Excel 1.5 Hybrid 100 PS CVT 5 Door Hatchback

The best car I've ever owned

This really is a fantastic car. Take a long test drive in one and you'll see for yourself. I needed a car with automatic transmission due to medical reasons but was always put off by poor fuel economy and high VED. This certainly isn't an issue with the Yaris Hybrid. No VED to pay and I regularly get around 550 miles on a full tank (8 gallons) The car can travel on electric mode at speeds up to 47MPH and then the engine kicks in but it's so quiet. In traffic jams no fuel is used at all and and the air con still works running off the hybrid batteries. Driving in urban areas the car usually always runs in electric mode depending on the road gradient. When the batteries run down the engine kicks in again and recharges them which is also helped by braking and coasting. No energy is wasted.The CVT gearbox is very smooth if you don't accelerate too hard and the steering is ok but just a bit vague but cornering and general handling is very good. Even on 16 inch wheels the ride is very good and only deep rough surfaces disturb it. Brakes are very good and not too sharp. The seats are very comfortable and supportive and there's lots of legroom in the back which is very surprising for a car of this size and boot space is more than adequate. Interior plastics have greatly improved on Toyota cars but on the doors where the electric window switches are the plastic feels cheap. Apart from that the build quality is first class with no squeaks or rattles. This is the top of the range Excel model but Hybrid models are all generously equipped.

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