Want to get the very best out of your ground-breaking Toyota hybrid? We’ve gathered a number of hybrid driving hints and tips that will help you to get the best from the system, improving fuel consumption and getting you further for less.
Whichever Toyota hybrid you’ve set your heart on, the following tips and pointers should maximise the range and fuel economy of your Toyota.
The basics
It’s not just hybrids that benefit from the first seven tips – these will help to improve any car’s fuel efficiency:
- Clear out the boot! Keeping the boot free of unnecessary weight will give your car and immediate boost in performance and economy.
- Check your tyre pressures – dig out your owner’s manual, and do a weekly check to ensure that your tyres are correctly inflated in line with Toyota’s recommendation. Or read our handy tyre pressures article here.
- Think ahead – by planning your journeys, you can avoid traffic jams and minimise the likelihood of getting lost.
- Shut up! Closing the windows and sun roof at speeds above 45mph will reduce drag, reducing fuel consumption.
- Remove unused roof racks, boxes and bike racks – they’re a real drag too!
- Steady as she goes – maintain a steady speed and don’t go over the speed limit.
- Smoothly does it! Try to avoid sudden braking or acceleration.
Hybrid driving: hybrid-specific tips
Sorry everyone else, but these tips are for hybrids only:
- Become familiar with the hybrid information display so you can know how much energy is being used.
- EV does it! Keep the car in EV mode as much as possible by using the accelerator gently, pressing it lightly but consistently.
- Improve efficiency with ECO mode, which reduces aggressive throttle response.
- Harvest time – braking gently and early helps the regenerative braking harvest more energy, which means EV mode can operate for longer periods.
- Keep an eye on the dials and gauges to fully understand the hybrid system and manage the charge levels in the hybrid’s high-voltage battery.
- If you’re in stop-start traffic, don’t put the car in neutral (‘N’) when stationary, as electricity will not be generated and the hybrid battery will discharge.
- Consider using cruise control (where fitted) to maintain steady speeds.
- When using climate control, Re-circulate mode reduces energy usage.
- Think about the environment! Constant or heavy use of systems like air-con, lights and wipers will increase energy consumption.
Pioneering hybrid technology for the future
Hybrid driving: drive modes
Toyota hybrids have four drive modes: Normal, EV, Eco and Power. When you first start your hybrid, the car defaults to the ‘Normal’ drive mode, which automatically manages the most efficient use of both the engine and the battery.
Drivers can also select one of the car’s on-demand drive modes to achieve better fuel consumption in certain settings.
These drive modes are: EV Mode where the car is powered by the battery only during city driving, running near-silent and with no tailpipe emissions; Eco Mode that reduces A/C output and lessens throttle response to limit harsh acceleration; and Power Mode which boosts acceleration by using the hybrid battery to assist the petrol engine.
The shift lever offers four positions: R (Reverse), N (neutral), B (engine braking) and D (drive). For normal driving, D (drive) is absolutely fine, but should you need it, position B has the effect of engine-braking handy when descending a steep hill, for example. It’s not recommended to leave the car in position B for normal driving, mainly because you’d end up using more fuel than necessary!
PHEV, BEV, FCEV? Hybrid, electric and fuel cells explained
Hybrid driving: read the road ahead
Another great hybrid driving tip is to use the car’s battery whenever possible.
Another great hybrid driving tip is to use the car’s battery whenever possible. You can do this in town and urban driving by accelerating to your required speed, easing off the accelerator and then gently easing the accelerator on again. By doing this, you can activate EV mode – indicated by the dashboard light – which means that the engine has switched off and you are using the electric battery.
Try to maintain a constant speed and, as always, it’s important to read the road ahead. By doing this, you can reduce the amount of unnecessary braking and accelerating, using less fuel. Braking slowly and gently also maximises the amount of energy recovered by the regenerative braking system on the car.
Other factors to consider
Bear in mind that there are many factors that can affect a car’s performance, hybrid included. On cold days, your car will use more fuel as it warms up, but once it’s reached its optimum temperature, the MPG figures will increase.
