New Auris Hybrid Opinions

[ToyotaAuris]

Hi guys I currently own a 2011 Auris 1.33 engine and looking to sell it for a new shape Auris hybrid. I wanted to know if it is good and real MPG figures. I will be doing 100% city miles, about 50 miles per day in city and once a month 300 mile motorway trip. Is the CVT gearbox good or not because this car will be for my mum and she is a very cautious driver and we have never had a automatic or CVT gear box. Is it easy to use? Also is the interior improved because the 2011 interiors is shabby and cheap which is what puts me off so much. Also does the Auris suffer alot from depreciation? My model doesent suffer so much and the hybrid 2011 holds its value well but from what I can see that the new Auris hybrid is depreciating really quickly or is it just me. Thanks, looking for honest opinions, would like to stay with Toyota and I will be purchasing used Auris, 10k miles max. Also do the new Hybrid Toyota's come with 5 year warranty. Thanks

[FROSTYBALLS]

Since July 2010, Toyotas sold via Toyota GB have had the benefit of the 5 year/100,000 mile new car warranty.

[Grumpy Cabbie]

And it's not a cvt gearbox. People assume it is and then promptly remember the DAF from the 1970's. It's nothing like that at all. The gearbox/transmission is the hybrid system. They last 200k+ miles in taxi use. If you're doing high mileage you will want to consider changing the fluid at 100k miles. Toyota say it's sealed for life but it isn't, though you MUST use the right fluid!

The Auris hsd has a 5 yr/100k mile warranty and the Battery warranty can be extended upto 10 years unlimited miles if you service the car at Toyota at the correct intervals. See Toyota website for hybrid health check for details.

Explaining mpg's is harder as you or your mum might drive harder than me, but generally with any of the Toyota hybrids, you should get 45 mpg in town as a minimum and usually 55 mpg -70 mpg on a run. These are achievable if low rolling resistance tyres and 0w20 oil are used (as recommended by Toyota). Use thicker oil and you'll struggle to get 60 mpg.

[Whitewagon]

If you have never had and automatic of any kind then there will be a learning curve unti you get used to it. I don't own an Auris but have test driven a couple of Hybrids and they drive easily and without any problems, but I have had automatics of various types for years. You really do need to go and get a long test drive for both of you to see if you can adapt to the way an auto/CVT gearbox before you waste time deciding which model to buy. Some people just can't adapt to auto gearboxes of any kind but, in my opinion, they are simplicity in themselves, it's all about your adaptability. I have yet to find a report of any reliability issues for any Toyota Hybrid or CVT transmission unit.

[ToyotaAuris]

sounds good to me, what about this Battery issue lots of people seem to be having?

[Grumpy Cabbie]

Battery issue? I'd love to know which? There are two batteries in Toyota hybrids, a 12v and a High Voltage one that powers the car.

1, The 12v is weak and is just used to boot up the computers to start the car. It can be damaged if allowed to be run low. If listening to the radio it is wise to get into the habit of leaving the car in Ready mode instead of in Acc mode as this way the 12v will be continuously charged. Due to the nature of the hybrid, little or no petrol will be used. There was a software issue with Auris Hybrids that caused it to run down but that has been corrected. Never offer to jump start another car with your hybrid though. You will kill it.

2, The HV battery; There isn't a Battery issue with Toyota hybrids, at least not official Toyota hybrids since 2001. The original Prius dated 1997-2001 was not officially imported as it was really just a 'test mule' vehicle to see if the technology was viable. It was, once a few changes were made. These changes were made to the official UK models and they are still going now. Some have had failures, but the cars are now 13 years old. Any car that age will start to have expensive issues.

There might be HV Battery problems with Honda hybrids, but that's a different forum.

Seriously don't worry about the technology. It is actually simpler than a traditional automatic transmission. People worry when really they shouldn't. My explanation, and it isn't meant to be rude is that "just because you don't understand how a hybrid works, doesn't mean it doesn't". It is simple to use, so simple that people can't get their head around it. It's different so they worry.

