Renault Clio Hybrid Vs Toyota Yaris Hybrid - Renault Clio E-Tech 145 Vs Yaris 1.5 VVT-i

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Wed 19 Feb 2025 11:46
Renault Clio Hybrid Vs Toyota Yaris Hybrid - Renault Clio E-Tech 145 Vs Yaris 1.5 VVT-i - Sam M

Which Hybrid would you for and why, based on style, efficiency, and room at the rear?

Thank you

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Wed 19 Feb 2025 12:15
Renault Clio Hybrid Vs Toyota Yaris Hybrid - Renault Clio E-Tech 145 Vs Yaris 1.5 VVT-i - Falkirk Bairn

Toyota Corolla Estate or it's Suzuki Swace - badges and specs differ but almost identical as they are made in Derby.

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Wed 19 Feb 2025 13:03
Renault Clio Hybrid Vs Toyota Yaris Hybrid - Renault Clio E-Tech 145 Vs Yaris 1.5 VVT-i - skidpan

Toyota Corolla Estate or it's Suzuki Swace - badges and specs differ but almost identical as they are made in Derby.

From the title I feel pretty sure the OP was asking about a Yaris or a Clio. No mention is made about a Corolla or Swace.

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Wed 19 Feb 2025 20:15
Renault Clio Hybrid Vs Toyota Yaris Hybrid - Renault Clio E-Tech 145 Vs Yaris 1.5 VVT-i - Adampr

It depends on how much you value reliability and whether you are planning to keep the car. If you're fairly laid back and it's just going to be on lease or PCP, I really like current Renaults. If you want something that will last and be easy to sell at a decent price, go for the Yaris.

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Wed 19 Feb 2025 21:03
Renault Clio Hybrid Vs Toyota Yaris Hybrid - Renault Clio E-Tech 145 Vs Yaris 1.5 VVT-i - Big John

Toyota really do hybrids well and have been producing them for decades, They use more of a transaxle with motors/generators, and an engine at one end of if all. Simpleish oily bits but advanced electronic control. Many taxi drives prefer Toyota hybrids and star-ship mileages are common.

Some manufacturers hybrids are mechanically way more complex involving dual clutch gearboxes and additional motor/generator & integration gubbins (one involving a big belt!).

I myself was worried about buying a hybrid as I'd read real life economy could be poor on long distance runs especially involving motorway speeds - in reality it was way better than expected although efficiency takes a bit of a hit in cold weather, I suspect because batteries are colder! Is it wrong that I'm now disappointed with low 60's mpg in the winter(Swace aka Corolla)!

A friend has a 6 year old Yaris hybrid and loves it and has seen north of 80mpg in the summer at times. Oh and it's been faultless thus far. He's ultimately planning to get the same again. The Yaris is not know for great rear legroom though.

PS It's important to properly test drive any hybrid - the driving style doesn't suit everyone.

Edited by Big John on 19/02/2025 at 21:10

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Thu 20 Feb 2025 07:55
Renault Clio Hybrid Vs Toyota Yaris Hybrid - Renault Clio E-Tech 145 Vs Yaris 1.5 VVT-i - Sam M

Thank you Big John, that was insightful, may I ask how the drive style differs from a non hybrid? I have to say I'm liking the sound of low 60's mpg given we have winter for 5 months!

Also is the VVT i the correct model I should be aiming for? Thank you

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Thu 20 Feb 2025 08:34
Renault Clio Hybrid Vs Toyota Yaris Hybrid - Renault Clio E-Tech 145 Vs Yaris 1.5 VVT-i - badbusdriver

may I ask how the drive style differs from a non hybrid?

Not a boy racer/Clarkson wannabe!.

If you always have to be first away from the lights and always have to be going faster than anyone else, a hybrid is probably not for you. Biggest economy gains are to be found using a more relaxed and considered driving style (which needn't be slow) to allow the electric motor to do as much as possible.

Also is the VVT i the correct model I should be aiming for? Thank you

If you are considering the current shape (2020 on) Yaris, it matters not a jot as (excluding the 3 door rally job GR) they all use the same powertrain*. All you need to think about is which trim level you want.

*On the previous model, there were hybrid and non hybrid versions available.

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Thu 20 Feb 2025 15:23
Renault Clio Hybrid Vs Toyota Yaris Hybrid - Renault Clio E-Tech 145 Vs Yaris 1.5 VVT-i - Heidfirst

may I ask how the drive style differs from a non hybrid?

Not a boy racer/Clarkson wannabe!.

