Hybrid cars, and which ones are available these days

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#2892108 25-Mar-2022 13:59

quickymart:

Sorry I didn't see that - my thread has become quite lengthy! Thanks for that, I think I'll aim for one of these. I've had a few Nissans before and quite liked driving them.

One other query - Mazda (which I've owned a few of in the past) don't do any hybrids do they? Nor VW? I mean, available in this country.

Mazda have the MX-30, CX-30 and Mazda3 available as a 'mild hybrid' but it's not a very effective system from a fuel saving perspective. It really just mitigates the jarring effect from the standard idle stop/go system.

I believe the newly announced CX-60 will be available as a plug-in hybrid but it will be expensive and won't be available until the end of the year.

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#2892159 25-Mar-2022 17:10

quickymart: .....
One other query - Mazda (which I've owned a few of in the past) don't do any hybrids do they? Nor VW? I mean, available in this country.

Mazda Axella Hybrid - 2014-2015 - quite a lot have been imported from Japan to New Zealand. I have converted many of them to English (head unt) and added Android Auto and voice commands.
Hybrid system is Toyota's in that Axela and battery is 28 standard NP2 modules as in Prius. Great car. Some had awesome leather interior and Bose sound system.

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#2905496 22-Apr-2022 22:03

I had a sit inside a hybrid Nissan Note today. Must say I was quite impressed - they seem larger than the regular non-hybrid ones. Anyone driving one around at the moment who can give a personal review? Range? Filling costs? Do they have enough boot space for shopping? etc.

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#2905592 23-Apr-2022 10:29

I see the Hyundai Tucson hybrid has just landed in New Zealand. Hopefully the equivalent Kia Sportage will be available later this year at a more affordable price.

lchiu7

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#2907236 27-Apr-2022 10:57

I was planning to look at an ICE for my new car but with the way fuel prices are heading (and some environmental considerations) I started to look at PHEV's. Our daily drive is < 50km so a PHEV charged every night would suit us.

Another GV'ers reported their experienes but this past weekend I drove the Ford Escape PHEV. Despite some YT reviews saying it lacked power, even in full EV mode I found it had enough. Took it from LH to Silverstream on the SH2 and some normal roads and liked it a lot. Perhaps not as high-tech inside as some of the Korean cars but I did like the mix of tactile controls (for the heating and cooling) and touch screen for others. Plus the top of the line model (about $67K before rebate) seemed very well appointed.

I am also interested in the Kia Niro PHEV but there is a new model coming out and that won't be available for testing until later this year. I also have a booking for the Toyota Prius Prime this weekend but I think it might have too low seating position for my wife. I see there is now a RAV4 PHEV but that is not apparently available in NZ yet.

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#2907254 27-Apr-2022 11:48

lchiu7:

Another GV'ers reported their experienes but this past weekend I drove the Ford Escape PHEV. Despite some YT reviews saying it lacked power, even in full EV mode I found it had enough.

I can't speak specifically to the Escape, but there may be some similarities. I spent a fair bit of time in the PHEV transit (1.0L Ecoboost) a while back and found the van was best with charge, once it was depleted it 'felt' like it was lack power. On longer journey's I started to plan on when I'd want the battery and drive in EV Later mode which helped a bit for the hilly sections etc. If you managed to deplete the electric range of the Escape and still be happy performance wise then you'll be fine, but if not, then I'd suggest running the battery out in a second road test.

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#2907314 27-Apr-2022 12:18

lchiu7: …this past weekend I drove the Ford Escape PHEV… Plus the top of the line model (about $67K before rebate) seemed very well appointed.

Wow, at that price for a mid-sized ICE car I’d really need to have a very specific user case not to go fully electric - the entry level M3 is only a few thousand more (most if not all of which would be compensated for by the higher rebate for an EV over a PHEV. And that’s before the reduction in service and running costs, plus the likely higher resale percentage.

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#2907431 27-Apr-2022 13:07

jonathan18:
lchiu7: …this past weekend I drove the Ford Escape PHEV… Plus the top of the line model (about $67K before rebate) seemed very well appointed.

Wow, at that price for a mid-sized ICE car I’d really need to have a very specific user case not to go fully electric - the entry level M3 is only a few thousand more (most if not all of which would be compensated for by the higher rebate for an EV over a PHEV. And that’s before the reduction in service and running costs, plus the likely higher resale percentage.

