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.
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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!
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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!
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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?
Hi
I am confused can you help ??
I bought a Auris Hybrid some 3 mths ago, I am reasonable pleased with it. My question are:-
I know the mileage range is only meant as a guide.
But when I filled it up for the first 3 occasions it read between 480 and 470 miles since then it has gradually dropped each time on refilling (I always fill to the maximum) to 420 miles why is this?? ( if I take the average mpl of my last trip before refueling it should be 12mpl X 45 litres =540 miles ??)
Also when fuel in the tank drops to show the “refuel indicator is on” this should mean that there is approx. 7 litres ( according to the manual) in the tank the mileage range now shows 31 miles!! so this only gives me only 4.5 mpl (15mpg) ?? until I run out of fuel . Surely this cannot be correct as I usually get about 12mpl or 56mpg, or should this be 7 x 12=84 giving me approx. 50miles more than the 31miles that range is showing.. I do not wish to take the chance if it is not right. Please can you clarify.
As I have mentioned I am only getting approx.mid 50’s, which is less than I had hoped for whilst I was not expecting 70+ mpg I did hope for 60-65mpg.
I have adjusted my style of driving to cope with the Hybrid system. Also does a lower temperature have a negative affect on mileage etc?
Should I ask the dealer to check it out???
Regards
Graham Evans
Hi Graham
Thanks for your post regarding your Auris Hybrid.
Taking your questions in order, the mileage range does change in accordance with the way in which the vehicle is driven. It will use previous consumption data to try and predict what the range of the tank will be based on this information. Cold weather will also have an influence in consumption as more energy is being used (wipers, heater, lights etc) so this will change slightly from summer to winter.
Turning to the fuel tank, you are spot on here really, it is fair to say that the range quoted will err on the side of caution when the tank gets low. This is obviously to provide owners some leeway in such circumstances because running out of fuel is not great from a vehicle or safety perspective.
Finally with regard to fuel consumption and particularly if this is your first hybrid vehicle, there will be a specialist on hybrid at your dealer who can go over the driving tips with you or accompany you on a short drive if this helps with a few pointers. Let us know how you get on or if you need any further assistance here.
On the recommendation of the Toyota garage, I filled the car in petrol right to the brim, drove it for two weeks and filled it to the brim to work out miles to gallons. After some maths, my Yaris Hybrid is doing 41.44 miles to the gallon and the car computer says 44.1 mpg so getting even less than the computer says. And the yaris book says a lot more. I was expecting at least in the 50s. Can I return my car under the Sale of Goods Act as not as described.
Ps, not using the heater only when the screen fogs up! Help
Not much chance. You are not operating under the conditions that the declared consumption were calculated. (Ambient temperature,road conditions and loading)
The figures you obtained were within 10% of the indicated. ( Your speedometer will have the same tolerance and you are not complaining about this)
I just expected better from a hybrid. I was getting 57mpg from the 2008 Prius. Now 41-44 from a smaller car! Disappointing.
The gasoline consumption is only 12.6 km/l for my toyota prius year 2010 model made in Japan. I drive mmostly at low speed around 50 to 60 kmph and do not accelerate too much when starting the vehicle. My friend has the same model and his car is giving 20.3 km/l. I also run on EV mode whenever possible i.e. there is enough battery charge.
Pls guide and advise what to check or change to achieve a higher fuel economy.
Thanks in advance.
Hi Jeebun
Thanks for you post.
Our hybrid driving tips is meant as a guide to help but of course driving styles will vary across individuals. We notice the difference between you and friend’s Prius and it may be worth looking at his journey (distance, time etc) to see what the variations are. Many factors influence consumption and other items to take into account would be ambient air temperature and the features being used on the car (aircon, wipers, lights etc). Is there a difference in driving style or type of roads on the journey? (motorway or urban use for example). Finally if you are concerned with any apsect of your vehicle performance then you can talk to your local Toyota dealer who would be happy to help.
Hope this helps.
On MPG, please do bear in mind that in the real world, the quoted “MPG” as shown in the brochure only translates to approx 80-85% of its true value. Those MPG values in the brochures are simulated city/motoway driving which essentially has the car running on a set of rollers!
Let say if the quoted value is 71 mpg, taking 80% of this value would mean you should get approx 56.8 mpg. based on the various postings i have seen here, it could be more or less spot on.
Mon Lam
You said you had some winter tyres. Do you still have them. What size are they and what are you asking for them
Hi Jan
Thanks for your post.
Our Toyota dealer network will be able to help advise regarding the provision of winter tyres. If you are unsure of the location of your nearest one then you can use the dealer locater on http://www.toyota.co.uk.
Following all these steps, the max I’ve ever achieved over a mixed 300 mile road journey (motorway, A roads and B roads) is 60 mpg on a 2011 Auras hybrid.
Ray
Hello Ray
Thanks for your post.
The driving tips are meant as a guide as fuel consumption does vary for individuals and there are many factors which affect this. It is also worth pointing out that the fuel consumption figures which we have to quote are from a standardised EU test which does not reflect real world driving conditions. It is designed to provide a level playing field for consumers when looking at cars. More information about the test can be found on the VCA website.
Hope this helps to clarify for now but let us know if you have any other questions.
In the 2014 Yaris Hybrid Manual it says avoid extremely high speeds for the 1st 1000 miles. What do Toyota define “Extremely High Speed” as?
Hello Brian
Thanks for your post.
