Should you buy a Toyota Hybrid?

Ever wonder if Toyota Hybrids are good? or bad? A Toyota master diagnostic technician explains the truth about Toyota hybrid reliability and dependability.

This video started as a comment from a viewer asking what I thought about buying used or even new hybrids and their long term reliability. Well known and well respected YouTubers like @scottykilmer and @chrisfix had contradicting opinions on this subject. And I think they are both right each in their own unique way.

In this video I share my humbe opinion on this subject. My humble opinion comes from my experience as a Toyota Master Diagnostic Technician and being a Toyota Hybrid Specialist for over a decade working on multiple Toyota Hybrid models from basic maintenance to complete hybrid system diagnosis and repair. I even mention @HumbleMechanic in this video! Hi Charles! love your channel man!

So the topics I will cover are the following :

1- Are Toyota Hybrids reliable?
2- Should you buy a Toyota Hybrid?
3- Why are you buying a toyota hybrid?
4-Why you should NOT buy a Toyota Hybrid.
5- Best Toyota hybrid models to buy
6- Worst Toyota hybrid models to buy
7- Is the Toyota Prius the king of Toyota Hybrids?
8- What Toyota Hybrids to buy if you don't like the Toyota Prius?
9- Special Toyota Hybrid maintenance?
10- Are Toyota Hybrids good DIY cars?

I hope after watching this video you will be able to make a better decision on buying a hybrid or not. I Hope if you already own a hybrid that this video helps you prolong the life of your Toyota hybrid as long as possible and I wish you have your Toyota Hybrid for a very long time without any issues.

Follow the channel on Instagram and Facebook @TheCarCareNut

0:00 Introduction
01:15 Are Hybrids reliable?
06:24 Should you buy one?
08:56 Why are you buying one?
09:37 Why you shouldn't buy one
13:12 Best Hybrids to buy used?
13:47 Used Hybrids to Avoid?
16:00 Is Prius the king?
16:54 Don't like the Prius?
18:22 Special Hybrid Maintenance
19:27 Are Hybrids DIY cars?
23:23 Video Suggestions

#thecarcarenut #toyotahybrid

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[TheCarCareNut]

Want to know how Toyota Hybrids work? See this video series

Want to know how Toyota Plugin Hybrids work and how they differ from conventional Hybrids? Find this video series

[erikamoore]

I drive a 2007 Prius which now has 300, 000 miles on it. Still has the original battery and still gets 50 mi/gallon. The only repairs beyond regular oil and filter changes have been to replace the spark plugs once, a few years ago. I LOVE this car!

[EricMitton]

It's obvious that you know what you're talking about and you don't have an agenda. Awesome video.

[noseefood]

As a 2018 Prius owner with 120k miles another tip to keep hybrid battery cool is select entire cabin fan instead of driver focus fan button so more cool air reaches back seat bottom where cooler intake is located. Also don’t block this cooler intake, getting a dark tint windows helps too

[jimserafin]

Your videos have given me so much greater confidence in my 2017 Camry hybrid with 309000 miles. I plan on keeping it another 300K. I am a Ride Share driver with over 20000 rides.

[everettmitchell]

As a taxi driver I can tell you the 2nd gen prius is an amazing car. Those that don't get smoked in an accident commonly make it past 600, 000 km. The life of a taxi is a hard one. These cars have won my respect. They do get jerky and noisy with age, but they keep on going.

I like them so much I just bought a 2005 right hand drive imported from Japan for my personal vehicle.

[ryan]

Scott Kilmer has split personalities. One day he loves Toyota, Honda & Mazda and next week he hates a Camry and a month later he loves the Camry. He is entertaining though, so I just take some things he says with a grain of salt.

[joseanguiano]

I got to say, this man has have to be the most Toyota car informant I have ever seen on YouTube. Thank you for your insight and time!

[SteveSilverActor]

Great video! I will also add that if you buy a Prius, you DEFINITELY SHOULD PROTECT YOUR CATALYTIC CONVERTER, especially if you park outside. The Prius is a prime target for thieves of cat converters. There are various options to protect them, such as cages, plates, or alarms, so please research this and take this into consideration.

[bronkdog]

I have a 2010 Prius, it has a 400 k. After learning about the battery fan maintenance and other maintenance not mentioned by Toyota. It’s been good it’s going to make it 500k can’t wait. Battery is ten years old wow!!