Literally put the car in D for Drive to go forward and press the brake pedal to stop. If you're parking or going to be a while at traffic lights, then put the car in P Park. Hill starts are 10x easier than in a manual. Take foot off brake and put on accelerator and in that fraction of a second the car will not roll back. For really steep hills there is a hill start function, but it really isn't needed.

Hybrids are much simpler than a manual or indeed a traditional automatic. They're quiet, very smooth and comfortable. They get great economy without trying, mostly free to tax and give out much cleaner emissions than even the latest diesels, and in heavy or crawling traffic the engine is off.

Don't worry about charging the HV battery. If it gets low the car adjusts itself to charge it up. If it gets really low (like in heavy traffic) then the engine switches on continuously for 5 minutes to charge it up and then switches back to normal again. It all happens in the background, no lurches, no knocks or clunks. The engine fires up in less than 1/10 of a second so no lag at roundabouts etc.

Any further questions or worries or concerns, just ask.

[ToyotaAuris]

Thank you very much Grumpy Cabbie for your detailed explanation. However there is one thing which scares me about the Auris hybrid, depreciation. From the looks of it, its depreciating much quicker than the old model. Not going by the Auto trader prices but Im going with prices from where Im purchasing the car from (auction) and its showing me same prices if not cheaper prices for new Auris compared to 2011 or 2012 model Auris. Their prices are much more accurate because they go with the deprecation and predictions of prices in just a few months and it really does scare me. Thank you very much!

[ToyotaAuris]

I am also looking at the Lexus CT200 because new Auris and CT200 roughly have same price, only £500 difference. Are they good because I hear they use parts from Prius.

[Heidfirst]

The Ct200h is based on the old Auris rather than the new or a Prius although they all share a lot of similar tech (makes sense from an engineering & production pov).

As a buyer it makes a lot of sense from a business pov (benefit in kind tax etc.) but the reviews don't make it sound like a great car for a private driver. Imo (& there will be dissenters) the new Auris hybrid is the better car.

[FROSTYBALLS]

Don't forget the current Auris is a re-working of the first generation - evidenced by the fact the Type Approval is carried forwards from the first generation.

[Grumpy Cabbie]

High depreciation? I've just looked on Autotrader for an Auris hybrid and a high mileage example is on at £6,700, the next cheapest is £7,000 for a few examples then upwards from there. That's not bad.

If you want a car that does hold it's value, then the gen3 Prius is great. I paid £17,500 for mine in 2009 and you won't find one on Autotrader for less than £8k, and those have galactic mileage.

I think the Toyota hybrids hold their value well and your depreciation concerns unfounded. The cheapest Toyota hybrid on Autotrader just now is £1,800 for a 2002 car with 100k miles, the next is £2,150 for a 2003 Prius with 198k miles!?! I'd say they're holding their value rather nicely. A 12 year old Focus sized car would normally be £500.

If you're still not convinced, then I fear you never will be.

[MEP's Yaris GS]

As above to what everyone else has said really. I can't really ad anything.

I'd just say get your mum out in one to test drive, thats what I done with mine, although she's still not sure (she's never been a fan of automatics, although liked everything else about the car (Yaris HSD)) so will get her in one again before we decide to buy :)

[barrycoll]

I have several friends who seem to come under the heading, of "can't cope with automatics!!"

As an observer/instructor fro the Institute of Advanced Motorists (IAM), the one big problem candidates have to struggle with, is being in the Right Gear, at the Right Speed, in the right position on the road. Candidates have trouble changiing gear smoothly, and even more so when changing down a gear, (especially since the death of double de-clutching), and rarely holding a gear and changing Up at the next peak torque position

Autos do this thinking for you, and the stepless CVT "gearbox" creates a smooth and seemless experience. The emergency services all use autos.

Try buying a Ferrari/Maserati/Lamborghini without an auto gearbox.....welcome too 2015

[cuius]

Given that approx. 95% of Americans drive automatics (without casting aspersions), it can't be that difficult

[CPN]

In case anyone is really interested in the difference between a Toyota HSD's CVT transmission and a conventional CVT (DAF belt and pulleys - which Toyota's aint!) and you have 30 mins to spare, this is an excellent video for understanding it all...

