Had my Honda CRZ for 8 years. It's one of the last in the Uk on a 14 plate and is the upgraded battery version. FHSH and 117,000 miles. Still makes me smile, £25 to tax, 48-50 MPG everywhere and the manual box is a pleasure to use. Brilliant commuter car.
@@a.a2304 Did have a 6ft family member in the back once for a very short trip but overall pretty unusable, so factor in it's a two person car only. Did do a european trip with the missus and just had a big boot with the seats down.
I’ve had a Civic IMA hybrid (bronze coloured; the “God’s waiting room” special edition) Had about as much power in it as a wet f^rt, but was cheap as chips to run, and it regularly did runs from Nottingham to Belgium 🇧🇪 Also, I bought the Mrs a 2012 Lexus Ct 200 in 2016 with 13,000 on the clock. It’s now done 65,000, and hasn’t missed a beat, bar a weird click when opening the driver’s window and a noisy blower motor. She’s driven that all over Europe. A good, v solid car, if no ball of fire. Only two things I hate about it; 1) The centre console inexplicably has a bit of plastic that juts out that I constantly keep cracking my left kneecap on! and 2) The electric window switches seem to be exactly in the wrong place! Every time I go to open the driver’s window without actually looking, I always get the driver’s side rear windows instead! 😩 I sincerely hope that someone working in a Cobalt mine in Africa now understands the difficulties we face daily in the West! 🙃
Matt, Do the same for plug-in hybrids under 10K. Great option for best of both worlds in ULEZ zone, especially those with off street parking and plug access. An elderly aunt who bought an Outlander and drove it almost every day only refilled the petrol tank 6 months after buying it. All shopping and medium trips to beach and family. No range anxiety.
Hi Matt , My wife knows nothing about cars but she often hears your commentary when i am listening to ur youtube vids. She has never watched any of ur vids but is impressed by ur transparency and honesty and says u shoud have ur own TV series ..she kinda compares u to the moneysaving expert 'Martin Lewis ...u need to 'brand' urself 🤣
I recommend checking insurance costs before buying a hybrid. I was interested in buying a gen 2 Prius but I was startled when I did an insurance check. I think they cost more to insure than regular petrol cars because of all the cat thefts. They're great cars but very vulnerable, especially if you live in a big city or town. I watched a few videos of scummy thieves pinching catalytic converters and they're away in a couple of minutes. You then have an insurance claim which means your next premium will be higher. I don't mean to sound negative but it does counter the fuel saving cost on a hybrid and I just didn't want the stress of worrying about parking my car in public. I ended up buying a petrol car that does 60mpg if driven sensibly.
There are safety measures you can take. Even dealerships offer security options. My mark 2 has a catshield plus a steel rod welded to the remaining exhaust piping. Its not a big of a deal with those installed. You can even install a tilt alarm if you want.
@@v31.48 They'll still jack it up and drop it, not giving a shit or even attempt to take it causing damage. I just don't want the hassle. I've got myself a little city car that does 60mpg and has zero road tax. It's as close to free motoring as I can get.
@@rain-bender4712 that’s perfectly fine mate. I’m just explaining that there are options 😄. I’d be more concerned about the mark 3 head gasket issues than a stolen cat. But everyone their choice! Drive safe :)
I love my Lexus is300h. So reliable, smooth, fast in sports mode and economical. £10 Road tax per year. Best car I’ve owned, and I have owned many. Much better than the German brigade
@@imicca insurance will obviously depend on your age, where you live and where you keep the car overnight. Use one of the many car insurance online tools to get a quote. But for me the insurance is reasonable. I still own this car and every time I get to drive it I have a smile on my face. Buy it, you will love it. Nothing has gone wrong with my Lexus. Total reliability.
@@slimtimothy1 thank you! i am first time buyer, shall i just look at compare the market site or worth individually calling/checking different providers directly?
Hi Matt, great video. I've had a CT200h for three years now. It's a 2013, totally reliable and I have average over 57mpg since buying the car. U don't drive particularly carefully but I do use Economy mode almost all the time. Great car and I'm really happy to see it on your list.
Still driving my 2013 Peugeot 508RXH which you recommended a couple of years ago. Been down to Spain in it and after 2 years still a great car. A bit like a Swiss army knife of cars. Roomy, quiet, comfy, looks good and only £10 a year road tax. Just come back from Brugge. Left the Welsh borders with a full tanks, drove to Brugge, toured the south Belguim battle fields and drove home via the tunnel , all on one tank. Averaging just on 50 mpg. Loads of toys as well. Finding one is not easy though.
Hybrid systems are admittedly a lot more complex than standard petrol cars and they're more difficult to work on so I think reliability is a key factor when choosing a hybrid, I think going for anything other than a Toyota/Lexus or Honda hybrid would be a mistake since they're pretty much the most reliable ones by far, especially Toyota as they've been doing hybrid for at least 20 years with a solid reputation to boot.
@shooterrick1 ive heard that the Mercedes and BMW hybrids aren't particularly unreliable, its just they are so complex not many people can fix them. Whereas the hybrid system in a Lexus is the same principle as the Prius so there is a lot of knowledge out there. Its part of the reason why Lexus hybrids hold their money much more than their German rivals.
@@lce124They’re not that complex actually. The issue is that getting liability insurance for working on them is quite expensive, that puts a lot of garages off. Typically Mercedes etc charge a fortune for parts that could be repaired. The batteries are cooled using the vehicle’s air con. If it develops an air con fault the software will prevent it being driven. 😬
@@shooterrick1 That is because it is a false statement. A "normal" hybrid from Toyota/Lexus has a couple of planetary gears instead of a clutch and gearbox. They are thus mechanically simpler with only the programming being more complex. This is why reliability is superior as well.