[AngeloArrifano]

Toyota has the most efficient internal combustion electric hybrid engine out there. They basically cut energy losses by simplifying the engine. There is no clutch, there is no gearbox (in the traditional sense), there is no chain or belt (Gen3+). The main point of the hybrid system is to keep the ICE running at its most efficient RPMs most of the time and compensate with the motor/generator to achieve the requested driving speed. The engine can automatically switch between Atkinson and Otto cycles, depending on power demand. Accelerating the car from a standstill position is also greatly more efficient than a a classical engine system because there is no clutch. Also, I mentioned there isn't a gearbox, the hybrid system works as an electric CVT - which is a sort of linear gearbox where for each transmission RPM the engine always provides its peak torque, making it the most efficient "gearbox" you can have.
The Toyota's hybrid system is a marvel of engineering, it reduces energy losses in pretty much all the aspects of a traditional ICE system while simplifying the system at the same time. It's no wonder we see Priuses ou there beating the 1.000.000 mile threshold.
Also, Toyota's hybrid system is more efficient than any pure electric drive vehicle that uses an ICE for charging the battery. Why? Because in most cases it's more efficient to use the rotational force of the ICE to turn the wheels directly than converting that rotational energy into electricity to power the electric drive only to be converted back into rotational energy to rotate the wheels.
Therefore, I believe people not wanting or that are unable to charge car batteries, Toyota's hybrid cars are the best option for them.
Disclaimer: I own a Lexus CT200h, which has a Gen3 Toyota hybrid. This is the best car I ever owned, I do in average 4.8L/100km of fuel consumption (city and highway combined driving), while maintaining immediate throttle pedal responsivity when needed.
Looking forward to the new generations of turbo charged Toyota hybrids!

[kevinharrington]

I truly appreciate all your time spent making these videos. It has really helped me with maintaining my Hybrid Camry. I love Toyota products and hope I get as much use out of this one as I did my last ScionxB

[livefreeandfly]

Very informative and up front advice ! Longevity in any vehicle is so important and it’s
not the car salesman I want to talk to, it’s the mechanic !!

[SueMoseley]

I like to buy my cars new and drive them 'till they die. I've bought a Volkswagen and 2 Citroens prior to my current Toyota and all of them were fit for the scrap heap by the time they were 10 years old. I bought my Toyota Auris hybrid new early in 2011, so it's about 9 and a half years old now and it still feels quite new. Apart from regular servicing, the only expenses I have had (that I can remember) are a new set of tyres, windscreen wiper blades, a new 12v battery and the air-con regassing. I've never had a car before that's been so cheap to run and maintain. I'm hoping to buy a new car next year and plan to give my Auris to my daughter because it feels like it has many years of life left. I love the quietness of the drive and the fact that I never have to worry about it stalling or failing to start in cold weather.

[richardloewenhagen]

I have 30 years experience as an Air Craft Maintenance Director. This is the very best You Tube presentation by an actual auto mechanic I have ever heard. Bar None! This guy's credibility is 'Sky High" in my book!

[reynaldomadridi]

Bravo! From a former sales rep for Toyota! You have given one of the best videos I've ever seen! Thank you!

[rebeccastone]

So glad I tuned in. Very valuable info. I just purchased a 2021 Sienna awd. I'm a Pilot Car driver and am looking forward to using this as my company vehicle. I am glad you have informed me of the filter issues. Thanks!

[chrisaltvater]

My 2008 Prius has 280K miles on it. The battery was replaced before 200K miles and the cost from the dealer was about $2, 700.

[trailsdetails]

Recently bought a 2019 Corolla. It drove amazing with it being super comfortable, and the instant torque from the hybrid system means it's actually quick off the line (not 0-60 but just the initial jump) and it's great for merging. I drive a lot of 40mph country roads with minimal stops, or around-town using pretty much only the electric motor and I'm using 52 miles per gallon on average. It's not super fancy but I don't need it to be, it needs to be dependable, reliable and not cost a fortune in terms of maintenance. That, and the new generation Corolla actually looks really nice.

[mzkbrjq]

To confirm your notion about hybrid car reliability, I drive 15 years NiMeH Ford Escape Hybrid SUV with 110, 000 miles on it and of course the battery easy now discharge overnight regardless hot or cold, but also recharge fast and keep the charge always for daily driving.

It’s known fact that this hybrid as NY & SF taxi and as NYPD vehicle is a 24/7 heavy used vehicle reached regularly 300, 000 miles. With this reputation in mind and that needs mainly regular maintenance only like oil and filter I have decided to buy it as a single owner used with 50, 000+ miles and now as a 2nd owner owned keep driving this hybrid SUV successfully additionally 60K miles without any electrical problem. Factory recommended battery cabin filter changed every time when factory scheduled regular maintenance is due, except oil and oil filter, that it’s.

Sure enough hybrids are better choice than fully electrical or plug-in vehicle now and for years to come. Glad that Toyota keep supporting the hybrid market vs. the fully electrical. Are other major automotive manufacturers will follow with Toyota hybrid lead? And it’s also known fact that hybrid vehicles wear their mechanical portion of the car less, my dealership confirmed they are seeng coming for repairs this Ford Escape Hybrid SUV less than other not reliable Ford vehicles. And battery replacement using independent third party cost $2, 500-3, 000, not this exuberant many thousands of dollars new car dealerships are still charging unreasonably!