2018 HyCam amateur review and ongoing blog

Nice!! At least you got a tail wind in one direction. Last time we took a long trip, we had 20 mph headwinds in both directions. And it rained most of the time.

 

Really wish this car was available as a Lexus badged PHEV hatchback / crossover. Like the Venza, but done well. Or an updated, larger CT 200h.

 

agree!

 

Looked at a Lexus NX today while the IS got a TSB taken care of.


With the horrible gas mileage of the NX it's not even on my list, but it does tick a lot of boxes.


Have to wonder what is going on inside Toyota, Lexus executives' minds. Subaru's market share increases every year, yet I guarantee 9/10 Subaru owners would gladly move to a more reliable manufacturer (so, any other one) given the choice. Ground clearance and utility is important, but not as important as a working engine and decent fuel economy! And why do luxury makes insist on sacrificing utility so much?

I never understood the appeal of Volvos, always felt like paying luxury price for non-luxury vehicle, but now I am beginning to understand...

 

are suburu's trouble in the first 120k?

 

Subaru has really stepped up their game in fuel economy in the past few years.

 

is that a backhanded compliment?

 

Actually no. A synchronous AWD system is going to be less efficiency than most other drive trains out there. The Imperza's combine rating was in the low 20's. Subaru redesigned the AWD, went with a CVT, and installed a new engine, and it jumped to the low 30's in one year. A Corolla or other FWD sedan will easily do better, but they also don't have AWD available, let alone one of the best AWD systems. Their advanced driving and safety aids are also top notch.

There overall reliability has also improved over time. I remember that they were on par with the domestic brands on CR surveys during the '90s.

 

There will be a Lexus badged replacement for the CT, a Prius sized crossover shaped hybrid with eAWD: The UX due in December. No plug in version. The hybrid variant will be eAWD only and the non hybrid will be front drive only.

 

The Accord hybrid doesn't have a traditional transmission of any type It is a one speed transmission like BEVs use that has a clutch to allow the ICE to directly propel the wheels at highway speeds.

While I had the Prius, there were a couple times when I was left wondering why the house door wasn't simply unlocking for me.

 

I haven't taken a close look at it, but would if I were in the market.
Any issues I have would have against the car would likely stem from the dealer and Honda's pricing, but I think they have a sale going on the hybrid now.

 

The artificial shift points maybe are for those who don't like a constant tone. Logically keeping engine at constant optimum RPM for either best economy or best power delivery without gear shifts is best from an objective point of view. In another version of history, if all cars had CVTs since the beginning and then we moved to shifting gears, everyone including the car magazine would then be annoyed by the annoying changing RPM and shifts.

 

Other CVT equipped cars have had artificial shift points to appease those that are use to them, and those that favor performance over efficiency.

In the Camry hybrid, the manual shifting option is really just a reinvention of the B mode in the Prius and previous Toyota hybrids. It is B with selectable levels of engine braking, and allowed Toyota to share some more parts and software between the hybrid and ICE models.

 

But, but but...
<sarcasm>Toyota US considers the Camry a car, but the Hybrid is a different beast, in its own category. If they are that different how could they share drive components?</sarcasm>