My impressions of the Yaris Hybrid loan car, whilst my Avensis was in for recall.

[Konrad C]

I had a loan Yaris Hybrid Icon Tech for a few hours, while my Avensis was in for a recall - 

 

I have to say I liked the Yaris a lot. The first thing I got used to quickly was the auto transmission and handbrake. My Avensis is manual and EPB. Liked the Infotainment system and quickly paired my phone to the cars bluetooth. Much better than my car which is a convoluted procedure, and voice only. The radio has DAB and that worked fine. I stuck my USB memory stick in, and the stereo played my music fine. I had to reduce the bass a bit - the previous user must like a lot of bass.

   

The general controls are very much similar to my Avensis and some parts look like they came out the same parts bin, even though the cars are 10 years apart.

Storage is one thing that the Yaris is lacking. No centre console storage/armrest, only one cup holder for rear passengers, and tiny glove box. No map storage on rear of front seats. The front doors held my large water bottle.
  

Rear space for is adequate. The boot not to small and there is a spare space saver wheel. I like that.

I liked the instrument panel which was easy to understand. The handbrake and auto 'box totally different to my manual/EPB Avensis. 

 

Driving the car was a pleasure, especially in traffic. When driving the car feels a little sluggish, so the engine kicks in to help until the speed is reach. Then the engine settles down or shuts off, depending on speed. The economy seems good. I was getting mid 50's mpg. I did put a little fuel back in. 
When I got the car, it had a few spots of bird droppings, and I hate that on a car, so a quick was and it was all gone. The car was handed back cleaner. I also peaked at the engine.

  

Overall I really liked the Yaris and would buy one with a higher spec, with electric rear window winders and auto lights. The lack of storage is the only downside, and the fuel economy makes up for the lack of pull (compared to my Avensis).
Yes I could easily live this or the new Corolla Touring Sport (Combines the Avensis space with the hybrid tech).
 

 

[Anthony Poli]

If you liked the Yaris, then I think you would definitely like the corolla touring sport.
I went from a 2010 Auris to a 2015 auris ts and the difference was surprising. The electric only side had been improved, but still using the same Battery and motor.


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[Konrad C]

34 minutes ago, Anthony Poli said:

If you liked the Yaris, then I think you would definitely like the corolla touring sport.
I went from a 2010 Auris to a 2015 auris ts and the difference was surprising. The electric only side had been improved, but still using the same battery and motor.


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I follow your posts and like your banter Anthony. I will be saving up for when I change my car. I could downsize and get an Auris. I did look at the new Corolla in the showroom whilst I was collecting my Avensis. If the boot was a little larger (I sometimes carry a Dahon Cadenza folding bike in the boot, with the parcel shelf and rear seats in place. That bike is a light weight, 16 speed and 26" wheels, so not as small as a Brompton. That is why I preferred the estate version.
The best thing is that the engine is hardly stressed in stop, start, slow moving traffic. Also getting good economy is easy.
Since affordable EV's are not yet reached the level of convenience for everyone, hybrids are the way to go for now.

Anthony, I reckon you will have your current car for a while until the Corolla hits the secondhand market.   
    

[Anthony Poli]

The Auris TS i have now, was bought used in October, so your right will be keeping it for a good while.
So this is the third hybrid I have been driving, mother had a 2013 Yaris hybrid,whilst I had the 2010 Auris.
Both cars were great, the only downside for the Yaris was the gearstick. When compared to the one in the auris.
The auris was faster and faired better on the motorway, used it to drive to Germany to visit relatives.
After the 3 years of driving these three hybrids, I’m starting to enjoy the challenge of making the most of both the Battery and Petrol.
One thing I’m no where near is the 573 miles range, that comes up on the dash, I love a challenge lol



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[Heidfirst]

3 hours ago, Konrad C said:

 I could downsize and get an Auris. 
    

An Auris TS wouldn't be much of a downsize (although I would think that you will notice the difference - the Avensis just feels like a bigger, more solid car & as I have said before whilst in theory the Auris TS has more load space than the Avensis TS, to me at least, the Avensis has the more usable space). Or you could wait until s/h Corolla TS start showing up on the market as they have the same wheelbase as your Avensis TS so not a downsize at all 😛.

[Mick F]

On 2/16/2019 at 2:32 PM, Konrad C said:

When driving the car feels a little sluggish, so the engine kicks in to help until the speed is reach. Then the engine settles down or shuts off, depending on speed.

I agree with everything you have said, except for the quote above.

Our Yaris Hybrid does not feel a little sluggish in the slightest.  The engine kicks in when it is needed and it often does.  Ours is very very very quick off the line, and overtaking is easy and confident.  Our Hybrid is one of the easiest overtakers we've ever owned.

Not sluggish in the slightest.

Mick.

[Anthony Poli]

I agree with everything you have said, except for the quote above.
Our Yaris Hybrid does not feel a little sluggish in the slightest.  The engine kicks in when it is needed and it often does.  Ours is very very very quick off the line, and overtaking is easy and confident.  Our Hybrid is one of the easiest overtakers we've ever owned.
Not sluggish in the slightest.
Mick.