That was a blast from the past with the 535i and 335i Hybrids, I forgot all about them! I memory serves me, it was BMW showcasing what was possible and they were nice and nippy.
IS300h is lovely. I used to own 325i E92 and now IS300H premier, and I rate Lexus higher in terms of performance, running costs and overall refinement. The BM was lot's of sound and no go. Vauge gearbox and constant niggles with suspension, breaking and fancy systems, VANOS solenoids to name 1. My lexus has not been perfect, but the 10 year extended warranty covered me for every litttle niggle that I found annyoing , and the dealer bowed every time I entered the show room.
I had a BMW 320D and it was reliable but so many build quality issues. I then got an IS220D Sport and in terms of reliability and quality compared to the BM it was next level. Ironically the main dealer destroyed it by over filling it with oil by 2ltrs. I had a warranty wiry them and I could have got it fixed but I wanted a Jag so sold it. Silly really because I could have got more money if I'd got them to fix it.
Excellent content Matt. We have 2 Auris Hybrids, my wife's is a 2010 'round' shape in Bluzzard White with 155k km's on the clock and I have recently acquired a 2013 Estate version of the later model. Aside from the low-rent interiors they are both cracking cars, very reliable and comfortable and they sip fuel. The later one has tons of space but is rather boring and uninvolving to drive - you cannot beat 70 mpg on my office commute though! Honestly I think we will always try and hang on to the early one, but I am contemplating a Lexus GS450H as an option.
Used cars went up massively in price here during covid as well, I’m guessing the same must be true in Europe. Not sure if they’re back to ‘normal’ levels or not now though.
When looking for a car that's going to be used primarily as a VEHICLE, it's best to see what professional drivers are doing. Toyota hybrids are popular as taxis because they're super reliable. Because they're also quite common there's a market for second-hand and/or rebuilt batteries, so replacing the hybrid battery won't be as expensive. Sure, they will bore everyone to sleep, but as an everyday workhorse nothing can beat them.
Can vouch for the rx400h. Get a smart auto electrician to hook you up a CarPlay stereo instead of the old tape deck/cd player and you’ll have full steering controls, still be able to use the hvac settings and everything on the top screen. Brings the car right up to date. Great car.
SPH-DA250DB Pioneer is a good one. I have no idea how to install it but the first company did not do it properly and I lost hvac controls etc and some functions of top screen. I got some clever auto electricians to solve that and I had steering wheel controls and everything.@@whomstd
@@whomstdlook up Grom Vline. It’s a unit that interfaces with the original touch screen and allows you to use CarPlay through it, while keeping all original features.
Hi Matt - I'm thinking about selling my Golf 1.6, so this is useful - don't even get me started on the CAZ (Clean AIr Zone) in Bristol / Birmingham. Whenever I drive to Manchester for work, I always just want to come to your garage to see what you have!
If you're planning on making a "Should you buy" video on a CRZ then do get in touch 👍 Recently bought a new car and am looking to sell my old CRZ - would be nice if it could land in your hands :)
I think its lexus all the way matt either a gs450h or the 600h if you have to put up with battery power may aswell have luxury and speed to take your love of a petrol v8 away 😉 gret video matt 👍
Interesting video as always Matt! I spend many hours doing just this.... On this one though you didn't include plug-in hybrids, so you missed the c350e, Outlander and Ampera... All available for less than 10k...
Excellent video Matt. I can vouch for the Suzuki Ignis, we have one as a family car and while it a basic city car, there is so much interior space and the small boot can be swapped for rear leg room as the rear seats slide back and fourth as well as fold. I’m 6’5” and still have a few inches above my head. It does over 50mpg all the time (1.2 petrol, 5 speed manual) so a hybrid will be very frugal. It’s got enough tech (reversing camera, infotainment, electric windows and trip computer etc) but it’s wonderfully basic too. The styling is based on the awesome little 70s Suzuki Whizz Kid
The video hasn't been up for long enough to have watched it yet, but I have absolutely no doubt that I'm in for 22 mins of absolutely A* content as always 🙂
@@RienV1980I drove a Kia Niro Hybrid across the south coast into France and Belgium and back again and it was awful on the motorway. I bought a Toyota Corolla Touring Sports 2.0 - it’s far, far better than the Kia.
@@georgemorley1029 what was awful about it? I drive a Hybrid for 76000 km now. I find it far from awful. It is not the most powerful car, but it is a very comfortable family car.
Had a 2013 Lexus GS450h Premier for the past few months and absolutely love it, its quick, comfortable, reliable and economical. I can definitely understand why they hold their money.
One hybrid that is worth the money is the i8. You said this in a previous video. One car id love for you to review is an 8 series maybe or a mercedes sls
We were on the verge of buying a Honda Jazz Crosstar. Then we heard about a brake simulator issue. Cars in Japan and China have been recalled but not here in UK. Some customers have paid 2k for the repair and the wait time for parts has been weeks. Brakes haven’t completely failed but compromised. More models are affected-CRV, HRV. All 2018 -2022 as far as I know.
BiL recently got a 12 reg 5 hybrid which you started with. It will do a few miles on battery and if you push the loud pedal it does shift. It's nice.....