The best advice here is to stick within the speed limit and you will be perfectly fine. Although we quote no figure, this is essentially precautionary advice to raise the awareness of owners and help with the longevity of your Yaris hybrid.
Hope this helps but let us know if you have any other questions.
Hello:
I understand that this hybrid car has no conventional starter. What will happen with engine start if the main battery has too low voltage?
Hi Ted
Thanks for your post.
You are correct, there is no starter motor. A hybrid works by having a 12 volt battery (as per any normal car) which primes the hybrid system to be ready when you press the button to start the car. The engine then starts, (or not if the hybrid battery has a good level of charge) but the ready light shows so you know that you can now put in drive and pull away. It would never be the case that the hybrid battery have too low voltage as this level is constantly monitored by the petrol engine which automatically cuts in to keep them charged. It is of course possible for a 12 volt battery to go flat as per any normal car, if for example the lights were left on. More information on our hybrid system and how it works can be found here. https://mag.toyota.co.uk/how-does-toyota-hybrid-synergy-drive-work
Hope this helps clarify but do let us know if you have any other questions.
I am going to comment on few things.
The Yaris hybrid owner that mentioned about getting their money back via the Sales of good Act can forget it as Toyota will string you along so you are better of selling it whilst prices are strong as they are not interested in sorting any issues out.
Point on mpg.
I have owned an auris hybrid 61 reg for 9 months and just sold it as got sick of waiting for Toyota customer care dealing with my case as been 6 months since my initial complaint.
The best mpg i have got is 50mpg in the summer and 43mpg in the winter so nowhere near the claimed figures. I knew I was never going to get 70mpg as all the previous Toyotas I have owned never got the book figures but normally got 10mpg less so was actually expecting 60mpg in the summer and 55mpg in the winter. Sales staff are only interested in commission and meeting targets so they are not going to tell you that mpg figures are unachievable. Toyota cleverly gets out of it by saying UP TO 70mpg and depending on how one drives the car. If anyone is looking to buy for mpg reasons then DON’T BUY as you can get cheaper cars that will do better mpg like some diesels. Even better suggestion, try the tips on here on your present car and I will guarantee your mpg will increase by 5-7mpg what more do you want as that massive outlay is not involved in buying one of these hybrids. I was given a yaris hybrid in December on a 63 reg as a courtesy car for 3 weeks for the problem below which is supposed to be better engine and claims up to 90mpg but that was a disappointment too. It also did 43mpg which showed me that Toyota can claim anything they want the mpg achievable is never going to be anywhere near the claimed figures. Had I seen a post like mine before I bought this car then I would never have bought as what I am saving in petrol and road tax does not justify the massive cost of this car. Our corolla diesel fills up on £3 more than hybrid and does 50mpg in winter and this is driving it normally so no need to drive slowly or adopt any tips on this forum. Unfortunately the hybrid technology has let me down badly and I will never buy hybrid again.
Point on steamy windows.
After owning the car 3 months my front windscreen always in the mornings was caped in wet moisture not the normal condensation you get time to time. I needed a wiper to clear this up so you can imagine how much moisture. The car has been in Toyota many times now they can’t find anything wrong but I have plenty of videos showing the problem. The car itself steams up very quickly when you get in. I have the AC on auto all the time I am driving and even tried all the tips Toyota have given eg park the car nearer to the house, drive with AC on all the time and leave windows open last part of journey. None of the tips have worked and the problem gets worse when the temperature drops the inside front windscreen freezes. I have to de-ice both sides of my front windscreen which is not normal. I have heard reasons from them as it could be my driving style, my environment or the actual weather. I have owned Toyota’s for the last 20 years and driven them in the exact same way as now. I have lived at this address for many years where I have had many Toyota cars. We had colder weather last year where we had snow for a long time and that Toyota did not freeze up inside. Toyota cannot give me an explanation of why I am experiencing this but I have evidence of owning previous Toyota cars at this address and driven in exact the same way. There are many Toyota owners with this problem if you Google it but Toyota don’t recognise this. I have had a visit from a Toyota field service manager to eliminate my environment, journeys and driving style. He sat in my house on my face said it was neither but the only written response finally received by Toyota he reported that it was my journeys so he lied to me.
In conclusion I feel the Toyota badge and quality is not what it used to be. As a loyal Toyota owner for 20 years I have been extremely disappointed with this car. My trust and confidence has been damaged in Toyota so I will not be purchasing a modern Toyota again. The response from Toyota has been poor and the time taken to is just not acceptable. The written reposnse was “there is nothing Toyota can do and cannot explain why other Toyotas I have owned have not exhibited this problem and unable to provide any guarantee that this issue would not occur in another Toyota if I purchased”.
Toyota customer services don’t care if they loose a customer even if it has been a loyal one like me for 20 years so I will not be buying a new toyota again.
All I can finish off with is that Toyota should change their slogan to “The car in front used to be a Toyota”.
Thank you for your post.
We are sorry to read of your experience and that this meant you left the Toyota brand. We have of course noted your comments and if you did want to discuss this matter further, then our customer relations team would be more than happy to help.
Perhaps if you garage your car you will not have the steamed up windows. Running the A/C to clear the windows will drop your mpg. Garaging in a dry garage the car keeps the car at least 5 degrees above ambient saving the battery allowing the car to start easier and warm up quicker all improving mpg. Also blanking off the radiator during the coldest months will speed up warm up.