[FROSTYBALLS]

Think there are around 10 types of CVT, though the DAF Variomatic of 1958 was the first commercially successful one -

One type of CVT was also fitted to the 1923 Clyno - built in Wolverhampton and at one time the third largest UK manufacturer behind Austin and Morris -

[Grumpy Cabbie]

Given that approx. 95% of Americans drive automatics (without casting aspersions), it can't be that difficult

There's only Europe that seems to stick with manuals. Japan, the rest of Asia, the Americas and Africa all have a higher percentage of automatics.

It's strange that the UK still seems to have much an aversion to them, when for most people they'd be ideal. Mrs Cabbie went 'auto' 4 years back and literally shudders if I suggest she goes back to a manual. There are many benefits to a manual, but for a car used on the school run or in todays start stop heavy traffic, an automatic is just the way to go.

Why make life harder? You never hear people saying they don't want power steering because it interferes with their driving experience, or that manual windows stop you from being lazy, yet mention you drive an automatic in the UK and people will tell you all sorts of claptrap about why you shouldn't.

[dcweather]

I don't think the Auris Hybrid depreciation is likely to be much different from most family hatches except cars like the VW Golf with known low depreciation. Most of it is in the first year for all cars anyway so if you aren't buying new it isn't really the prime consideration. Most manufactuer's websites now have example PCP plans. If you put in the model you are interested in and see what the final (baloon) payment is after say 3 years I think that gives you a good idea. They are effectively the average PX value of the car and they don't tend to get them far out as they would lose out.

[johalareewi]

sounds good to me, what about this battery issue lots of people seem to be having?

If you mean the 12v Battery going flat in the new Auris, that was traced to fault with the hazard warning switch and there is a Toyota fix for it.

You can check that it has been done before you buy.

[PeteB]

Given that approx. 95% of Americans drive automatics (without casting aspersions), it can't be that difficult

There's only Europe that seems to stick with manuals. Japan, the rest of Asia, the Americas and Africa all have a higher percentage of automatics.

It's strange that the UK still seems to have much an aversion to them, ...

Perhaps some of it stems from the 1960s, 70s and to some extent 80s when automatics were renowned for breaking very early on and using a lot of fuel, especially in small cars.

I was converted early on, when I was just 18 and bought a 6 year old Riley Kestrel 1300 automatic . It was already on a reconditioned auto box before 50,000 miles, and got just 23 mpg when my Dad's mechanically identical, except for being manual, Austin 1300 managed 35. I kept it for 2 years and loved driving it, but not filling the tank, and worried about the auto box going wrong.

Many smaller autos were also very gutless (1600 Mk 2 Ford Cortina comes to mind) and only had three gear ratios).

I didn't have an auto again until 1987 when I got one as a company car, and someone else would pay if it went wrong (it could cost half as much as the car cost new to replace an auto box!)

I've not owned a manual since, and have had hybrids since 2002 apart from 1 year in a MMT Yaris. These days autos can be quite economical, and are generally more reliable, but would still be frighteningly expensive to repair, especially some 'proper' CVTs.

My partner had a Nissan Micra CVT from 1998 to 2003 and it was fantastic, but had it gone wrong it would have been over £3,000 just for the parts. For some strange reason the next generation Micra went back to a 4 speed conventional auto, which was both horrible to drive and thirsty (25 mpg).

Of course the 'CVT' in the Toyota Hybrids is relatively uncomplicated and has proved extremely reliable.

[kithmo]

I'd say it

Given that approx. 95% of Americans drive automatics (without casting aspersions), it can't be that difficult

There's only Europe that seems to stick with manuals. Japan, the rest of Asia, the Americas and Africa all have a higher percentage of automatics.

It's strange that the UK still seems to have much an aversion to them, when for most people they'd be ideal. Mrs Cabbie went 'auto' 4 years back and literally shudders if I suggest she goes back to a manual. There are many benefits to a manual, but for a car used on the school run or in todays start stop heavy traffic, an automatic is just the way to go.

