1.5 Hybrid Excel CVT 5dr

Great up to a point

The Good

Some things are a given with Toyota: supreme reliability and generally well made. The Yaris Hybrid is no exception. For a small car, the cabin is a pleasant place to be and the equipment levels are quite generous. Everything has a solid feel and is perfectly functional.

The Average

The infotainment system is OK at best. The graphics on the screen seem dated and I miss having the automatically folding mirrors. Lumbar support is an odd omission and the column stalks can be hidden too much by the steering wheel. The car is a bit noisy, especially when at motorway speed or accelerating with any kind of urgency. The CVT gearbox is smooth but is very definitely designed for a driver who wants to make economical progress as opposed to normal progress.

The Disappointing

Fuel economy! 59mpg average seems good, and I guess it is, so it requires explanation. I make a 50 mile round trip to work that is mostly on the motorway and then I'm in a busy city for the last few miles. On the motorway, I usually sit at 60mph on cruise control, sometimes 55mph. The problem with the hybrid system is that it needs a bigger battery and an improved ECU. Under no circumstances will it move to EV mode above a true 40mph. At best it will offer electric assistance to the engine, so a bit like a mild hybrid. It will use EV mode below that speed, but you have to be VERY light with your right foot to keep it there as it's always trying to move back to the ICE.

Now let's compare the Yaris to my other car, which is a Hyundai Ioniq hybrid. In that car, as long as there is power in the battery, the car will move to EV mode at any speed. Obviously slower speeds help the economy, but even at 75mph, the Ioniq will move seamlessly between ICE and EV modes. It will also move to EV mode more easily and stay there for longer. The result is that the Ioniq is bigger, heavier, far more lavishly equipped, significantly more comfortable, and by a surprisingly big margin, more economical. On the same journey and at the same speeds, the Ioniq will easily do 65mpg even in the middle of a cold winter. In the summer, that figure will rise to 80mpg! All of a sudden, struggling to average 60mpg in the Yaris looks pretty feeble.

If you want a small, economical, and reliable car that will mostly be used in town, the Yaris Hybrid is a great option. If you don't mind something a bit bigger and would appreciate greater comfort and equipment, as well as better economy, the Hyundai Ioniq is miles better and for similar money on the used market.

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