Help me decide: Auris 2013 Hybrid vs 2015 Petrol

[Anthony86]

Hello, I'm from Spain and have registered in this forum because I'm thinking in buying a Toyota Auris and I would like to know your opinion.

I need it mainly for commuting 115 miles to work, two or three times a week, on secondary roads (70-90 km/h or 45-55 mph). Also some driving on dual carriageway (120 km/h or 75mph) and finally on city, very little. I though the hybrid version wasn't worth the extra money for this purpose, so I was almost convinced to buy an Auris 1.2T petrol from 2015 with 120.000 kms (75,500 miles) on it.

But today I have seen a 2013 Auris 1.8 Hybrid with 68.000 km (42,000 miles) that has dropped its price and now costs only 600 € more than the petrol version, so now I have doubts again.

What choice do you think is the best? Is there much difference between 2013 pre-facelift and 2015 facelift (I know in petrol version it does)? Do you think the hybrid system is appropriate for my driving needs? Will it be too boring for open roads?

Many questions, I know, but I hope you can help me!

[Auris James]

Hybrid for me.

I have a 2015 Auris Hybrid Estate. Pre UK facelift. It's a very good car for economy and 1.8 engine is very adequate for grunt. I get around 50-60MPG in the UK. 

1.2 turbo by all reports is reliable but myself, no regrets on the Hybrid choice. Hybrid when you sell it should be worth more, or at least be more desirable.

I bought mine nearly 5 years ago from a Toyota Dealer as a used approved car. Have kept up the services with Toyota. My car had done 26,000 miles. On 51,000 miles now. Make sure it has a good service history and everything works like AC. 

I'm sure there was oil usage issues in 2013-15 Auris hybrids, certainly in the UK and there was revision/engine tweaks I believe. My oil level always stays bang on, never needs topping up.

In the UK the exhaust's Hybrid catalytic convertor is very much stolen for it's precious metals and can be removed in around 2 minutes. Toyota do a Catloc for £250. If cat theft is an issue get one fitted, if main dealer selling car, haggle to get one fitted. I fitted an eBay UK sourced cat plate for £45

James.

[TonyHSD]

Hybrids are better than just petrol but you need to consider eventually a new hybrid Battery replacement cost as these when 10 years and over does go bad and it may need replacement soon. 
The fuel consumption on the 1.2 manual will be around 6-7ltr per 100km where hybrid around 5/100   And the hybrid drives way easier. , especially in traffic. Both has + and -

[solero]

Consider insurance premium too. In the UK it was 30% higher premium for a hybrid when i last compared. Some uk insurers are refusing hybrid insurance due to cat thefts.

For mainly motorway miles you wont notice much in fuel saving costs.

1.2t has better grunt when you need it with the turbo. Rest is complexity/reliability of hybrid/battery vs long term life of turbo/direct injection system.

Is it a manual 1.2t?

[Anthony86]

20 hours ago, TonyHSD said:

Hybrids are better than just petrol but you need to consider eventually a new hybrid battery replacement cost as these when 10 years and over does go bad and it may need replacement soon. 
The fuel consumption on the 1.2 manual will be around 6-7ltr per 100km where hybrid around 5/100   And the hybrid drives way easier. , especially in traffic. Both has + and -

Yes, Battery replacement is my main concern. Anyway, I have discarded this unit because seller has told me that the car has been locked into a garage for five years, as he was abroad. So that's a red flag for me. I will keep looking for other opportunities.

 

17 hours ago, solero said:

Consider insurance premium too. In the UK it was 30% higher premium for a hybrid when i last compared. Some uk insurers are refusing hybrid insurance due to cat thefts.

For mainly motorway miles you wont notice much in fuel saving costs.

1.2t has better grunt when you need it with the turbo. Rest is complexity/reliability of hybrid/battery vs long term life of turbo/direct injection system.

Is it a manual 1.2t?

Thank you! I didn't imagine that having a hybrid would mean higher insurance. I will check if in Spain it's the same.

Yes, is the manual 1.2T. Now I'm leaning more toward that choice, because the hybrid's seller has told me that the car has been stationary for five years 😰

[TonyHSD]

1 hour ago, Anthony86 said:

Yes, battery replacement is my main concern. Anyway, I have discarded this unit because seller has told me that the car has been locked into a garage for five years, as he was abroad. So that's a red flag for me. I will keep looking for other opportunities.

 

Thank you! I didn't imagine that having a hybrid would mean higher insurance. I will check if in Spain it's the same.

Yes, is the manual 1.2T. Now I'm leaning more toward that choice, because the hybrid's seller has told me that the car has been stationary for five years 😰

Oh that’s a red flag. it is very likely you need to replace both batteries at cost of over €2300 and there might be some other issues. But it might be a cracking buy of cheap enough and you can work on cars. 

[AisinW]

@Anthony86 If budgets allow, I suggest to get a Corolla hybrid with all safety standard instead.  A 200k km Corolla 2019 is better than 2013 Auris hybrid 100k miles. 

If you still want Auris, gets 2015 version facelift with revised engines and has less tendency of oil consumption even after 200k km. It also can equip with safety sense 1 ADAS.