Test drove Toyota Hyryder's mild & strong hybrid models: My experience

The suspension felt well set up & soaked up bumps well. Comparable to VW Taigun 1.5 (if not better) & second to the Jeep Compass.

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This is my experience test driving both the mild hybrid model (Suzuki showroom, C.M. Auto, sector 73, Mohali) and the strong hybrid model (Toyota showroom, Pioneer Toyota, Ind. Area, Chandigarh). Both were top variants.

But before I proceed, I’d like to give a little context to those who are trying to establish whether this car is worth purchasing or not.

I was helping a friend of my father's with finding a new petrol, mid-size SUV in the ballpark of Rs. 20L.

The following are the other cars we considered and test drove before seeing the Hyryder - Skoda Kushaq / VW Taigun 1.0 AT, VW Taigun 1.5 DSG, Jeep compass 1.4 AT, Kia Seltos 1.4 auto and XUV 700 (no test drive). Long story short - nothing satisfied us and we waited for the Hyryder launch.

I will give the details of my experience with these cars after the details of the Hyryder.

Fast forward to the day of the test drives. Here are a few general observations for both versions.

Cabin Interior

Styling was elegant and the build quality was quite satisfactory. Dual-tone leather (in the top variant) and soft-touch leather on the dash were a welcome aesthetic. The knobs and dials had a relatively sturdy feel to them and I loved the up/down rocker switches on the A/C controls and steering. Ventilated seats worked very well. Most other expected features like wireless charging, 360-degree camera and Apple CarPlay / Android Auto were present. Panoramic sunroof was also a one-up as compared to the other cars in the segment that I had test driven.

While the design elements and materials were all premium in nature, it would be wrong for me not to say that some things still felt a little plasticky and could be improved upon. Power adjustable seats could have been added in the top variants at least and were missed. The only major complaint I had was that the sunroof shade was flimsy and seemed like it would need replacing soon.

Exterior

Good road presence and decent proportions. Top variant of the Hyryder had good-looking alloy wheels. Heavier doors as compared to standard Maruti Suzuki a few years back but not as sturdy as VW makes them even today. I’d say choosing between the exteriors of the Grand Vitara and Hyryder will be a matter of personal preference. Nothing seemed lacking in either and both made their own good impressions.

Ride & Comfort

The suspension felt well set up and soaked up bumps well. Comparable to Taigun 1.5 (if not better) and second to the Compass. There was a hint of stiffness, but I assume that would be welcome at higher speeds.

The seats hold you well in place. However, I’m not sure if they would be comfortable for people who have broad torsos. A/C functioned quite well even when the petrol engine was not running. As with other hybrids, they have used an electric compressor which is not driven off the engine belt.

Decent legroom all around. However, in the driver seat, my left leg was resting on the console but was not uncomfortable and I quickly got used to it.

Noise

The 4-cylinder engine of the mild hybrid was very refined and could barely hear it at idle.

The 3-cylinder engine of the strong hybrid has a rumble to it when revved. It is undoubtedly louder than the competition. However, it is not unpleasant. The typical EV whine sound is also there when the petrol engine is not active.

The mild hybrid is definitely the quieter driving car.

Steering & Handling

Good steering feel - not soft like most Japanese and Korean cars typically have. It's adequately responsive and I didn't feel much difference after switching to this from my Skoda Yeti. Overall, very close to the feel of German / American cars.

Somehow, the Toyota strong hybrid variant seemed like it handled better on the road and inspired better confidence. It could be the weight of the bigger battery pack at the rear I assume.

I did not feel out of place driving the car and its handling did not seem to be lacking. However, I did not get to test it above 80 km/h.

Power & Transmission

The mild hybrid AT felt severely underpowered coming from a 2.0 TDI and when you stepped on the gas, the engine revved high till the power was transferrable from the torque converter to the wheels. 
I am guilty of being an enthusiastic driver and I did not enjoy driving this very much. It will be much more suitable for sedate city driving.

The strong hybrid thankfully was remarkably different. 60 km/h came quick and effortlessly and even till 80, it was quite acceptable. I have a feeling that beyond 80 it loses a bit of pep, however.

The transmission in the Strong hybrid left a very good impression on me. It was very responsive and seamless unlike the regular automatic on the mild hybrid. Even the engine start and stop did not cause any noticeable change apart from its sound.

The technology used says an eCVT and after a little research I found out that it does not function using a steel belt like other CVTs. It is, in fact, continuously variable owing to an interplay of a planetary gear and a motor/generator. I believe this particular transmission has two of these motor generators. Here is a link if you’d like to learn more about how it functions.

The Verdict

My overall verdict is that the Hyryder does everything quite well except power in the mild hybrid. There is a marginally better alternative for each category in the market, but no other does all these things together as well as returning as good mileage. One must definitely take a look at this car if looking for a mid-sized SUV and especially if fuel economy is a deciding criterion.

While I had originally gone to help out my father's friend, I and my father dropped by the next day and booked a dual-tone, cafe white, strong hybrid V variant for ourselves to replace our ageing Yeti as a daily driver. It’s funny how fate works sometimes.

For those who are interested, the following is why we were not pleased with the other cars we saw:

• Skoda Kushaq / VW Taigun 1.0 AT - Screeching brake noise at low speeds. Drastically compromised interior build quality, poor resale value.
• VW Taigun 1.5 DSG - Although performance and ride were great, and the DSG was a pleasure to use, we were hesitant because of the higher cost, most likely higher depreciation and the absence of certain features and poor resale value.
• Jeep Compass 1.4 AT - Most luxurious, premium-feeling interior and superior ride quality to all the mentioned cars. 1.4 petrol was refined but slightly underpowered and the price was prohibitive. There was also the question of reliability and resale value.
• Kia Seltos - Good exterior and interior. However, a very stiff ride, extremely poor steering feel, long delivery times and previous nightmares with Hyundai quality left a bad taste.
• XUV 700 - Poor interiors (too much plastic everywhere), prohibitive price and size. Mahindra customer service has also been repeatedly disappointing at Raj vehicles Mohali.

Thank you for reading. I hope it will manage to provide useful information.

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