Also, during the winter, you’re more likely to be using the air-conditioning, lights and wipers, all of which will use some electrical power from the battery. If you regularly travel the same route, don’t be surprised if you get better MPG figures during the summer than in the winter!
Even more new car customers chose hybrid in June
If you’d like more hybrid driving tips or want to discuss your driving technique with other hybrid owners, it’s worth visiting the Hypermiler website.
As a final note, please remember that these hybrid driving tips are published as general guidance on how to get the best fuel economy from your Toyota hybrid. Toyota encourages and supports safe driving at all times – please adhere to the rules of the road.
Read more: Toyota hybrid – how does it work?
I have changed my car to the Yaris T spirit hybrid and really disappointed by the mileage. I had a Prius T Spirit for 5 years and loved it, averaged 57 mph driving mainly in London so I know how to drive the hybrid system! But now getting at best 45mpg, no heating, air con, automatic lights or wipers. Been back to the garage but told me the car is ok. What a disappointment after the fab Prius which is now too expensive for me so went for the smaller, ‘more efficient’ model.
It looks like there is no come back for the customer on this but would have appreciated honesty and I probably would not have bought this car. Would not recommend this car at the minute to anyone looking for an economical car.
I though I was a Toyota hybrid driver for life but not now.
Please don’t tell me to look at the tips as already looked at them and had 5 years of practice with the Prius.
Hi Trish
Thanks for your post and sorry to hear about your experience driving your Yaris Hybrid.
Difficult for us to explain why this should be, particularly as you know and have had previous experience of hybrid. You mention that you have been back to your Toyota dealer to have the car checked and we would therefore recommend contacting our customer relations team so that they can investigate this matter further for you. We will pass on your email if this is ok with you so they can set up a case and contact you directly.
If you confirm this is ok with you then we will go ahead.
Best wishes
Very happy to look into this further and talk to Customers relations team. I did notice that the engine does not stop running when I am at traffic lights and I do not have any regenerated ‘E’s on the display. Please help as very disappointed with this car at the minute. Looking forward to finding out about this so get in touch.
Hi Trish
Just to let you know that your details have been referred to our CR team today for you.
Not heard anything yet. Any ideas when Customer Relations will be in touch?
Hello Trish
Sorry about this. I will ask them to email you tomorrow.
Best wishes
They have been in touch thanks
I bought Toyota yaris hybrid 1.5 t4 model in october. I bought this car because Toyota claims that fuel economy 92 miles per gallon but now after ten weeks getting only 42 miles per gallon with following all tips for best fuel economy and during 10 weeks driving experience the best figure i got so far is 57 miles per gallon. this information showing on the car information screen. as a result they are providing wrong information because they want to attract costumers. is there any law or procedures to protect customers from this robbery and dishonesty. can i take any legal action about this matter( if my driving is not eco friendly then i ask Toyota dealer come and drive the car with their own method and show me how we can get 92 miles per gallon)
Hi Peer
Thanks for your posts. (We have seen your other post on the Yaris Hybrid at the MPG Marathon).
The fuel consumption figures which we have to quote on our marketing material are from a standard EU test which has to be undertaken by all vehicle manufacturers. This may not be representative of real world driving conditions as the purpose of this test is to provide a level playing field for consumers to judge one vehicle against another. More details about the fuel consumption test and how this is undertaken is on the VCA website and this link will take you straight there. http://bit.ly/19uZUkY
The purpose of this post is meant as guide to help with fuel economy however figures will always still vary for individuals. If you are however concerned about your vehicle performance then your local dealer will be able to help advise you regarding hybrid driving or check your vehicle if this is felt necessary.
Hope this helps.
Really feel that Toyota should consider insisting that all their UK dealers advise potential hybrid vehicle purchasers that, with the normal UK weather patterns, the quoted mpg is totally unachievable.
I am one of those unfortunate people that mistakingly purchased an Auris Hybrid Touring Sports Excel just over a month ago only to see the mpg fall from 54 in the first week to 45 currently.
As most people are when they buy a new car, I was very excited at the prospect of 60 to 70 mpg being a figure I was led to believe would be easily achievable, how disappointed I am now.
