Well having driven a Prius 2 T Spirit for a few hours, I today test drove a Yaris Hybrid T Spirit from my local dealer Pinkstones, Stoke on Trent. (as usual they were efficient courteous and very helpful although I arrived unbooked in pouring rain!)
Summary impressions:
1. Very quiet and very composed on rough surfaces (especially compared to my Mark 1 Yaris d4d).
2. Nice handling. Even when accelerating hard and the engine kicked in , it was MUCH quieter than the Prius (software upgrades I believe to make it less noisy).
3. The single front wiper was great in the pouring rain: cleared the screen a treat.
4. Comfortable seats . I used the height adjustment on driver's seat (as on mine) to sit higher.
5. The leather bits in the seats were cold and uncomfortable. (9C outside).
6. Nice fan and heating controls But like Mark1 struggled to keep screens clear in rain.
7. Easy to drive:( I like autos.)
8. Great acceleration from rest and good brakes.
9. More boot space as standard.
10 Liked the rear parking camera but .. I could live without it.
11. The rear boot missed a board included in the brochure so when you fold the rear seats the floor is not flat. BAD. Abysmal when the brochure shows it is flat. (Weasel words exclude Toyota liability - the Toyota Prius/hybrid forum has disgruntled owners complaining).
12. Felt far more balanced and not nose heavy like the D4D
13. The T3 has no privacy glass. The T4 and T Spirit come with it as standard. I HATE privacy glass.
14. The T Spirit has 16^ alloys vs 15^ wheels on T3 (steel) alloys(T4). The turning circle is 1.8 meters greater as a result on the T Spirit.
15. I costed replacement tyres: Michelin Energy from ATS - £77 on T3/4. £155 on T Spirit. Plus balancing etc..
16. Service costs in line with normal Yaris: £119.c £179, major £249. Every 10 k miles.
Conclusions: The T Spirit has horrible cold leather and worse turning circle and expensive tyres and privacy glass.. which all say to me no. And worse fuel consumption due to the bigger wheels.
The T4 has privacy glass - a No.
The T3 has steel wheels and no leather steering wheel cover. New trims and a leather cover for under £160 would improve the looks.
A boot panel board at £60 is essential if you carry loads (I do)
Overall I enjoyed driving it and will buy one. But anyone who does not do their research is going to be mightily upset at the omissions /errors in the brochure.
I'll probably buy a T3. Waiting list quoted 6 weeks. No discounts.
Hmm... Not a satisfactory buying proposition for someone brought up in a purchasing environment.
I may decide to wait.
In conclusion:
Toyota have produced a nice hybrid but their brochure could be storing up future ill will amongst new owners. The T Spirit makes no economic sense.
Posted on Toyota Yaris Forum
www.toyotaownersclub.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=138197
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