At 9:15. You do not need service for the CVT gearbox, as there is no CVT gearbox. You might want to have a hybrid battery checked as you mention instead, to see the state of all of the cells.
Love our hybrid Hyundai Kona, never let's us down. I've lost count of how many broken down German cars we've seen on the hard shoulder over the last 2 years. People will never learn LOL.
Thanks Matt as a Don Quixote of today you have at least given me a glimmer of hope that there is a few cars going to be available in the future that I don't have to loose the desire for life to be able to drive. Complain as much as you like about how un eco friendly EV etc are they are conspiring to leave us no option.
Nice one! I ran a 2010 Lexus RX450 from 2017 until last year, very very good car. Well, the seats weren't great, neither was fuel efficiency, but that feeling of wafting along in silent luxurious bliss was something! Sold it but kept my BMW E93. One had to go 😅❤
Really interesting video this. I drive a Peugeot 3008 hybrid and I get around 50 miles to the gallon which is approximately 10 miles per gallon more than the standard diesel. I know what you mean about feeling heavy but it is very comfortable to drive and very quiet on the road. Being able to engage 4 wheel drive when required as a real plus.
@@paulmcgee1867 if it’s diesel it must be Euro 6 (usually mid 2015 or newer), if it’s petrol Euro 4 (around 2004 or newer, but there are some older Euro 3 cars that are compliant). Putting the details of a car into the ULEZ website will show it it’s compliant or not.
I can’t let a mention of Lexus go by without commenting, we had an RX400H and it was so annoying we had to get rid of it. The main thing was the really annoying sat nav system as it will not let you change anything once you’re on the move, presumably for safety reasons. However, if you’ve got a passenger and decide to put a destination into the sat nav or add/change the destination, you can’t, it won’t let you unless you stop. The steptronic style gearbox is also not steptronic, it will ignore anything you ask of it and do it’s own thing! I’ve always wanted to venture down the GS/LS route but once I experienced my girlfriend’s RX the Lexus brand was immediately crossed off my list.
Had an Infiniti M35h for a year or so a couple of years back. Great car. So fast and fun to drive, loads of space, and yet would do 50mpg everywhere you go and had all the toys as standard. Wish I'd never sold it, as they're so rare and hard to come by nowadays!
The Infiniti Q50 Hybrid uses the same engine though it’s newer and improved with a lower Co2 output and that only achieves 35mpg around town and 40mpg on a 70mph run, you’re clearly mistaken if you think that the older version of the engine/hybrid system is over 30% more efficient in the older heavier car.
I know it's well out of budget here but the mk4 Prius (most recent shape) is a great car. Based on the same platform (TNGA) as the current Corolla so rides and handles well and is super smooth and quiet. Silent in fact at low town speeds when in EV mode. The build is excellent and the cabin feels great quality in terms of materials too. Amazing mpg and £nil RFL. Go for top spec Excel trim and its loaded with kit including the self park feature, adaptive cruise etc. People get hung up on the looks without knowing how good these cars really are.
You certainly don't need a hybrid to be ULEZ compliant. My 19 year old Avensis is ULEZ compliant, as is my 21 year old motorbike. Both meet the standard by manufacture, even though they predate Euro 4 and Euro 3 respectively.
Great video. Do be aware though that you run the risk of catalytic converter theft. I had mine stolen in 2020. You don't hear so much about it these days but I'm assuming the problem hasn't gone away. I understand though that later hybrids have catalytic converters that are far less appealing to thieves.
I have a soft spot for the CRZ, unfortunately whilst you'd only use the rear seating area as an extended load space, a standard B-segment hatch would offer so much more. On top of that, the facelift ones with the better battery and more power are as rare as hen's teeth. The DS5 is a fine car, but pre-facelift models were known for a harsh ride. The Baleno was Suzuki's other B-segment car, and as it didn't sell so well, it was only around for three years and departed along with the Celerio. Finally, Infinitis have rather oddball styling, not totally dissimilar to the approach Suzuki took with the Kizashi.
Neighbour has a Yaris hybrid he bought new. Not been overly reliable - not like his earlier Toyota's - plus one of the LED DTRL's has dimmed. He asked the dealer how much to get a new LED fitted. No can do - its a full headlamp job circa £400 incl VAT but plus fitting. Told him to get on line and find a used headlamp - there is bound to be a rear end smash write off being broken for parts
Yes, Auris is B O R I N G. Only excitement i got out of it was when the cat converter was stolen few years ago. Anyone buying one, get a Cat Lock straight away. I think i got attached to a complete reliability in 10 years and 115k miles of ownership, finding it difficult to part ways. If driven sensibly, it does 60mpg+
I find these " what you can get for X pounds" really interesting. Listening to you opinions on the various models across the brands is pretty enlightening. Cheers
Great video Matt. 🙏 Nice seeing a focus on hybrids. The Lexus self-charging hybrids are quality and great value and practical and absolutely zero range anxiety👌what more could you ask for?
@@DiscoFang don’t want plug in capability. That’s the whole point, you aren’t tied to plugging in to grid, it’s self charging! No range anxiety at all.
@@DiscoFang I note your point. The UK isn't setup well for charging infrastructure, so unless you have a home charger, you're disadvantaged. So I was saying avoid a PHEV in UK and stick with a Petrol/Battery Hybrid.
Thanks, this was a great video. My choices would be Toyota, Lexus or Honda in that order. I'd also think of an Infiniti since that's my US daily drive -- a QX80 (don't ask about fuel consumption :-) ) But I do have a question since you brought it up: Japanese imports. Facilitated because they drive on the same side of the road we do. If you search for a Prius, for example, a majority, I'd say are imports. Question: Is there a problem with Japanese imports -- parts?? -- is is it a non-issue. I'd really love to know. Thanks again.
