Toyota Yaris

A question about : Toyota Yaris

Within the next 2 - 3 months we are considering buying a new car.

I've had a Toyota Yaris for 12 years since I bought it new, and we are thinking of buying a new Yaris

We've been thinking of the Hybrid, because it'd be 'cheaper to run', but on doing a little internet reading, it seems that it might not be the case.

We are newly retired, and we anticipate that our mileage will be low. We'd only be using the car around town, for a few days out, and driving down to Southampton for cruises.

Although the hybrid has a zero road tax, I think the VED for the petrol model is only Ј30.00. We aren't using much petrol at present - the last time we filled up was January 20th. We'll probably go out and about more in the summer, but in winter it's quite possible that the car won't be used for a week or so.

I have other concerns about the battery in the hybrid, regarding how long it would last (we'd most likely be keeping the car for a long time), and also how the battery would react if it wasn't used very often - i.e. would it go flat as it wasn't being charged on a regular basis.

The hybrid is obviously more expensive, and I'm thinking that any day to day savings on running costs would take years to make up for the initial higher outlay

I just wondered if anybody had any thoughts on whether they'd go for the hybrid or the petrol model, if they were in our situation

Best answers:

• Hybrid and all electric are too much in their infancy, for the low mileage , VED and useage I'd go petrol.
• Autocar got 51mpg on their tests. Honest John says average of 57mpg, compared to 53mpg for the standard petrol car.
• Hybrid is auto which may be a benefit.
• If we went for the petrol option we'd get the automatic version anyway, as we've driven autos for more than 30 years. From the comments here, it tends to confirm that the petrol model would probably suit us best. We've got plenty of time to think about it, and look at other manufacturers as well. Thanks for your input
• Another vote for the petrol one. Wonder what the resale market for a hybrid will be in years to come when the batteries need replacing?
  With your style of driving do not get a diesel even if the garage offer one free!
• Wouldn't worry too much about the hybrid batteries, the internet isn't exactly bursting at the seams with stories of people having to use their life savings to replace them...and be assured the Toyota haters (and makers of overrated competition) would be only too pleased to keep any single one of those stories going.
  No trouble finding buyers for them either in due course, Toyota's hybrid story has been a success, in no small part to the way they deal with any problems that should arise, often long after the normal warranty has expired.
  Having said that, if your mileage is going to be as low as currently there seems little point in paying the extra, however it might be worth paying the same for a year old low mileage hybrid if you can find one as you would for a new petrol version.
  Might be an idea to try one out anyway, i like the silent eerily smooth pick up, some people maybe more used to 4 cyl tractor Diesels don't like them.
• Hybrid will not suit your needs as far as I can see. You say quite rightly it will take years to recoupe the purchase price in fuel costs. Hybrids are excellent for people who are often driving in congested inner cities but also travel motorway miles in between, with the benefit of no congestion charge and the 'environmental benefit' they're appealing to certain people, but if I was you I'd get the petrol.
• Yaris is a very well screwed together car, with excellent residual values as a result.
  And I'd almost argue in favour of the automatic over manual on reliability grounds as well; since while automatics are more complex, they're quite well refined now, and lack a clutch which go relatively often on small town cars.
  Keep it all simple and go for the petrol. There will be no practical savings in a hybrid or diesel in my opinion.
• Thanks for more comments - I think we are almost certainly going to go for the petrol model.
  Although I'm curious about the hybrid - if we get a chance of a test drive, we might just try it for the experience.
• You could always ask the spares department (not the salesman) how much a replacement battery pack costs. Prepare to be horrified.
  Don't believe anyone telling you that they last forever.
• 'About Ј800' according to the Toyota website FAQ's. And they have a five year warranty.
• Ј800 is a lot less than I would have thought. The last price that I heard was three times that, I wonder if like a lot of electronic items they have come down in price.
  Still a lot to spend when it is an older car & just another reason to make it uneconomic to repair.
  Out of interest I am told that there are third party reconditioners for Prius batteries so I guess that there will be for Yaris - and much cheaper. Prius cells are apparently fairly basic & standard.
• Not exactly the same but my wife has a Lexus CT200h hybrid. Same technology.
  She originally had a 307 coupe 2.0l petrol manual, and was averaging 26mpg just commuting 5 miles to work or the shops with the occasional trip further where she averaged 36mpg.
  Since changing to Lexus she has averaged about 53mpg which has effectively halved her fuel bill.
  I did ask the salesman before buying about battery life and was told that they hadn't had to change a battery pack yet (he would say that wouldn't he!) but in any case the manufacturer would be helpful post warranty. I believed him anyway......
  But if you're not going to be doing a lot of miles or using daily then the extra cost of purchase don't seem to be worth it.