Yaris Hybrid?

[sproutdreamer]

So we bought a 67 plate Icon tech hybrid, my wife finds it light to drive so that is good but it make my 15 year old Avensis feel like a Rolls Royce in comparison. I wanted the 15" wheels in the hope it would be a better ride but it is still hard and does not deal well with less than perfect roads.

I was planning to sell the Avensis but I think I will keep it .

[Cyker]

TBH I think your expectations are a bit too high for the poor little Yaris - The Avensis has one of the most refined rides in the Toyota lineup and was their top-of-the-range executive model.

The Yaris OTOH* is at almost the opposite end of the scale, and was the cheapest car they made before they added the Aygo.

 

You could try different tyres e.g. Ones with softer sidewalls, or try different tyre pressures to see what works best with your suspension and type of road, but ultimately it's a Yaris - It's never going to ride anywhere near as nice as an Avensis!

 

 

* on the other hand

[Mojo1010]

Had the Yaris hybrid icon 16 plate myself previously. It's a city car really, think yours is on 175/65/15 tyres, mmmh cornering is very poor even at slow speed. I had to changed it to 185/60/15, it was a little better. Check tyre pressure. The avensis is in a different/bigger segment, of course the Yaris lose on comfort! 

Sold mine last summer and got a new MK4 design, its on 195/55/16, and the car is in a different league to the MK3. If you/wife one day upgrade to the MK4 you will know what I'm talking about. Though, avoid the 17" wheels on the excel as the tyre profile is bad 205/45/17. 

[sproutdreamer]

Thanks for replies - Cyker I am sure you are correct in my having a too high expectation of the little Yaris. I wish I had gone for a MK4 nowbased on Mojo's comment/experience however none onf my conversations with Toyota main dealers flagged up that the mk4 was better when I flagged up that I was concerned about the ride quality and why I did not want 17" wheels which then excluded bi tone, excel and other variants where the 17" wheel is standard.

Still its done now but if SWMBO  bonds with the car a mk 4 is a future option. Meanwhile I will have a think about 185 tyres as the 2 front are down to 4mm, I am not sure if you could have 185 on the front and 175 still on the rear?

[Mojo1010]

Dealers sometimes don't have the knowledge or real life experience between generations, this is the forum to ask as someone may have actual experience. 

No, cannot run 185 front and 175 back. Rotate front to back then change all 4 when done. 185/60/15 is a size listed in the handbook. Personally I would of wanted 195mm but it cannot be done on the MK3 with 15". Driving medium - long distance can be hard work indeed. The MK4 handle these distances very well and it's more economical. 

[sproutdreamer]

THanks, I wished I had asked the specific question on here-I thought I had researched it but sometimes it is hard to know the exact question to ask. Sometimes like now you only know the question after you have the answere. 🤐

[hind]

When I was driving demo Yaris IV prior to ordering, we got new GR Sport trim with 18" wheels and I (then driving Ford Focus on 16") was absolutely certain that I am going to feel every grain of sand on the road with that sporty suspension and low profile tyres. 

The actual experience was opposite, to my astonishment. We ordered Yaris on 17" and bought additional 16" set for winter. You can feel potholes, yes. But the overall feeling is very pleasant.