Hybrids have additional complications for reliability Japanese the best bet but the battery situation would worry me no second hand sale could put any sort of guarantee unless it has been replaced and any of these for sale near the 10 year mark I would be worried
Great video as always. Question about a diesel hybrids; you always hear that a diesel needs to be doing longer journeys, wouldn’t the stop start design on a hybrid cause problems with a diesel engine?
Another great video, Matt, thank you. Funny that i am looking to change my old Audi because of the ULEZ expansion at the moment so very timely. A real shame as it’s got plenty of life left in her. By the way, did anyone else notice Matt’s golf tan?? ⛳️😂😜
I had a 2014 Auris hybrid estate. Boring but utterly reliable, felt as tight as new when I traded it in at 80k this year. Still got £9500 px for it too, crazy demand for them these days, thanks ULEZ.
I know this is a year old, my wife just got a 2012 Auris Hybrid 80,000 miles for £5995. It is in amazing condition, drives perfectly with no dents or marks..
Hey Matt, is that a High Peak Autos air freshener I see in some of your videos? I need one here in the US! Put them up on the merch store! Addicted to the content BTW! Cheers
If you are very fortunate, you might find an Infiniti Q50S Hybrid for around the £10k mark... Great car to drive, well built, quality wise easily on par with a relative BMW, Audi or Mercedes... I should know having owned one and various Mercs and BMWs... If performance is what you're after, the Infiniti is on par with a Tesla Model 3 Performance, BMW M3 /M4, Audi RS3, S4,S5 when the hybrid battery is full... Best of all, you get the aforementioned performance plus 50+ mpg if you drive gently...
I’ve driven a few and never seen better than 42mpg which could only be achieved by doing 60mph on a flat road. I agree with what you say about the performance, I’ve seen one do a Dragy time of 4.8 sec to 60mph standard then 4.3 sec after a remap to 400bhp. Having worked in the motor trade and driven hundreds of cars I can easily say that’s the most underrated car out there.
there are some BMW 5 hybrids out there that were on the BMW Olympic fleet. so a black 5 hybrid with all the options from late 2011 early 2012 could be a ex BMW Olympic fleet car
Great and interesting video as always Matt! i would take the 5 series F10 because its the sportiest, nippiest and the best looking, value for money! :D
Had my Honda CRZ for 8 years. It's one of the last in the Uk on a 14 plate and is the upgraded battery version. FHSH and 117,000 miles. Still makes me smile, £25 to tax, 48-50 MPG everywhere and the manual box is a pleasure to use. Brilliant commuter car.
Space in the rear seats?
@@a.a2304 Did have a 6ft family member in the back once for a very short trip but overall pretty unusable, so factor in it's a two person car only. Did do a european trip with the missus and just had a big boot with the seats down.
Same. Had my PWP since new from
2014. Love it
Bought a Corolla hybrid in part thanks to your videos. great car. Literally hasn't put a foot wrong and doesnt seem to use petrol!
I’ve had a Civic IMA hybrid (bronze coloured; the “God’s waiting room” special edition) Had about as much power in it as a wet f^rt, but was cheap as chips to run, and it regularly did runs from Nottingham to Belgium 🇧🇪
Also, I bought the Mrs a 2012 Lexus Ct 200 in 2016 with 13,000 on the clock. It’s now done 65,000, and hasn’t missed a beat, bar a weird click when opening the driver’s window and a noisy blower motor. She’s driven that all over Europe. A good, v solid car, if no ball of fire. Only two things I hate about it; 1) The centre console inexplicably has a bit of plastic that juts out that I constantly keep cracking my left kneecap on! and 2) The electric window switches seem to be exactly in the wrong place! Every time I go to open the driver’s window without actually looking, I always get the driver’s side rear windows instead! 😩
I sincerely hope that someone working in a Cobalt mine in Africa now understands the difficulties we face daily in the West! 🙃
Matt, Do the same for plug-in hybrids under 10K. Great option for best of both worlds in ULEZ zone, especially those with off street parking and plug access. An elderly aunt who bought an Outlander and drove it almost every day only refilled the petrol tank 6 months after buying it. All shopping and medium trips to beach and family. No range anxiety.
Hi Matt , My wife knows nothing about cars but she often hears your commentary when i am listening to ur youtube vids. She has never watched any of ur vids but is impressed by ur transparency and honesty and says u shoud have ur own TV series ..she kinda compares u to the moneysaving expert 'Martin Lewis ...u need to 'brand' urself 🤣
I recommend checking insurance costs before buying a hybrid. I was interested in buying a gen 2 Prius but I was startled when I did an insurance check. I think they cost more to insure than regular petrol cars because of all the cat thefts. They're great cars but very vulnerable, especially if you live in a big city or town. I watched a few videos of scummy thieves pinching catalytic converters and they're away in a couple of minutes. You then have an insurance claim which means your next premium will be higher. I don't mean to sound negative but it does counter the fuel saving cost on a hybrid and I just didn't want the stress of worrying about parking my car in public. I ended up buying a petrol car that does 60mpg if driven sensibly.
There are safety measures you can take. Even dealerships offer security options. My mark 2 has a catshield plus a steel rod welded to the remaining exhaust piping.
Its not a big of a deal with those installed. You can even install a tilt alarm if you want.
