Hybrid using a lot of petrol

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#2940036 9-Jul-2022 12:39

Scott3:

Don't worry about the 6km trips. In l/100km terms, yeah the car uses more fuel per km for shorter trips (as a larger proportion is cold running), but in absolute (Liters) terms, the shorter the trip, the better.

I think there's a significant caveat I'd place on the above comment - for most people, 'shorter trips' are typically in an urban setting, while longer trips will almost always involve a high proportion of open roads; those different settings also has a substantial impact on fuel economy.

Where I live is a perfect example of the worst of the impact of urban driving - not only are they short trips, but that traveling is through lots of short blocks with many streets having either roundabouts or lights on every intersection; lights aren't synced, and it's quite common that I can have to come to a complete stop every block. Only this morning I was showing my son the instantaneous fuel economy figures down such a street. No matter how warm my engine is I'm going to face terrible fuel economy. (Man, am I looking forward to my MY arriving next month - no more 9.2l/100km for urban driving!)

With a hybrid, the OP shouldn't suffer the same significant difference in economy between open road and urban driving.

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#2940049 9-Jul-2022 13:36

I can’t help being wistful about my old 2lt VW which would shoot up the hill without hardly moving my foot. I felt powerful and safe passing. I think twice about passing in a hybrid. Even in Sport the Lexus doesn’t have that instant power, it’s like a nervous bungy jumper that needs to weigh up the pros and cons first and think about it before making a timid move.

It will be fine once I get used to it, especially turning it off. I keep searching for a key and can’t get used to a foot brake or button for Park and Power, so my exit still consists of foot on the brake staring at the panel trying to decide on the proper sequence to turn it off. I’m sure to be doing it wrong. It’s not an instant departure. Neighbours probably think I’m sitting listening to Spotify :)

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#2940060 9-Jul-2022 13:57

Eva888: I can’t help being wistful about my old 2lt VW which would shoot up the hill without hardly moving my foot. I felt powerful and safe passing. I think twice about passing in a hybrid. Even in Sport the Lexus doesn’t have that instant power, it’s like a nervous bungy jumper that needs to weigh up the pros and cons first and think about it before making a timid move.

you've made me recall one of the main reasons i went EV, i tested numerous hybrid thinking when i floor it the car will fly, instead i found underpowed electric motor combined with underpowered ICE meant no power the instant i need power.

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#2940175 9-Jul-2022 18:16

Eva888: I think twice about passing in a hybrid. Even in Sport the Lexus doesn’t have that instant power, it’s like a nervous bungy jumper that needs to weigh up the pros and cons first and think about it before making a timid move.

This is not my experience at all driving Toyota hybrid in power mode.

But - there is something you 100% need to know here for safe driving. Power mode does not engage until throttle is near zero.

Toyota engineers figured if you are this kind of driver, that overtakes lol, you will press this button when you get in the car. Stupid I know. No doubt it was easier and more reliable than a bunch of calculations and processing power.

Tldr; if you use it on demand as I do all time - take your foot off and put it back on.

Also, lord help you if you try overtaking with sport mode off.

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#2940181 9-Jul-2022 18:38

Dingbatt: My experience with many years of driving a Toyota Hybrid (Camry) is that multiple really short journeys (less than 5km) kills the efficiency.

Funny story here. My partner gets slightly better hybrid fuel economy than I do, in the same car. It took me a little while to figure out why.

My partner uses more brakes in comparison. Intersections, lights, whatever. This causes slightly more recharging into the traction battery making slightly more EV assistance available afterwards.

Petrol economy habits like always coasting up to the lights and things like that means less regen in the hybrid EV scenario.

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#2940187 9-Jul-2022 19:42

Am now in shriek mode with this car. The keys stay inside my bag...I walk near the car it opens, I get in and push the Power button etc and drive off to watch my fuel gauge and shop.

I return home, turn Power off leave the car to go into the house. A curiosity lightbulb goes on in my head. I take my bag inside out of range...come back out to check if it’s actually locked. It’s open. Stare at the dash and figure my parking/stopping sequence must have been wrong.

Go back into the house get the bag, open the car, start it, turn it off this time trying to use a logical sequence of Park button, foot brake, Power. (Remember turning car off sequence is something I’m still uncertain about) The little red security light flashes on. I leave the car, go back into the house, put the keys out of range, go back to check if car is locked...it’s still open again! Rinse and repeat a few more times. It’s just a car for Gods sake it’s not a 747 and it makes me feel like such an idiot. How hard is locking a car.

Finally in frustration I go back into the house get the keys come back out and use the key button to lock it.

What am I doing wrong? It’s meant to be locked when I leave with the key. Worse is that I’ve parked it a few times today in various places and feeling chuffed that I didn’t need to rummage in a bag full of clutter chaos for the key to button lock it. So all this time it’s been parked unlocked! In fact, it’s very likely to have been unlocked since I got it.

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gzt

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#2940190 9-Jul-2022 19:48

A sequence is not needed to turn off. Press the power button once.

Stu

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#2940192 9-Jul-2022 19:54

Are you sure it's set up to lock when you walk away? This is often an optional setting, assuming the vehicle supports it.

People often mistake me for an adult because of my age.

Keep calm, and carry on posting.

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#2940196 9-Jul-2022 20:16

I don't think I have ever come across a car that auto locks when you walk away with the key.

On our keyless entry car (Nissan leaf), you either push the lock button on the key, or the button mounted on the exterior front door handles, or the small button to the side of the tailgate release button.

jonathan18

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#2940199 9-Jul-2022 20:20

Scott3:
I don't think I have ever come across a car that auto locks when you walk away with the key.

On our keyless entry car (Nissan leaf), you either push the lock button on the key, or the button mounted on the exterior front door handles, or the small button to the side of the tailgate release button.

My nine year old Mazda 6 Limited has this function. Works 95% of the time, but it does pay to listen out for the confirmation beep for those 5% of cases when it doesn't for some reason.

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#2940203 9-Jul-2022 20:45

Yeah my partners work 3 year old work vehicle (Mazda 6 also) has the lock on walkaway feature. Naturally, my Tesla does too.

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#2940207 9-Jul-2022 21:19

I don't think the CT200h just locks when you walk away, at least none of the ones we test drove did. Either use the touchpad on the door handle or button on the key fob to lock.