Milestone for Toyota hybrids
35 to 54 and 58 per cent of those age 18 to 34. That said, younger drivers are much more likely to regret a repair compared to their elders.
Birmingham has the highest percentage of rueful mechanics — one in five drivers here were sorry they had even started their mechanical meddling and wished they had hired a professional instead. In contrast, Liverpool drivers appear to be the most competent when it comes to repairs, as 41 per cent of all Liverpudlian motorists have been able to step back from their cars and admire the successful results of their handiwork. In the capital, only a third of drivers try their hand at repairs and nearly half of these have-a-go mechanics have been unhappy with the results.
Andrew Jervis, co-founder of ClickMechanic, says: “Due to the complexity of modern car design, more and more motorists are less confident when it comes to the mechanics. While one third of UK motorists have attempted a repair, a third of those admit to regretting the results, which emphasises the advanced skill set and knowledge now needed, even for everyday jobs. Car mechanics can still be learnt, yet the engineering is not as simple as it used to be. If you feel unsure of a repair, find a professional, rather than facing a more expensive bill down the line.”
clickmechanic.com
INDEPENDENT RESEARCH by Which? confirms the latest Toyota hybrid electric cars give motorists more miles per gallon and lower annual fuel bills, while producing lower emissions in real-world driving than their petrol and diesel rivals. “Two decades on after the first Prius was sold, it seems hybrids are starting to become the truly fuel-efficient option,” Which? declares.
Published online and in the August issue of the magazine, the report crunches data from stringent testing of 123 different UK market cars since the start of 2017 to determine the most economical and those with highest emissions levels. It also measured its findings against the official test mpg and CO2 figures all manufacturers are required to quote.
The results demonstrate the significant advances Toyota has made with its hybrid technology, compared to the performance of cars with conventional petrol and diesel engines, whether driving around town or on the open road.
Critics have regarded motorway running as a weakness for hybrids, but the Toyota Prius and Prius Plug-in Hybrid demonstrated strong performance, recording 52.3 and 49.6mpg respectively.
Which? reports: “Exceptional cars from Toyota prove it is possible for hybrids to be as fuel-efficient on motor- ways as diesels.” In the town driving analysis, Toyota occupies the top three places with its Prius, Prius Plug-in and the C-HR Hybrid crossover — demonstrating how the full hybrids’ ability to run for certain distances on their electric power alone minimises fuel use in slow, stop-start traffic.
Prius and Prius Plug-in are also topthree performers in terms of best overall fuel economy, translating into calculated annual fuel bills of less than £800 for both models. Which? points out that this is “£180 less than the most efficient non-hybrid diesel or petrol car, nearly £400 better than the average diesel car and more than £450 cheaper than the average petrol car,” according to its test findings.
Toyota has constantly improved the performance of its hybrid electric technology and made it available to an ever-wider range of customers by introducing it across its model range, from the Yaris supermini to the RAV4 SUV. At the same time, Toyota has ended the use of diesel engines in its passenger vehicles in Europe.
Hybrid is also the core technology principle Toyota is using to develop a range of different powertrains to suit different driving applications and customer needs, including fuel cell electric, plug-in hybrid electric and battery electric vehicles. This will ultimately have the potential, says Toyota, “to deliver mobility that has zero impact on the environment”.
If you doubt your DIY, call an expert mechanic’
Full report in the August issue of Which? magazine, or at which.co.uk