More and more of our customers ask for a car that uses less fuel, or none at all in town. Two cars in our fleet are hybrids: the Toyota Yaris Hybrid and the Toyota RAV4 Plug-in Hybrid. Fully electric cars are on our list for next year. Here is what is worth knowing before you choose one.
Self-charging or plug-in?
A self-charging hybrid like the Yaris Hybrid has a small battery that the car fills by itself, while braking and coasting. You never plug it in. In town it often drives on electricity alone at low speed, which is why it uses around 4 litres per 100 km in Bucharest traffic. You drive it exactly like any automatic car.
A plug-in hybrid like the RAV4 Plug-in Hybrid has a much bigger battery that you charge from a socket or a public charger. With a full battery it covers up to about 75 km on electricity alone, enough for most days in the city. When the battery is empty it carries on as a normal hybrid, so there is no range anxiety at all.
Charging a plug-in hybrid
The RAV4 comes with a Type 2 cable, the standard plug at public chargers across Europe. A few practical points:
- Public chargers are common in shopping centre car parks, at some supermarkets and along the main motorways. Most work with a card or a phone app.
- A full charge on a typical public charger takes a few hours, so it fits well with a meal, shopping or a museum visit.
- Many hotels have chargers for guests. Ask when you book your room.
- You can return the car with any battery level. Only the fuel tank needs to be full, as with every Lindenway car.
Getting the most out of a hybrid
- Drive smoothly. Gentle acceleration and early, soft braking let the car recover energy instead of wasting it in the brakes.
- Use the eco mode in town and the normal mode on the motorway.
- Pre-condition the cabin while the car is still plugged in, so the battery is not used to heat or cool it on the road.
- Mind the speed. Above 110 km/h every car uses more energy, hybrids included.
In winter
Batteries like warmth. In freezing weather the electric range of a plug-in hybrid drops noticeably, and the petrol engine starts more often to heat the cabin. That is normal, not a fault. The car is just as safe and reliable; it simply uses a little more fuel. Our winter driving guide has the rest.
Is a hybrid right for your trip?
Choose a hybrid if you will spend most of your time in town or in traffic. Choose the plug-in RAV4 if you can charge where you sleep and want an SUV for the mountains as well. For long motorway runs to the coast, a diesel such as the Octavia Combi is still the most economical choice.
Not sure? Tell us where you are going and we will suggest a car.