Hi Paul
Thanks for your post.
If you are concerned about your vehicle performance then your local dealer will be able to help advise you regarding hybrid driving or check your vehicle if this is felt necessary. The fuel consumption figures which we have to quote on our marketing material are from a standard EU test which has to be undertaken by all vehicle manufacturers. This may not be representative of real world driving conditions as the purpose of this test is to provide a level playing field for consumers to judge one vehicle against another. More details about the fuel consumption test and how this is undertaken is on the VCA website and this link will take you straight there. http://bit.ly/19uZUkY.
I am starting to get a little offended at Toyota’s response to everyone’s query about mpg. Are you sure you are driving it correctly seems to be the only response. Obviously we are driving the correct way, we want to get 70mpg too!
All you get from Toyota is the same old spiel about how all manufacturers have to do the same test so it’s a fair comparison, but I am fed up with people who have bought those eco diesel cars coming to me and saying that they are getting 50 to 60 mpg out of theirs and why do I get so little from mine. I wish I had an answer for them apart from batteries are not very efficient when it’s cold! Toyota know this so should advise prospective purchasers of this fact.
I love the car and I love the idea behind it, but really this car should not be advertised as being able to achieve over 70 mpg, not in the UK anyway.
Hello Paul
Thanks for your reply.
It is not our intention to infer whether you are driving your vehicle incorrectly and apologies if you feel this is the case. The post about hybrid driving tips is meant as advice. If you are in any way concerned about your vehicle performance then your local dealer can also offer help and guidance. Lastly we do point our about the fuel consumption test to clarify that these are not our own test figures but the result of a standardised EU test.
Paul,
Totally agree with you, we bought a brand new Yaris Hybrid Excel in September and have seen the mileage plummet from an unacceptable 54mpg to around 48mpg during the current cold weather, didn’t even manage 300 miles out of the last tankful and it was brimmed. Like you we assumed we would easily achieve mid to high sixties. I would have my Honda Civic 1.6 Dtec back tomorrow, 60mpg around the doors and 65 on a run. Totally underwhelmed with my Hybrid, wish I had bought the diesel, expensive mistake.
I have a Toyota Prius C, driving in winter, the windshield is frequently become foggy. What is the best fuel economy way to keep the windshield clear at all times?
1) switch on defogging at all times,
2) switch on aircond. at all times or,
3) switch to “Auto” mode at all times.
Hi Bruce
Thanks for your post.
Firstly you need to make sure that your ventilation system is set to air coming from outside the car (rather than circulating the air inside the vehicle). This alone will make a big difference if you are constantly recirculating air inside the car. We would also recommend air conditioning as this is extremely effective in keeping the windscreen clear if the car is filled with people with wet coats for example. You could try defogging at all times but if you are seeing the car steam up then you may need the added boost that aircon can provide. If you are unsure with any of the above pop along to your local dealer who will also be able to help advise on this as well.
Hope this helps.
Emails to Customer Services bouncing back. So not heard anything since initial response. Looks like I was sent an email from an address that is for sending out emails only.
Looking forward to hearing solution on increasing my mpg.
Trish
Hi Trish
Sorry about this.
We have been in touch with CR today and understand that they have been in touch with you.
Hope this helps.
Hi David,
Thanks for your reply.
Technically speaking, air coming from outside is very cold in Winter. So it needs a lot of heat energy to warm it up going into the cabin. On loading the aircond.compressor and heating the air at the same will consume more energy which means wasting gas, this is not optimising fuel gas economy. Defogging at all times also will waste heat energy which also comes from the gas.
This Toyota Hybrid driving is claimed to be the best fuel economy car. How its “auto” mode controls the loading of aircond. compressor and at the same time regulating cabin temperate and auto on/off defogging heater to keep windscreen clear?
Also my initial questions is still not really answered, i.e.
What is the operating mode selection for the best fuel gas economy in winter in keeping the windscreen clear?
Hello Bruce
Thanks for your reply.
