Hybrid cars, and which ones are available these days

Forums › Transport (cars, bikes and boats) › Hybrid cars, and which ones are available these days

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Mad Scientist
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#2884070 10-Mar-2022 06:39

Scott3:

Regarding The Outlander PHEV, the battery health on them, can be highly variable. Some seem to degrade slowly, and some concerning fast. Generally their reputation for battery health is pretty bad. You definitely would want to scan your prospective purchase to check the battery health.

However I see this as a massive advantage buying used.

If you buy new you don't know if your battery will live forever or prematurely give up.

If you buy second hand you can easily scan and find out which group the car belongs to.

If you are lucky you find an immortal battery and that's the car I'd buy.

Hatch

Trade NZ and US shares and funds with Hatch (affiliate link).

RUKI

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#2884086 10-Mar-2022 08:05

Batman: ......
If you are lucky you find an immortal battery and that's the car I'd buy.

No such thing as "immortal battery".
Various conditions like sea spray corrosion or water submerged vehicles coming from flooded areas or cooling fans clogged by the pet fur contribute to premature battery failures.
Nothing beats brand new, manufacture warranted vehicle, any second hand one could have it's issues.

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RobDickinson

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#2884088 10-Mar-2022 08:08

With the Outlander I think its more to do with the BMS firmware, which isnt updatable, so depends on the exact version that it has when it leaves the factory

Scott3

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#2884092 10-Mar-2022 08:22

jonathan18:

...

Just a query on the Prius PHEV - I recall the only PHEV model used to be the Prime, which for quite some time was only a four-seater and then became a five-seater; are there other models available now? (From the outside at least, the Prime doesn't seem a particularly large car, especially if replacing an MPV.)

Kinda confusing. Toyota has offered Plug in hybrid versions of the Prius in two generatations. They have been marketed as:

Prius PHEV (XW30 2012 - 2016)

Prius Prime (XW50: 2016 to present. - New, floating roof body shape)

No other plug in models with Toyota badges in NZ. In other markets there is the Rav4 prime. (very desirable. Fastest accelerating, non supra Toyota...)

The lexus version of the Rav4 prime is coming here here, but of course with lexus pricing:

https://www.lexus.co.nz/en/discover-lexus/news-and-events/all-new-lexus-nx-brings-new-chapter-for-marque.html

RUKI

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#2884145 10-Mar-2022 10:00

Re: Prius PHEV and cargo space and more..
52-series is called Prime
35-series is not called Prime.
Cargo space is smaller in 52 series vs previous ZVW-35 PHEV
Consider second hand 35 series to be more like hybrid as its EV range would be limited below 18-20kms
Where is Prime from EV range perspective is about 55km new actual and will go long way to become similar to previous model (EV range wise) and long long long way before it effectively become "hybrid".
That main consideration if considering second hand PHEV vs second hand EV, e.g. : Leaf will be long way scrap metal where is Prime of the same mileage will still be very economical hybrid ...

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Jaxson

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#2884444 10-Mar-2022 15:26

After a bit of further reading, real rabbit warren/wormhole topic, at least in the age/price bracket I'd be looking at...

Big question for me is does the Mitsi PHEV have as economical a pure petrol motor?
The wife travels around the wider region for work, which means a mix of local town driving for work and to drop/pickup kids at school and o0ut of town driving to get to neighbouring towns.

Some sources seem to suggest it does not get an Atkinson type of motor until later years around 2018, but others show that it does around 2013 models.

The Prius by contrast does look to be very capable, even at pure petrol consumption once up to speed. Albeit with a huge drop off in boot space compared to what we have in the large Mazda MPV - which I'm assuming the Mitsubishi Outlander would be closer to. At this point the Prius is looking like the safer bet and the rebate lasts a few more weeks if purchasing a newly imported/registered vehicle.

RobDickinson

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#2884474 10-Mar-2022 16:02

afik the Atkinson motor is only from 2019ish, mine didnt have one just a bogo 2.0, managed 7L/100km on highway when out of battery so not too bad for a bigish vehicle

quickymart

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#2885733 13-Mar-2022 22:52

Just had a very quick look on Trademe tonight (is there any other place you could suggest for car purchases?) and the price of hybrids seems to have jumped markedly recently. Possibly related to the events in Ukraine, etc - but I couldn't see anything nearly decent for less than $12,500.
Edit: just looked at the interiors of some Aquas and Prius's; how do you current owners find it with the dashboard etc not being in front of you (like most other cars) but in the middle? I find that a little off-putting, having driven in my stepbrother's Yaris years ago.