@@v31.48 They'll still jack it up and drop it, not giving a shit or even attempt to take it causing damage. I just don't want the hassle. I've got myself a little city car that does 60mpg and has zero road tax. It's as close to free motoring as I can get.
@@rain-bender4712 that’s perfectly fine mate. I’m just explaining that there are options 😄. I’d be more concerned about the mark 3 head gasket issues than a stolen cat. But everyone their choice! Drive safe :)
I love my Lexus is300h. So reliable, smooth, fast in sports mode and economical. £10 Road tax per year. Best car I’ve owned, and I have owned many. Much better than the German brigade
and insurance is ok?
@@imicca insurance will obviously depend on your age, where you live and where you keep the car overnight. Use one of the many car insurance online tools to get a quote. But for me the insurance is reasonable. I still own this car and every time I get to drive it I have a smile on my face. Buy it, you will love it. Nothing has gone wrong with my Lexus. Total reliability.
@@slimtimothy1 thank you! i am first time buyer, shall i just look at compare the market site or worth individually calling/checking different providers directly?
Road tax in netherlands is much higher. Around 70,- a month!
Hi Matt, great video.
I've had a CT200h for three years now. It's a 2013, totally reliable and I have average over 57mpg since buying the car. U don't drive particularly carefully but I do use Economy mode almost all the time.
Great car and I'm really happy to see it on your list.
Glad to see my Lexus gs450h featured. It is a hidden gem of a car with incredible acceleration when you turn on the sport/power mode.
Looking at getting one of these - what’s the road tax like? I keep finding conflicting information online
Still driving my 2013 Peugeot 508RXH which you recommended a couple of years ago. Been down to Spain in it and after 2 years still a great car. A bit like a Swiss army knife of cars. Roomy, quiet, comfy, looks good and only £10 a year road tax. Just come back from Brugge. Left the Welsh borders with a full tanks, drove to Brugge, toured the south Belguim battle fields and drove home via the tunnel , all on one tank. Averaging just on 50 mpg. Loads of toys as well. Finding one is not easy though.
@11:25 you showed a diesel hybrid.
I checked the reg, EF14BHV, it is NOT ULEZ compliant. It is not an Euro 6 diesel.
Gotta be careful there.
I assumed because of the electric hybrid that it would be. Wow
Hybrid systems are admittedly a lot more complex than standard petrol cars and they're more difficult to work on so I think reliability is a key factor when choosing a hybrid, I think going for anything other than a Toyota/Lexus or Honda hybrid would be a mistake since they're pretty much the most reliable ones by far, especially Toyota as they've been doing hybrid for at least 20 years with a solid reputation to boot.
People always say this but I've never seen any actual evidence that other hybrid systems are particularly unreliable.
@shooterrick1 ive heard that the Mercedes and BMW hybrids aren't particularly unreliable, its just they are so complex not many people can fix them. Whereas the hybrid system in a Lexus is the same principle as the Prius so there is a lot of knowledge out there. Its part of the reason why Lexus hybrids hold their money much more than their German rivals.
@@lce124They’re not that complex actually. The issue is that getting liability insurance for working on them is quite expensive, that puts a lot of garages off.
Typically Mercedes etc charge a fortune for parts that could be repaired.
The batteries are cooled using the vehicle’s air con.
If it develops an air con fault the software will prevent it being driven. 😬
@@shooterrick1 That is because it is a false statement. A "normal" hybrid from Toyota/Lexus has a couple of planetary gears instead of a clutch and gearbox. They are thus mechanically simpler with only the programming being more complex. This is why reliability is superior as well.
well my 2011 prius has been sitting in my parking lot for months due to a blown head gasket, not so reliable
That was a blast from the past with the 535i and 335i Hybrids, I forgot all about them! I memory serves me, it was BMW showcasing what was possible and they were nice and nippy.
Just wanted to say, the hard work you put into this won't go unnoticed.
IS300h is lovely. I used to own 325i E92 and now IS300H premier, and I rate Lexus higher in terms of performance, running costs and overall refinement. The BM was lot's of sound and no go. Vauge gearbox and constant niggles with suspension, breaking and fancy systems, VANOS solenoids to name 1. My lexus has not been perfect, but the 10 year extended warranty covered me for every litttle niggle that I found annyoing , and the dealer bowed every time I entered the show room.
I had a BMW 320D and it was reliable but so many build quality issues. I then got an IS220D Sport and in terms of reliability and quality compared to the BM it was next level. Ironically the main dealer destroyed it by over filling it with oil by 2ltrs. I had a warranty wiry them and I could have got it fixed but I wanted a Jag so sold it. Silly really because I could have got more money if I'd got them to fix it.
That's fantastic !
Excellent content Matt. We have 2 Auris Hybrids, my wife's is a 2010 'round' shape in Bluzzard White with 155k km's on the clock and I have recently acquired a 2013 Estate version of the later model. Aside from the low-rent interiors they are both cracking cars, very reliable and comfortable and they sip fuel. The later one has tons of space but is rather boring and uninvolving to drive - you cannot beat 70 mpg on my office commute though! Honestly I think we will always try and hang on to the early one, but I am contemplating a Lexus GS450H as an option.
This is the only channel that I look forward to new videos, very enjoyable channel.
Yes, you missed one :) Vauxhall Ampera.
What a difference in prices at the UK in comparison with the continent (where I live). The cars you mention are way above £ 10k here.
Used cars went up massively in price here during covid as well, I’m guessing the same must be true in Europe. Not sure if they’re back to ‘normal’ levels or not now though.
