol car.

wesley · 7 Nov 2017 at 09:33

i dont understand why the first gen of Honda Insight (the one with an odd shape) were very good and the rest of newer ones are rubbish and pointless. what went wrong?

sovietspybob · 7 Nov 2017 at 10:02

Didn't Honda lose a lot of money on each of the gen1 insights? Also it was only 2 seater so not very practical so once it was scaled up to a useful car size and weight the efficiencies just weren't there.

Dr House · 7 Nov 2017 at 10:09

Relentless81 said:
I'm considering an Auris Estate as my next car but 38mpg? My current 1.8 Petrol Civic has done 35mpg over 7k miles and my commute on the way home can take an 45 mins to an hour to do 6 miles so you can imagine the traffic (straight run on the way to work) Any reason you think its that low? The Hybrid models are more expensive to buy than the 1.2T model by a good couple of grand too

It’s a i8 so to me 38 is high. I was seeing as low as 13 in some or my other cars.

Pyscho_Si · 7 Nov 2017 at 10:15

Averaging am indicated 44MPG on my current 90 mile a day commute which includes about 60 miles on the motorway including the wonderful M6\M61 junction which is a joy during the rush hour. Also includes driving through Bolton town centre during the evening rush hour. I’m driving a slightly bigger hybrid, a Lexus 450h.

wesley · 7 Nov 2017 at 10:24

sovietspybob said:
Didn't Honda lose a lot of money on each of the gen1 insights? Also it was only 2 seater so not very practical so once it was scaled up to a useful car size and weight the efficiencies just weren't there.

yes but the first 1st gen is nearly 20 years ago! surely things must be improved by now

[TW]Fox · 7 Nov 2017 at 12:22

Relentless81 said:
I'm considering an Auris Estate as my next car but 38mpg? My current 1.8 Petrol Civic has done 35mpg over 7k miles and my commute on the way home can take an 45 mins to an hour to do 6 miles so you can imagine the traffic (straight run on the way to work) Any reason you think its that low? The Hybrid models are more expensive to buy than the 1.2T model by a good couple of grand too

He forgot to mention that it's actually a 100k hybrid supercar. Not a CH-R alternative.

Relentless81 · 7 Nov 2017 at 14:27

Oh... I see

Cleisthenes · 7 Nov 2017 at 14:29

Relentless81 said:
I'm considering an Auris Estate as my next car but 38mpg? My current 1.8 Petrol Civic has done 35mpg over 7k miles and my commute on the way home can take an 45 mins to an hour to do 6 miles so you can imagine the traffic (straight run on the way to work) Any reason you think its that low? The Hybrid models are more expensive to buy than the 1.2T model by a good couple of grand too

e: beaten

Jonnycoupe · 7 Nov 2017 at 18:52

wesley said:
yes but the first 1st gen is nearly 20 years ago! surely things must be improved by now

VW XL1 is a similar car today.

Basically both cars are too awesome for the general public.

Insight was all ally 836kg and low cd. Would be even better now with direct injection and drive by wire... but would cost loads. Would be great with either CRZ pack aswell, lighter NiMH or the facelift more powerful lighthouse pack. Hence the CRZ took existing Jazz and Insight stuff to actually offer Honda margin.

When the Mk1 Insight came to UK market at £17k honda were actually spending £25k building them. For context Ford can knock out Mondeos for about £8k.

Psycho Sonny · 8 Nov 2017 at 12:31

I'm looking at a C200H by Lexus. Does 70 MPG apparently. It's only got 99 BHP so not going to set the world on fire. However as an A to B car which it's stuck in traffic 75% of the time or at lights, etc it seems to make perfect sense.

acemastr · 8 Nov 2017 at 13:36

The hybrid would be a nicer drive, smoother and effortless take off from lights etc. Plus the changes to diesels in the future could cause you issues.

Nasher · 8 Nov 2017 at 14:40

acemastr said:
The hybrid would be a nicer drive, smoother and effortless take off from lights etc. Plus the changes to diesels in the future could cause you issues.

It's not as smooth because it's a bit choppy (and noisy) when the engine kicks in.

But it only seem to be an issue on this car for some reason, the other Toyota and Lexus hybrids are much better at it.