I also looked at Toyota's NZ page, they seem to have a fair few listed (although I bet they're quite expensive), including a plug in hybrid, although I can't figure out is that electric, hybrid, or both?

https://www.toyota.co.nz/our-range/the-toyota-difference/hybrid/

RUKI

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#2885738 13-Mar-2022 23:39

@quickymart
Re: dash in the middle. When people drive around me, I'd prefer them watching the road ahead, left, right and rear, and not the dash or their mobile phone :)
As for the speed - good cars have cruise control and head up display projecting speed on the windshield to keep an eye on the road.
If there is a warning light - it will be in red or orange and you'll notice it ...

P.S. Pilots or captains probably would add more to the subject ....

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yann

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#2885740 14-Mar-2022 00:16

I used to drive a Prius C (L2) a fair bit, and it was a bit weird to have the dashboard info more centred when I first started driving it, but I soon got used to it.

Though currently driving a newer Toyota hybrid which has a HUD, and primarily use that - I don't think I really look at the dash at all now.

But if I went back to a centre mounted display, I'm sure I'd get used to it quickly, though do prefer the HUD displays.

cruxis

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#2885741 14-Mar-2022 00:28

Clean Car Discounts for new regos expands to low emission light vehicals on April 1st 2022. So expect a price rise for used and new imports then too, As the Japanese Sellers have put prices up on NZ used car importers already because of it. So I am told by the car dealers.

https://rightcar.govt.nz/clean-car-discount

List of cars that "may" be able to get discount are here.

https://rightcar.govt.nz/vehicle-search-results?q=30|5193||

A 2014 Toyota Aqua rebate is : $1,676.62, So the pessimist in me guesses prices of imported aquas will increase $1600 after April 1st.

Toyota Aqua

Cars also has to have a 3 star Rating to get it, Sadly a Honda Fit Hybrids 2014-2021 don't qualify. But the 2008-2013 do. Note the 2013 models either 2nd gen or 3rd gen on paper, Might be a gap there, and a 2013 3rd gen slips through.

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Jaxson

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#2885815 14-Mar-2022 08:42

Noticed last night a Mazda Axela hybrid and a quick google shows they partnered with Toyota to deliver it.

So appears to be Prius tech underneath but in a more traditional car body than the space age Prius.
Priced around $20k second hand now by the looks of it and is basically a Mazda 3 from that era.

Side note, but Prius sales are plummeting mostly because all that tech is now standard in Toyota Hybrids.
You no longer need a weird spaceship styling, you just buy a normal Toyota in hybrid config and you get the Prius guts underneath.

Eva888

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#2885818 14-Mar-2022 08:46

So what's the point of a gov rebate if the prices are raised by an equal amount by the dealers? Does the rebate apply if you buy privately?

I'm also looking to sell our VW gas guzzler and get another Hybrid. We are happy with our Aqua although not zippy going up hills, economy wise it’s great. TBH I never really noticed the dash was any different from our other car. The radio/gps screen however is annoying as it’s more to the left so if you are searching for an address or needing to change settings it’s back-breaking leaning across. I generally go to the passenger side to comfortably use it.

RobDickinson

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#2885821 14-Mar-2022 09:00

It effectively a decade long program, short term spike in prices through dealers etc being greedy wont last (other than the general chaos of the current car market)

robjg63

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#2885824 14-Mar-2022 09:07

Eva888: So what's the point of a gov rebate if the prices are raised by an equal amount by the dealers?

At the moment, the dealers will gouge every dollar they can out of the sale of an 'economical' vehicle. The demand in the last few weeks will be huge.

So a shortage of new economical supply is the main issue. Up until recently, there was even a shortage of larger 'gas guzzlers' at the dealers - maybe not so much now....

Without the stresses of the last month or so, the rebate *should* help sway people towards a more efficient vehicle.

In the case of EVs, which are coming to market much slower than many people would now like - it helps level the extra cost of battery tech.

When EV vehicle reach price parity with ICE I expect we wouldn't need incentives to make us choose.

Nothing is impossible for the man who doesn't have to do it himself - A. H. Weiler

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