Toyota Hybrid Cars | New Hybrid Toyota Cars

Ever since the first Prius arrived in 1997, Toyota has made hybrid cars its ‘thing’. Sure, other firms - in fact most firms - offer a hybrid in their range, but almost every Toyota you can buy is offered with both a petrol engine and a battery/motor combination. Most of Toyotas hybrids are of the ‘self-charging’ variety, meaning the petrol engine, and energy recovered from braking, charge a small battery that can power the car at low speeds over short distances - perfect for town driving.

Toyota hybrid range: current models

Toyota currently offers a wide range of hybrid cars, from the small Yaris city car to the large Highlander SUV.

Toyota Yaris Hybrid

The Yaris is a small hatchback that used to be offered with a petrol engine as well as in hybrid configuration, but is now hybrid only. That means you get a smooth, easy-to-drive petrol-electric powertrain, together with a convenient automatic gearbox and impressive economy of around 60mpg.

Toyota Yaris Cross

After a Yaris but want a slightly higher ride height? Make your way towards the Toyota Yaris Cross. It’s effectively the same car as the conventional Yaris, so you get the same 1.5-litre three-cylinder petrol engine that’s paired with an electric motor and battery, together with a better view out of the road, and a larger boot.

Toyota C-HR

The C-HR SUV may have been around for seven years or so, but its futuristic design has aged very nicely indeed, so it still looks fresh today. Toyota used to offer the C-HR (short for ‘coupe high rider’) with a 1.2-litre petrol engine, but this was discontinued not long after launch as almost everyone went for the smooth, efficient hybrid version.

Toyota RAV4 Hybrid

Need a bigger SUV? The RAV4 could be just the car for you. The best-selling car in the world in 2022, the RAV4 has a bullet-proof reputation for reliability, combined with a serious dose of practicality and an easy-going nature.

Toyota RAV4 PHEV

The RAV4 PHEV is the only plug-in hybrid model in Toyota’s range, with an electric-only range of up to 46 miles, and a fuel-sipping nature if you charge it up regularly enough. Offering all the space and refinement of the standard RAV4, the plug-in model is around £5,000 more than the self-charging hybrid.

Toyota Highlander Hybrid

Toyota’s biggest hybrid SUV, the seven-seat Highlander competes with cars like the Kia Sorento and Hyundai Santa Fe, and under the bonnet features a 2.5-litre petrol engine paired with two electric motors, one at each axle. Smooth, efficient and practical, the Toyota Highlander may not be the most exciting car to drive, but it sure ticks a lot of other boxes.

Toyota Corolla

A popular sight on the road, the Corolla hybrid is a sharp-looking hatchback that’s cheap to run and offers a rewarding driving experience. Sure, there could be a little more space in the back, but the Corolla has a great reputation for reliability, and officially returns around 60mpg.

Toyota Corolla Touring Sports

After a Corolla but need a bit more space? Don’t be fooled by the dynamic name, the Corolla Touring Sports is effectively a Corolla estate, so you get all the benefits of the hatchback, together with a big 598-litre boot.

Hybrid Toyota cars FAQs

How does a Toyota hybrid work?

Toyota’s ‘self-charging’ hybrids are primarily powered by a petrol engine, but feature a small battery and electric motor that can drive the car for short distances at low speeds. The battery is charged partly by the engine acting as a generator, and partly by energy recuperated from braking. This means the engine shuts off automatically at every available opportunity, allowing the car to drive in zero-emission mode where possible – typically when slowing down and moving off in urban traffic.

What is EV mode in a Toyota hybrid?

Selecting ‘EV’ mode in a Toyota hybrid will force the car to run on battery power alone as much as it can. While self-charging hybrids can’t travel at the speeds or cover the distances in electric mode that plug-in hybrids can manage, selecting EV mode will make the car run on its batteries up to speeds of around 25mph – assuming there’s enough charge in the batteries to do this.

How much is a Toyota hybrid car?

The cheapest new hybrid Toyota is the little Yaris hatchback, which starts at around £22,000. The most expensive is the seven-seat Highlander hybrid, which is priced from £52,000 or so.

Are Toyota hybrid cars reliable?

The technology behind Toyota’s hybrid system has been around for over a quarter of a century, and is famed for its dependability. The popularity the Prius has with taxi drivers – who need their cars to work come rain or shine – should be a ringing endorsement.

Are Toyota hybrid cars any good?

While not famed for their driver involvement, Toyota hybrid cars are smooth and relaxing to drive, while also being impressively good on fuel.

Are Toyota hybrids expensive to maintain?

Toyota hybrid cars are no more expensive to maintain than a conventional petrol or diesel car, while the firm’s reputation for reliability is the envy of many other brands.

Does Toyota have a plug-in hybrid?

Toyota only currently offers one plug-in hybrid model, the RAV4 PHEV, which is also available as a self-charging hybrid. Via its luxury brand, Lexus, Toyota builds the large RX and the smaller NX as plug-in hybrids.

How long do hybrid batteries last in a Toyota?

The battery packs and motor in a Toyota hybrid car can typically be assumed to last the life of the car.

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