Business edition Hybrid

Comfortable relaxing stress free drive

This car is a comfortable relaxing drive and is suitable for high mileage business use if you can get on with the cvt gearbox. Most of the time the gearbox is superbly smooth, but if you encounter hills steeper than a certain gradient you have to thrash the engine to make even modest progress.

The car is perhaps not as quiet and refined as you might expect. The engine is not as quiet as previous experience of Toyota petrol engines (or possibly even the 2007 diesel Avensis I once had which was still to date the most refined car I've ever owned). Wind noise is noticeable above 50mph, the side window glass is very thin. Tyre noise is also very noticeable, although definitely improved since fitting Michelin cross climates. Having said all this it is very quiet in ev mode where conditions permit.

There are one or two omissions that I miss from my previous Skoda Octavia, namely the maxidot display that told you when your windscreen is about to run out (it only holds about 2.5 litres), and which bulb has gone if one goes. There are also no reflectors or lights on the inside of the doors which is a notable safety omission when parking on main roads in the dark.

Economy is hugely variable dependent on type of road you're travelling on. Average is 56mpg with a high of 64mpg and a low of 50mpg, all measured brim to brim. Trip computer about 3-4mpg optimistic. I was hoping to average around 60mpg, but that is only really achievable in warmer weather and flatter roads (the 64mpg was achieved in East Anglia).

16 months and 33,000 miles in there have been no issues, and Toyota servicing is sensibly priced. I would certainly recommend, but do get a decent test drive to make sure you can get on with the cvt gearbox.

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