With the cost of diesel riding and suv type car being our choice it was decided that the volvo xc60 had to go. We started looking at hybrid and phev. The Volvo and lexus where out of our price.
We already had a lexus IS 300h and the rav4 had the next generation of this engine and power train.
So on a very wet September we went for a test drive. And ordered an obsidien blue metallic excel awd.
This car had been excellent been through two winter handling snow and muddy country lanes like a pro the awd system is very good and thevall elevtric rear give quite a punch when it kicks in. In trail mode it gread in the snow leaving x3 and other German brands lagging behind. It accelerates very well and the cvt well its one of the better ones ok it took some getting use to no gear changing or revs going up and down as the kick down comes in all you get isva louder engine tone, (drone) but i soon got us tomit. I have have left many a sport bmw as those elevtric motor give instant power there's no build up it there supporting very good 2.5 ltr petrol engine.
Interior i opted for a two tone grey very modern looking it great Toyota still offer interior colours normally i would go beige and black but time very light grey looked good and everyone says it nice with dark blue
The leather are ok it not the best quality but it not the cheapest the plastics are soft where you touch and durable and easy wipe where needed. Toyota has a mix of button big knobs touch screen and voice command. The temperature control is done via two nice knobs with a rubber tyre like surface nice to use they feel well built there some button in tge centre of them the rest of the climate control is via a line of small fiddily buttons switch took a week to get use to heated seat are good with two temp options and via two large buttons i like buttons
The central display radio, sat nav, no cd play oh come on Toyota people who buy these cars are in late 40 onwards we have cds . No android auto or apple i car systems offered so cd would be nice.
The Toyota sat nav is hopeless it drops out it gets lost cannot put house numbers in hard to programme on the move the voice commands after the Volvo are primitive and totally robotic its got limited word recognition. But did recognise why i swore at it and said good bye. They toyota sat nav is very poor it so out dated in graphic and the touchscreen is poor
However the battery charging graphics are good.
The instruments that mix of digital and analogue dials is also a bit half hearted Toyota need to go one or the other halfway mixes does not work for me the images are unclear and two small. The back ground graphic are a waste of energy.
Driving
Steering is light and not overly precise which suits me i do not like these over sensitive steering you get in Ford's and BMW who needs sportynin an suv?
Chassis is good on the who and the car does not get two jelly like for an suv with nice comfort ride it's composed. And a little fun on b roads
The auto awd keep you planted.
The lane keep assist good for motorways but a distraction in town i turn it off in town.
The intelligent cruise control very good if a little fears these computer are all or nothing when breaking its got better over time.
Over all easy car to drive and in between lock downs we did a european road holiday and it was great car for eating up the miles on this holidy we use E10 fuel and we got the best mpg at 50mpg still a long way short of the claims.
The car will happily drive upto 45mph on ev mode for 3 miles on full charge battery
But the fuel figure have been my biggest let down town driving is between 39.8 and 41.2 mpg they are my normal averages i live is a hilly area
But i was hoping for 45mpg average . That said my xc60 was only 28mpgso it been a huge saving i have noticed the difference in my wallet plus petrol is cheaper than diesel.
Back is ok 60 40 split come on should be 40/20/40 no ski hatch really do miss it and no lay flat front seat these are a must for family diy trips so needs to improve its back seat. Boot space very happy like the reversible boot floor but one improvement rubberized surface would have been better than hard plastic thing slide. Good square shape get lots in and there is a spare wheel yes yes yes.
So far very happy with the toyota yes its boring it does everything it's asked with no fuss the interior is nice but not special material quality is very good but not luxury. Ride is quiet wind, road tyre and engine noisy are all well checked push hard engine get louder but not offensive to ears.
Over all very happy owner.