When looking for a car that's going to be used primarily as a VEHICLE, it's best to see what professional drivers are doing. Toyota hybrids are popular as taxis because they're super reliable. Because they're also quite common there's a market for second-hand and/or rebuilt batteries, so replacing the hybrid battery won't be as expensive. Sure, they will bore everyone to sleep, but as an everyday workhorse nothing can beat them.
6:35, yeah I remember rationing. I learnt about it in school like 5 years ago
Can vouch for the rx400h. Get a smart auto electrician to hook you up a CarPlay stereo instead of the old tape deck/cd player and you’ll have full steering controls, still be able to use the hvac settings and everything on the top screen. Brings the car right up to date. Great car.
Any CarPlay stereos you'd recommend? Trying to drag my RX400H into the 21st century
SPH-DA250DB Pioneer is a good one. I have no idea how to install it but the first company did not do it properly and I lost hvac controls etc and some functions of top screen. I got some clever auto electricians to solve that and I had steering wheel controls and everything.@@whomstd
@@whomstdlook up Grom Vline. It’s a unit that interfaces with the original touch screen and allows you to use CarPlay through it, while keeping all original features.
I had a crz in 2012 off the production line and I bloody loved it! Just want comfortable doing the super long journeys I ended up doing.
Hi Matt - I'm thinking about selling my Golf 1.6, so this is useful - don't even get me started on the CAZ (Clean AIr Zone) in Bristol / Birmingham. Whenever I drive to Manchester for work, I always just want to come to your garage to see what you have!
If you're planning on making a "Should you buy" video on a CRZ then do get in touch 👍
Recently bought a new car and am looking to sell my old CRZ - would be nice if it could land in your hands :)
My wife has had the Yaris hybrid for a few years and as you say, it really is bulletproof and averages 61mpg. It is a brilliant town car
I think its lexus all the way matt either a gs450h or the 600h if you have to put up with battery power may aswell have luxury and speed to take your love of a petrol v8 away 😉 gret video matt 👍
Interesting video as always Matt! I spend many hours doing just this.... On this one though you didn't include plug-in hybrids, so you missed the c350e, Outlander and Ampera... All available for less than 10k...
Excellent video Matt. I can vouch for the Suzuki Ignis, we have one as a family car and while it a basic city car, there is so much interior space and the small boot can be swapped for rear leg room as the rear seats slide back and fourth as well as fold. I’m 6’5” and still have a few inches above my head. It does over 50mpg all the time (1.2 petrol, 5 speed manual) so a hybrid will be very frugal. It’s got enough tech (reversing camera, infotainment, electric windows and trip computer etc) but it’s wonderfully basic too. The styling is based on the awesome little 70s Suzuki Whizz Kid
The video hasn't been up for long enough to have watched it yet, but I have absolutely no doubt that I'm in for 22 mins of absolutely A* content as always 🙂
I was correct, smashing vid! 🙂
Wouldn't buy a hybrid from any other brand other than Toyota/Lexus or Honda.
Kia and Hyundai made some great hybrids too
Kia and hyundai literally rust buckets, body dies so quickly before engine does
@@bakedsnake total nonsense. Both brands are in the top 10 of most reliable cars. I have a Kia Niro Hybrid and it is an excellent car.
@@RienV1980I drove a Kia Niro Hybrid across the south coast into France and Belgium and back again and it was awful on the motorway. I bought a Toyota Corolla Touring Sports 2.0 - it’s far, far better than the Kia.
@@georgemorley1029 what was awful about it? I drive a Hybrid for 76000 km now. I find it far from awful. It is not the most powerful car, but it is a very comfortable family car.
Had a 2013 Lexus GS450h Premier for the past few months and absolutely love it, its quick, comfortable, reliable and economical. I can definitely understand why they hold their money.
Any reason you didn't choose plug in hybrids as well?
One hybrid that is worth the money is the i8. You said this in a previous video. One car id love for you to review is an 8 series maybe or a mercedes sls
We were on the verge of buying a Honda Jazz Crosstar. Then we heard about a brake simulator issue. Cars in Japan and China have been recalled but not here in UK. Some customers have paid 2k for the repair and the wait time for parts has been weeks. Brakes haven’t completely failed but compromised. More models are affected-CRV, HRV. All 2018 -2022 as far as I know.
BiL recently got a 12 reg 5 hybrid which you started with.
It will do a few miles on battery and if you push the loud pedal it does shift.
It's nice.....
At 9:15. You do not need service for the CVT gearbox, as there is no CVT gearbox. You might want to have a hybrid battery checked as you mention instead, to see the state of all of the cells.
Love our hybrid Hyundai Kona, never let's us down. I've lost count of how many broken down German cars we've seen on the hard shoulder over the last 2 years. People will never learn LOL.
Such underrated hybrids
Thanks Matt as a Don Quixote of today you have at least given me a glimmer of hope that there is a few cars going to be available in the future that I don't have to loose the desire for life to be able to drive. Complain as much as you like about how un eco friendly EV etc are they are conspiring to leave us no option.
Coming to a city near you soon. Very timely thanks Matt 👍
Interesting video. But myself i would just get a cheap ULEZ compliant petrol .
