Which hybrid car

Thesunishining · 2025-05-09T17:26:50+00:00

Looking for a reliable and middle range price hybrid car that we can keep for 10plus years without needing major repairs, spending too much money. Self charging Thinking Nissan, Toyota, Honda, Kia. Would be grateful for any advice.

ErrolTheDragon · 09/05/2025 18:37

What do you mean by ‘middle range price’?
we’ve got Toyota Corollas - the touring sport model but there are also hatchbacks. They have a 10 year warranty, 15 for the battery. The first of these was bought early 2020, now belongs to our DD, DH and I also have one each - we just couldn’t find anything else that fitted our requirements so well! No problems at all with any of them so far.

butterandcream · 09/05/2025 18:38

Go Toyota. Top quality without crazy German price tag.

Original poster

Thesunishining · 09/05/2025 18:44

ErrolTheDragon · 09/05/2025 18:37

What do you mean by ‘middle range price’?
we’ve got Toyota Corollas - the touring sport model but there are also hatchbacks. They have a 10 year warranty, 15 for the battery. The first of these was bought early 2020, now belongs to our DD, DH and I also have one each - we just couldn’t find anything else that fitted our requirements so well! No problems at all with any of them so far.

Thanks. Thinking around 20 to 25k. No more than 2 years old?

Did you buy your Toyota new? Paid cash?

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Original poster

Thesunishining · 09/05/2025 18:46

How easy is to buy a demo car?

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CrystalSingerFan · 09/05/2025 19:07

Just to be clear, which type of hybrid do you mean? (Apparently there are mild hybrids, full hybrids, and plug-in hybrids.)

I have a Toyota Corolla mild hybrid and love it to bits. I bought one with just 8000 miles on the clock. Gets me 60 MPG on a mostly-motorway 160 mile journey. My sister was so fed up with my enthusiasm she went and bought a Toyota Yaris mild hybrid and is happy too.

The only thing I've recently learned is that whatever the big clever battery's guaranteed life is, the bog-standard 12V starter battery is guaranteed for only 5 years. Ask me how I know 😀

Also, it doesn't have a handbrake, which weirded me out at the start.

rightoguvnor · 09/05/2025 19:17

My sister has a 2015 5 door Toyota Yaris hybrid (one that you don’t plug in, and you do need to put some petrol in occasionally). It has never had any issues, she puts about £10 in every six weeks or so.

Shade17 · 09/05/2025 19:29

rightoguvnor · 09/05/2025 19:17

My sister has a 2015 5 door Toyota Yaris hybrid (one that you don’t plug in, and you do need to put some petrol in occasionally). It has never had any issues, she puts about £10 in every six weeks or so.

If she’s driving so little she’d probably be better off using taxis.

Original poster

Thesunishining · 09/05/2025 19:30

Thanks. Looking for self charging hybrid.

seems like Toyota is a good option

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Passthecake30 · 09/05/2025 19:44

I’ve also got a Corolla, love it.

ErrolTheDragon · 09/05/2025 21:57

Our Toyotas are full hybrids. (mild hybrids are cars which can’t be driven on the electric motor alone, they just have something that can run at the same time as the ICE not instead., wouldn’t bother with those). The corollas have the same type of totally integrated hybrid system as was originally developed for the Prius. The plug-ins didn’t seem to offer too much benefit and the extra battery takes up some space.
re the 12v battery - they’ve upgraded it in the newest of ours. The others are ok so far though.