We test drove the Escape PHEV (st-line $67K) that you reference, and it was a serious contender before I lost my mind and went full electric (kidding). It is a nice car. FWD only in the PHEV because of where the battery is. Plenty of room inside, although the ST-Line has a sunroof which reduces headroom a bit. It has a spare wheel (I think). Apple CarPlay/Android Auto is wired. Charging rate was 3kW and I can’t remember the fuel grade but I expect it was 95. My friendly neighbourhood Ford salesman said almost all sales of the base model ($60K) had gone to fleet buyers.

Now that we have had our Model 3 for a while and my wife has got used to it, she is suggesting we work towards trading our Focus in on a PHEV. Most driving is < 50km/day but she prefers the petrol backup for no-planning long drives. The Model 3 is $74-78K (depending on colour) at time of writing (excl CC rebate). Certainly when I got the M3 there wasn’t much in it cost-wise after the rebate, but M3s have gone up $6000 since then.

So there is the Escape,

the Niro, and

the Eclipse Cross.

I managed to take an EV6 for a drive, but that is for a separate discussion. I was talking to the salesman about my primary reason to visit the dealership. The new Niro. Demo vehicles are due June/July, and if ordered then, expect to receive them in June 2023. That was for both the BEV and PHEV. No prices yet but expected the BEV to sit below the EV6, which is obviously their flagship electrified offering. And the PHEV below that. Stock of the current model Niro is sold out into 2023 but it’s interior is very dated compared current offerings (especially the infotainment) and the PHEV’s dual clutch transmission is not very smooth.

The Eclipse Cross is the next on the list to have a look at.

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lchiu7

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#2907530 27-Apr-2022 14:35

Dingbatt:

The Niro, and

the Eclipse Cross.

I managed to take an EV6 for a drive, but that is for a separate discussion. I was talking to the salesman about my primary reason to visit the dealership. The new Niro. Demo vehicles are due June/July, and if ordered then, expect to receive them in June 2023. That was for both the BEV and PHEV. No prices yet but expected the BEV to sit below the EV6, which is obviously their flagship electrified offering. And the PHEV below that. Stock of the current model Niro is sold out into 2023 but it’s interior is very dated compared current offerings (especially the infotainment) and the PHEV’s dual clutch transmission is not very smooth.

The Eclipse Cross is the next on the list to have a look at.

Drove the Eclipse Cross. It was okay but a bit dated inside and my wife hated it for some reason so that's not a choice.

I always thought the Ioniq5 would be the one and I drove that also. But it seemed very heavy to me and very expensive so that's out of the running also.

I did contact the dealer about the Niro but was told there is no stock and the new model might arrive this year so that could be an option. Online reviews are positive.

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#2908695 30-Apr-2022 17:31

I saw a Subaru AWD hybrid on the road today. I was not aware of these. Basic model, not a good look. TradeMe shows some nicer looking examples. I'll be looking closely at one of these for my next vehicle in a few years.

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#2908699 30-Apr-2022 17:45

gzt: I saw a Subaru AWD hybrid on the road today. I was not aware of these. Basic model, not a good look. TradeMe shows some nicer looking examples. I'll be looking closely at one of these for my next vehicle in a few years.

Apparently the powertrain isn't actually that good.

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#2908812 30-Apr-2022 19:28

For sure. I'll be talking to NZ owners before buying. Amazing that 2020 model was only US$5k more than the ICE model. If the fuel economy does not work for NZ I'm not interested.

gzt

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#2909025 1-May-2022 21:59

The 2022 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid is surprisingly big IRL. The 12" alloys make the look.

5.2l per 100km. Based on my experience with other Toyota hybrids I believe it

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#2909088 2-May-2022 06:37

gzt: The 2022* Toyota RAV4 Hybrid is surprisingly big IRL. The 12" alloys make the look.

Snip

5.2l per 100km. Based on my experience with other Toyota hybrids I believe it

* Available some time in 2023

12” alloys seems pretty small though.
But it is really disappointing that the “Prime” version (PHEV) is not available here. Although it is likely to be more than $80K if it was.

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#2909091 2-May-2022 07:17

Good point that's tiny. I got that from an au article. Toyota NZ says the NZ hybrid LTD has 17" alloys. I assume it was the 2022 I saw. There are several 2022 for sale on TradeMe.

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