Nice one! I ran a 2010 Lexus RX450 from 2017 until last year, very very good car. Well, the seats weren't great, neither was fuel efficiency, but that feeling of wafting along in silent luxurious bliss was something! Sold it but kept my BMW E93. One had to go 😅❤
Really interesting video this. I drive a Peugeot 3008 hybrid and I get around 50 miles to the gallon which is approximately 10 miles per gallon more than the standard diesel. I know what you mean about feeling heavy but it is very comfortable to drive and very quiet on the road. Being able to engage 4 wheel drive when required as a real plus.
3008 1.6 diesel does about 55mpg
12:35 we had this vehicle as the Fusion Hybrid here in the USA
The diesel hybrids you mentioned are only Euro 5 emissions standard, meaning they won’t pass ULEZ
Interesting point. How would you know if a car complies or not ?
@@paulmcgee1867 if it’s diesel it must be Euro 6 (usually mid 2015 or newer), if it’s petrol Euro 4 (around 2004 or newer, but there are some older Euro 3 cars that are compliant).
Putting the details of a car into the ULEZ website will show it it’s compliant or not.
Auto trader removed that option from filters you you need to check via government site
That’s right diesels have to be Euro 6 to comply 😢
Excellent consumer info for those living in ulez zone or anyone looking for hybrid. Some real surprises what is available 👍
When you started with BMW, I nearly switched off, but glad I didn’t 👍🏻
I can’t let a mention of Lexus go by without commenting, we had an RX400H and it was so annoying we had to get rid of it. The main thing was the really annoying sat nav system as it will not let you change anything once you’re on the move, presumably for safety reasons. However, if you’ve got a passenger and decide to put a destination into the sat nav or add/change the destination, you can’t, it won’t let you unless you stop. The steptronic style gearbox is also not steptronic, it will ignore anything you ask of it and do it’s own thing! I’ve always wanted to venture down the GS/LS route but once I experienced my girlfriend’s RX the Lexus brand was immediately crossed off my list.
Had an Infiniti M35h for a year or so a couple of years back. Great car. So fast and fun to drive, loads of space, and yet would do 50mpg everywhere you go and had all the toys as standard. Wish I'd never sold it, as they're so rare and hard to come by nowadays!
The Infiniti Q50 Hybrid uses the same engine though it’s newer and improved with a lower Co2 output and that only achieves 35mpg around town and 40mpg on a 70mph run, you’re clearly mistaken if you think that the older version of the engine/hybrid system is over 30% more efficient in the older heavier car.
With your advice in a past video I bought a rx400h been an epic work horse
Worked at Toyota for 30 years. Had 2 Corolla GR sports...Masters of hybrid 😀
Good again Matt. Looking at Hybrids at the moment so this helped narrow things down a little. 👌
What are the pros and cons of buying a Japanese import?
I know it's well out of budget here but the mk4 Prius (most recent shape) is a great car. Based on the same platform (TNGA) as the current Corolla so rides and handles well and is super smooth and quiet. Silent in fact at low town speeds when in EV mode. The build is excellent and the cabin feels great quality in terms of materials too. Amazing mpg and £nil RFL. Go for top spec Excel trim and its loaded with kit including the self park feature, adaptive cruise etc. People get hung up on the looks without knowing how good these cars really are.
You certainly don't need a hybrid to be ULEZ compliant. My 19 year old Avensis is ULEZ compliant, as is my 21 year old motorbike. Both meet the standard by manufacture, even though they predate Euro 4 and Euro 3 respectively.
Hey Matt, problem with Hybrid diesels you shown is that none are ULEZ compliment as they are all Euro 5, to be compliant in diesels you need EURO 6…
Great video. Do be aware though that you run the risk of catalytic converter theft. I had mine stolen in 2020. You don't hear so much about it these days but I'm assuming the problem hasn't gone away. I understand though that later hybrids have catalytic converters that are far less appealing to thieves.
A really interesting video so thanks. However if London’s ULEZ zone is important only Euro 6 diesels comply, with petrol it’s from Euro 4.
Your vlogs are brilliant 👏 You come across a real genuine,decent guy 👍
Here in the US the prius+ was called the Prius V and we also got the prius C which was the smallest prius made basically
The UK version of the Prus V also came with 7 seat option. The US version didn't.
I have a soft spot for the CRZ, unfortunately whilst you'd only use the rear seating area as an extended load space, a standard B-segment hatch would offer so much more. On top of that, the facelift ones with the better battery and more power are as rare as hen's teeth. The DS5 is a fine car, but pre-facelift models were known for a harsh ride. The Baleno was Suzuki's other B-segment car, and as it didn't sell so well, it was only around for three years and departed along with the Celerio. Finally, Infinitis have rather oddball styling, not totally dissimilar to the approach Suzuki took with the Kizashi.
Neighbour has a Yaris hybrid he bought new. Not been overly reliable - not like his earlier Toyota's - plus one of the LED DTRL's has dimmed. He asked the dealer how much to get a new LED fitted. No can do - its a full headlamp job circa £400 incl VAT but plus fitting. Told him to get on line and find a used headlamp - there is bound to be a rear end smash write off being broken for parts
Regardless of whether it's petrol or diesel, for future proofing (more for Petrol than diesel) but i'd pick something Euro 6 compliant.
Good wee look at them . Opens your eyes to money and cars . Food for thought .
I run as a daily 2009 RX400H Limited edition like the one u showed. Amazing car.
My brother used to have a 2006 Lexus gs450h. I wasn't ready back then for a comfy cruiser but few years on I would love one. Must be getting old
Yes, Auris is B O R I N G. Only excitement i got out of it was when the cat converter was stolen few years ago. Anyone buying one, get a Cat Lock straight away.