Why make life harder? You never hear people saying they don't want power steering because it interferes with their driving experience, or that manual windows stop you from being lazy, yet mention you drive an automatic in the UK and people will tell you all sorts of claptrap about why you shouldn't.

I'd say the price of fuel in the uk and poor economy were the main reasons

[dcweather]

Indeed although I think the claptrap did apply to some extent pre twenty years ago. It has already been put well above and I agree the reasons were poor fuel consumption and expensive repairs on old torque converters. DSG or equivalent has largely overcome this. The issue nowadays is small hatchbacks and Superminis. This is why we went for the Yaris Hybrid - the CVT style gearbox. Most others are ASG and get terrible reviews. It's not easy to find an economical small auto hatchback.

[Grumpy Cabbie]

My partner had a Nissan Micra CVT from 1998 to 2003 and it was fantastic, but had it gone wrong it would have been over £3,000 just for the parts. For some strange reason the next generation Micra went back to a 4 speed conventional auto, which was both horrible to drive and thirsty (25 mpg).

Of course the 'CVT' in the Toyota Hybrids is relatively uncomplicated and has proved extremely reliable.

So why have Toyota phased out the IQ with it's CVT auto and introduced the new Aygo with one of those heinous automated manuals that the French manufacturers seem to love. Even the Toyota dealers say to avoid them. :((

[PeteB]

The IQ and other non hybrid CVTs aren't what I was referring to - these have 'real' CVT gearboxes with pulleys, belts and things inside. The Hybrid system is very different.

[Cyker]

I think it's also because a lot of people enjoy just driving their cars in this country. There is a certain amount of joy you get from moving all the controls around and stuff, without even going anywhere in particular. I still find it very satisfying getting silky smooth synced up shifts. Even in the US, driving 'stick' as it were will get you more cred than driving an auto because of its perceived difficulty by auto-only drivers.

Auto-drivers on the other hand tend to be people that just want to get from A to B with the minimum of fuss and effort. (Or are old and/or american :P). I'm sure if you did a survey on people that really want self-driving cars, it would be similar to people that prefer autos over manuals ;)

Obv. in some countries, it is a necessity - If you drove a manual in, say, Hong Kong or Japan you'd probably need a new left knee by the time you got to work since you basically have to glue yourself to the car in front and inch everytime they inch or everyone will try and cut in front of you (The kind of road etiquette we have is practically nonexistant over there; If you let one person out the person behind them will be so close you won't be able to stop them, or the next person, or the next coming out too!)

I will say one big advantage manuals have is that they are much simpler and still a crap load cheaper to fix than any automatic. Any half-trained grease monkey can change a manual clutch, but with a lot of auto boxes, esp. newer ones, you need to go back to the dealer a lot of the time and both the parts and the labour can be ruinous because they are always unique and specialist, whereas a clutch plate is a clutch plate; In the worst case, as long as it's the right size you can whack it in.

My own experience with autoboxes is that for the most part they're great when the car is new, but as soon as you put a few years on it and it starts to develop problems, you're better off selling the car and getting a new one than trying to repair it.

Some are better than others; Any auto-box that relies on friction wearing parts (e.g. MMT-style semi-autos, CVTs, DSGs etc.) are the worst as eventually something really expensive will go on it, while others (HSD, torque converters) tend to be more reliable as long as they're looked after and serviced regularly.

My brother got bitten by an Audi Multitronic CVT gearbox not long ago so I'm still not a big convert for CVT's (CVT's biggest weakness is they cannot handle anywhere near the torque the other auto-boxes can, so avoid on powerful engines!). That said, the newest Toyota CVT seems to have done pretty well; It's been out for a while now and I still haven't seen many reported problems which is a good sign. I think Toyota have been smart in limiting it to lower-torque engines, and also limiting the torque output of the engine via the ECU, esp. in lower gears, to protect it from premature wear.

But if you want an automatic Toyota, and you can afford it, the HSDs are the best choice by a country mile.

(Or, if you've got £50k-£80k burning a hole in your pocket, sod the gearbox entirely and get a Tesla )