We can really only make suggestions here because ultimately it is the weather conditions and number of vehicle occupants that will dictate how much ventilation is required to ensure safe visibility for driving. Driving the vehicle in Eco mode with ventilation set to auto could be considered the best option for economy (this will switch on aircon and run the blower at a reduced speed) but this may not be sufficient depending on the circumstances we mention above. Sorry this is not so straighforward but hope this helps answer.
Hi Bruce,
I’m in an Auris Excel Hybrid and when it comes to misted windows this Auris is the same as my first Auris TSpirit Hybrid and no doubt your Prius, the windows seems to steam up badly.
I’ve found the quickest method to clear them is:-
1. Most importantly … Eco mode OFF
2. Aircon ON
3. Screen demist ON
4. Fans on full
Dear Toyota UK,
In August ’13 I purchased the Touring Sports Hybrid hoping for a good car that would serve me well many years in a row.
Since August I’ve had: bumby tires, seat structure causing my left buttocks to constantly sink deeper into the seat than my right: backspins on runs longer than 1 hour and:
The car can not stay warm in the cabin: tit’s fine for the first hour of the drive- then the AC simultaneously blows warm AND cold air through the front vent!!! I have the Danish H2+ model and THERE ARE NOT HEATING VENTS FOR REAR PASSENGERS? This means that backseat passengers (such as my 22 month old son feel cold on trips with a duration of more than one hour.
It doesn’t matter if the car is in ECO or normal/no mode. The cabin cannot stay warm not even with a temperature at 24 degrees celcius as indicated by the AC. I have one zone climate- not dual.
Please confirm or recline:
Does the H2+ Denmark model have heating vents for rear passengers? How do I make the car STAY warm on longer journeys?
On a 2 X 5 miles run to the grocery store with snow fall, the car couldn’t even clear the back windows of fog even though I used zircon, high speed fan and high temp.
Does the Danish h2+ vers. “recycle” the exhaust heat for cabin use? I have heard that some Priuses sold in what Toyota considers “warm climates” cannot reuse the exhaust heat as that part of the system has been left out on these models. If Toyota doesn’t consider Denmark a cold country I’m shocked. The car is built in the UK and the DK climate is definitely colder than UK on average.
Please help me sort these heating problems/questions. If this problem cannot be sold, I will never buy another Toyota. I wonder if the financial success of Toyota is due to these forms of shocking “cost reductions”.
I thought Toyota was a good company that cared about their customers and were proud of their cars. I could understand is the rear vents were missing in an Aygo as it is such as small car. But in Golf rival from the World’s largest or second largest car manufacturer?
Also, on Toyotaownersclub.com there is proof that I’m not the only one who can’t keep the cabin warm.
I’d appreciate some answers from you.
Thanks,
Nicolai from Denmark- a very disappointed Toyota customer!
Hello Nicolai
Thank you for your post and sorry to read about your Auris Hybrid Touring Sports.
With regard to your questions we are going to need to refer you to the Toyota distributor for Denmark (http://www.toyota.dk/) and the reason for this is because we will only hold specification and technical details for cars sold in the UK. These specifications will vary across the Europe which is why each country will have their own distributor who is responsible for all aspects of the Toyota franchise in their own market. Toyota Denmark will be able to help advise you further regarding your concerns.
Hope this helps clarify.
There seems no doubt that users of the Yaris Hybrid are disapointed with its mpg -as am I. I think the advertising is misleading,and the replies here unhelpful. It seems that no matter how we drive, the mpg remains seriously disapointing compared to that advertised. Something Toyota needs to look at, I think.
Also, the advice about driving style that I’ve been given by my local dealer conflicts with that given here – confusing
Hi Sioned
Thanks for your post.
Sorry if you think the advertising is misleading but the fuel consumption figures we have to quote on our marketing material are from a standard EU test which has to be undertaken by all vehicle manufacturers. It is acknowledged this may not be representative of real world driving conditions as the purpose of this test is consistency in terms of providing a level playing field for consumers to judge one vehicle against another. More details about this test and how this is undertaken is on the VCA website, this link will take you straight there. http://bit.ly/19uZUkY
The purpose of this post is meant as guide to help with fuel economy but figures will always still vary for individuals.