Mick what do you have yours in eco or normal?
Or has your got sport or something similar.




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[FROSTYBALLS]

May well depend on how new the loan car was, and how many miles it had done. 

[Mick F]

52 minutes ago, Anthony Poli said:

Mick what do you have yours in eco or normal?
Or has your got sport or something similar.

 

Hardly ever use Eco Mode.  Tried it, but no point in it where we live.

Normal 2014 (64 plate) 35,000miles Yaris Hybrid.  Ours is an Excel model if that makes any difference, but I doubt it.  

Mick.

[Anthony Poli]

Hardly ever use Eco Mode.  Tried it, but no point in it where we live.
Normal 2014 (64 plate) 35,000miles Yaris Hybrid.  Ours is an Excel model if that makes any difference, but I doubt it.  
Mick.

Bury your foot in the carpet in any mode and the car forgets it’s an eco friendly car.
For me eco mode is fine, it is supposed to increase the amount of regenerated power to go back into the Battery.



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[Anthony Poli]

Hardly ever use Eco Mode.  Tried it, but no point in it where we live.
Normal 2014 (64 plate) 35,000miles Yaris Hybrid.  Ours is an Excel model if that makes any difference, but I doubt it.  
Mick.

Bury your foot in the carpet in any mode and the car forgets it’s an eco friendly car.
For me eco mode is fine, it is supposed to increase the amount of regenerated power to go back into the Battery.



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[Mick F]

Eco de-sensitises the accelerator pedal and cuts back on the heater ventilation.  It also makes the steering lighter I think.  Great for in towns, but no point out in the country especially with steep hills like we have round here.

Round here, our Battery frequently has all eight bars green.  We don't need any more regeneration.

Mick.

[Guest]

Totally random, but it's good to see a cooling water temp. gauge rather than warning lights.

[Konrad C]

I hold my hands up. The car was in ECO and EV mode. I don't tend to push the accelerator pedal hard, but the response was not as immediate, compared to my manual Avensis. I noticed this trait with '15 plate Rav4 with CVT auto too. Also since I don't own the vehicle, I did not want to abuse it.
The performance was and is adequate, and keeps in nature of the car. 
    

[Anthony Poli]

I hold my hands up. The car was in ECO and EV mode. I don't tend to push the accelerator pedal hard, but the response was not as immediate, compared to my manual Avensis. I noticed this trait with '15 plate Rav4 with CVT auto too. Also since I don't own the vehicle, I did not want to abuse it.
The performance was and is adequate, and keeps in nature of the car. 
    

Maybe next time you will be a bit braver with pedal lol
There are times I can resist in pulling away quickly from the lights then settle back to fuel saving driving


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[filsgreen]

I'm picking mine up tomorrow 😁 4000 miles on the clock.

[Anthony Poli]

I'm picking mine up tomorrow [emoji16] 4000 miles on the clock.

So your like a kid on Christmas Eve then lol


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[filsgreen]

Yeah, Anthony. We'll be a two Yaris family tomorrow, as my wife has got a 62 plate 😂

[m456an]

Nice car, Good to see car temperature guage. Mine does not have this. Though torque pro gives me 4 extra dials. Though a wheel alignment to an old yaris does make a big difference in terms of car noise and steering!

[filsgreen]

Evening Every one. Just getting used to the new Yaris, but I can't figure out what the button to the right of the air conditioning controls does. Can anyone help please?  Mine appears to be stuck as it doesn't go in or out. Big thanks to Konrad, as I've borrowed his picture.  😀

[Anthony Poli]

That’s something I haven’t seen before, not on the older one we had. The tpms reset is usually in the glove box, the immobiliser is normally more prominent.

So I’m intrigued as to what it is.


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[FROSTYBALLS]

Since around 2016, Toyota have supplied abbreviated owners manuals with new cars. One can download a full owners manual from https://www.toyota.co.uk/tme#/my-toyota/eManual

A bit of delving within the full manual may answer your query.

[PeteB]

2 hours ago, filsgreen said:

... I can't figure out what the button to the right of the air conditioning controls does...

looks like the switch to enable/disable parking sensors to me.  It should be a rocker switch, try pressing the top or bottom - one end should be sticking out a bit more.

Normally, it would be to cancel front sensors, so that if something is triggering it you can turn it off.  I guess it could be for rear sensors, but if there is a switch for these it's normally in the boot.

One other possibility is that it's something a dealer has used for some other purpose.  Mine did this in my present and previous cars, where they fitted dashcams for me and installed a switch like this so that I can turn the power off, for example to remove or insert a memory card (I made up a sticky label with a camera on it and attached to the switch so it's obvious what it does).

[Catlover]

I would go with Pete B and it’s a parking sensor switch.

[filsgreen]

Yes, makes sense guys, thanks. I've tried the switch, it's stuck in. Looks like I'll have to take it back. Cheers.