If you always have to be first away from the lights and always have to be going faster than anyone else, a hybrid is probably not for you.

The electric motor does give you very good initial acceleration though if you want to use it ... :P

OP, you might also want to have a look at a Yaris Cross.

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Thu 20 Feb 2025 16:24
Renault Clio Hybrid Vs Toyota Yaris Hybrid - Renault Clio E-Tech 145 Vs Yaris 1.5 VVT-i - martin.mc

Have had a Clio E-tech for a year now. Nice to drive with seamless gear changes. Can be very quick if put into Sports Mode. Not very impressed with fuel economy. Around 57mpg in summer dropping to 47 in the winter. Still good for a 1.6 auto though. Without electrical assistance the Clio would probably return 30mpg on a good day.

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Thu 20 Feb 2025 18:04
Renault Clio Hybrid Vs Toyota Yaris Hybrid - Renault Clio E-Tech 145 Vs Yaris 1.5 VVT-i - badbusdriver

Have had a Clio E-tech for a year now. Nice to drive with seamless gear changes. Can be very quick if put into Sports Mode. Not very impressed with fuel economy. Around 57mpg in summer dropping to 47 in the winter. Still good for a 1.6 auto though. Without electrical assistance the Clio would probably return 30mpg on a good day.

That is less than Big John gets with his Suzuki Swace hybrid, a much bigger (and presumably heavier) car with a 1.8 hybrid. So while that may be a good figure if it was a solely ice 1.6 auto, it isn't great for a 1.6 hybrid.

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Thu 20 Feb 2025 22:55
Renault Clio Hybrid Vs Toyota Yaris Hybrid - Renault Clio E-Tech 145 Vs Yaris 1.5 VVT-i - Big John

That is less than Big John gets with his Suzuki Swace hybrid, a much bigger (and presumably heavier) car with a 1.8 hybrid.

Hmm, heavier is a a mute point. As per many cars these days the Swace didn't come with a spare tyre and I've finally had delivery of a space saver that nicely fits in the wheel well under the boot floor still leaving a reasonable amount of space for "stuff". I obviously tried out the spare wheel just to make sure it fitted and used a 1.5 tonne scissor jack (as if at the roadside) and my goodness it took some lifting!! Hopefully I'll never need and if I do my breakdown will sort the lifting bit!

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Thu 20 Feb 2025 23:45
Renault Clio Hybrid Vs Toyota Yaris Hybrid - Renault Clio E-Tech 145 Vs Yaris 1.5 VVT-i - Big John

Thank you Big John, that was insightful, may I ask how the drive style differs from a non hybrid? I have to say I'm liking the sound of low 60's mpg given we have winter for 5 months!

Also is the VVT i the correct model I should be aiming for? Thank you

If you drive like a boy race it's not for you. If you hammer it up to speed the engine will rev somewhat (although to be honest it's not that noisy doing so) but I've discovered if you use a little constraint it still gains speed well with pretty low engine revs, especially in eco mode. Even if the engine is running at motorway speed (it's surprising how much it isn't) if you accelerate with restraint you find yourself gaining speed well but the engine is only doing 1500 rpm. In the summer I've found in excess of 70mpg on a long run is possible - I even managed a very fully laden camping trip from East Yorkshire to Ledbury at 70mph motorway speeds for some of the journey managing mid-late 60's mpg. I never exceed speed limits these days following a speed awareness course a few years ago. Having said that I still like having fun at times - the Toyota hybrid gubbins can put a smile on your face especially powering out of a bend on country lanes where it combines the engine/ motor as a slingshot!

The Yaris has a 3 cylinder 1.5 and the Swace/ Corolla a 4 cylinder1.8 - both VVT but I think the current Yaris also uses direct fuel injection - more economical!

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Sat 22 Feb 2025 12:57
Renault Clio Hybrid Vs Toyota Yaris Hybrid - Renault Clio E-Tech 145 Vs Yaris 1.5 VVT-i - Big John

One afterthought re the Yaris (and any other potential choices). Test drive thoroughly to make sure your'e happy with the way the hybrid drives and make sure you're happy with road noise/ ride etc. Some versions have rather low profile tyres fitted that firm up the ride too much and kick up more road noise inside the cabin.

My Swace has 205/55 R16s and the ride is excellent but it still has more road noise than my previous Superb, saying that the Superb was shod in Michelin Crossclimate's (same size!) and I remember when they were first fitted a big improvement in road noise so when I wear the original Bridgestone's out I'll probably be swapping to those.

Edited by Big John on 22/02/2025 at 13:05

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