MellowPinkDeer · 09/05/2025 22:06

I recently got a Nissan duke, self charge hybrid, it’s really much better than I thought it would be! Really fuel efficient (much better than our plug in Santa Fe and my previous plug in Ford kuga ) easy to drive and quite comfy,

Original poster

Thesunishining · 10/05/2025 06:23

MellowPinkDeer · 09/05/2025 22:06

I recently got a Nissan duke, self charge hybrid, it’s really much better than I thought it would be! Really fuel efficient (much better than our plug in Santa Fe and my previous plug in Ford kuga ) easy to drive and quite comfy,

Will check that one too. Thank you

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Original poster

Thesunishining · 10/05/2025 06:24

ErrolTheDragon · 09/05/2025 21:57

Our Toyotas are full hybrids. (mild hybrids are cars which can’t be driven on the electric motor alone, they just have something that can run at the same time as the ICE not instead., wouldn’t bother with those). The corollas have the same type of totally integrated hybrid system as was originally developed for the Prius. The plug-ins didn’t seem to offer too much benefit and the extra battery takes up some space.
re the 12v battery - they’ve upgraded it in the newest of ours. The others are ok so far though.

What do you mean by full hybrid? Self charging?

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babasaclover · 10/05/2025 06:48

I had a hybrid corolla as a hire car. Drive round abroad for an entire week doing so many miles and when it came to return it only needed £25 in petrol. Was well happy with that!!! It was a saloon and the boot was massive.

Have you considered Lexus? Just one step up and prices are good too

SharkPants · 10/05/2025 06:57

I have a Toyota CHR. I love it. It's the best car I ever had! Good for city driving when the hybrid kicks in.

Sgtmajormummy · 10/05/2025 07:10

Do NOT get an MG (made in China).
We’ve just spent a week in a rented automatic version. 3,000 miles on the clock, so basically new. Something was not right with the changeover from electric to petrol when extra power was needed, like on a hill.
It would go at a snail’s pace with the engine screaming, even without a foot on the accelerator!

ErrolTheDragon · 10/05/2025 07:23

Thesunishining · 10/05/2025 06:24

What do you mean by full hybrid? Self charging?

Show quote history

Yes. Not a plug in; it needs petrol. But not a ‘mild hybrid’, those can’t run on the electric motor alone at all.

Jellyjellyonaplate · 10/05/2025 07:30

ErrolTheDragon · 10/05/2025 07:23

Yes. Not a plug in; it needs petrol. But not a ‘mild hybrid’, those can’t run on the electric motor alone at all.

Show quote history

But if you can't plug it then how can it run just on electricity?

We need a estate car which seem to be harder to find economical ones in hybrid. We can do plug in hybrid as we have a plug in socket already.

nobodywantsit · 10/05/2025 07:34

@Thesunishiningwhat else do you need from a car? What size? Does it need a big boot?
That would narrow it down.

FYI, a couple of friends have had Jukes and absolutely hated them and the space seems quite small to me.

66babe · 10/05/2025 07:38

I have a Ford Puma mild hybrid .. love it

Original poster

Thesunishining · 10/05/2025 07:52

Sgtmajormummy · 10/05/2025 07:10

Do NOT get an MG (made in China).
We’ve just spent a week in a rented automatic version. 3,000 miles on the clock, so basically new. Something was not right with the changeover from electric to petrol when extra power was needed, like on a hill.
It would go at a snail’s pace with the engine screaming, even without a foot on the accelerator!

That is good to know

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Original poster

Thesunishining · 10/05/2025 07:53

nobodywantsit · 10/05/2025 07:34

@Thesunishiningwhat else do you need from a car? What size? Does it need a big boot?
That would narrow it down.

FYI, a couple of friends have had Jukes and absolutely hated them and the space seems quite small to me.

Mainly city drive, good space including decent boot but not too large or wide car.

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Original poster

Thesunishining · 10/05/2025 07:54

SharkPants · 10/05/2025 06:57

I have a Toyota CHR. I love it. It's the best car I ever had! Good for city driving when the hybrid kicks in.

Ohh. I like the Toyota CHR. Did you but new? Or second hand?

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LunaTheCat · 10/05/2025 07:57

I love my Corolla hybrid .. get about 800km out tank gas.

17to35 · 10/05/2025 08:06

I too have a Corolla. 63mpg and I’m very happy with it. I got it originally because my friend was so happy with her Yaris.