I think i got attached to a complete reliability in 10 years and 115k miles of ownership, finding it difficult to part ways. If driven sensibly, it does 60mpg+
Another brilliant video.
Really looking forward to maybe seeing one about the Ineos Grenadier.
Hi Matt, another great video. I do like the gen 3 Prius but have heard bad stories about oil consumption and head gasket issues on 2010 and 2011 cars.
Great show as always Matt, I love these auto trader videos. Keep up the good work.
Out of all them it would have to be a Lexus RX for me. Great video Matt, useful info with the impending ULEZ for greater Manchester
Its amazing how small the selection becomes if you filter for 2014 or newer and with a sensible mileage.
I find these " what you can get for X pounds" really interesting. Listening to you opinions on the various models across the brands is pretty enlightening. Cheers
Great video Matt. 🙏 Nice seeing a focus on hybrids. The Lexus self-charging hybrids are quality and great value and practical and absolutely zero range anxiety👌what more could you ask for?
What more? Plug-in capability.
@@DiscoFang don’t want plug in capability. That’s the whole point, you aren’t tied to plugging in to grid, it’s self charging! No range anxiety at all.
@@stephenlane9168 A phev isn’t tied to the grid either, that’s the point. You asked, I answered, now you’re dissing my point.
@@DiscoFang I note your point. The UK isn't setup well for charging infrastructure, so unless you have a home charger, you're disadvantaged. So I was saying avoid a PHEV in UK and stick with a Petrol/Battery Hybrid.
perhaps something that does not pollute
Honest as ever 👍🏼 … but I have issues with you hybrid choices 😂
Thanks, this was a great video. My choices would be Toyota, Lexus or Honda in that order. I'd also think of an Infiniti since that's my US daily drive -- a QX80 (don't ask about fuel consumption :-) ) But I do have a question since you brought it up: Japanese imports. Facilitated because they drive on the same side of the road we do. If you search for a Prius, for example, a majority, I'd say are imports. Question: Is there a problem with Japanese imports -- parts?? -- is is it a non-issue. I'd really love to know. Thanks again.
So put aside £3-5k on top of purchase price, in case the hybrid batteries may be knackered on any make of high mileage £10k hybrid car??
Brilliant choice of motors Matt ànd a great video
Hybrids have additional complications for reliability Japanese the best bet but the battery situation would worry me no second hand sale could put any sort of guarantee unless it has been replaced and any of these for sale near the 10 year mark I would be worried
All the roads in and out of London seem to be 20mph these days so 400hp seems a waste
Great video as always. Question about a diesel hybrids; you always hear that a diesel needs to be doing longer journeys, wouldn’t the stop start design on a hybrid cause problems with a diesel engine?
Very happy with my Toyota Auris estate. Bit boring looking but great family car, 56 mpg.
Another great video, Matt, thank you. Funny that i am looking to change my old Audi because of the ULEZ expansion at the moment so very timely. A real shame as it’s got plenty of life left in her.
By the way, did anyone else notice Matt’s golf tan?? ⛳️😂😜
Very useful factual information. Thanks.
Nice video Matt this worked well! Love the GS £10k get a nice high spec all electric Smart forfour Prime plus… 100 ish city miles all electric?..
I had a 2014 Auris hybrid estate. Boring but utterly reliable, felt as tight as new when I traded it in at 80k this year. Still got £9500 px for it too, crazy demand for them these days, thanks ULEZ.
That's the first time I've ever heard one of your colleagues or the camera person say something on a video, Matt!
Immediately thought of the GS450h, no competition for me in this price bracket.
I know this is a year old, my wife just got a 2012 Auris Hybrid 80,000 miles for £5995.
It is in amazing condition, drives perfectly with no dents or marks..
Brilliant video. Thanks. What about the Infiniti's?
So matt. What's got higher turnover, high peak or your media venture? 🤔
Thanks for the video. Most informative.
Hey Matt, is that a High Peak Autos air freshener I see in some of your videos? I need one here in the US! Put them up on the merch store! Addicted to the content BTW! Cheers
Thanks! They’re coming soon
If you ever need to borrow a CRZ for a video, happy to lend you mine! Based in Manchester and it's slightly modified to improve the driving feeling!
If you are very fortunate, you might find an Infiniti Q50S Hybrid for around the £10k mark...
Great car to drive, well built, quality wise easily on par with a relative BMW, Audi or Mercedes... I should know having owned one and various Mercs and BMWs...
If performance is what you're after, the Infiniti is on par with a Tesla Model 3 Performance, BMW M3 /M4, Audi RS3, S4,S5 when the hybrid battery is full...
Best of all, you get the aforementioned performance plus 50+ mpg if you drive gently...
I’ve driven a few and never seen better than 42mpg which could only be achieved by doing 60mph on a flat road. I agree with what you say about the performance, I’ve seen one do a Dragy time of 4.8 sec to 60mph standard then 4.3 sec after a remap to 400bhp. Having worked in the motor trade and driven hundreds of cars I can easily say that’s the most underrated car out there.
Can you do a video for affordable and good cars in the Netherlands because here its quite expensive
Thank you, handsome man, I found your video very helpful as I need a car ASAP. ❤
there are some BMW 5 hybrids out there that were on the BMW Olympic fleet. so a black 5 hybrid with all the options from late 2011 early 2012 could be a ex BMW Olympic fleet car
Great and interesting video as always Matt!
i would take the 5 series F10 because its the sportiest, nippiest and the best looking, value for money! :D
Hi Matt. Love your work 👍