EV Reviews

Honda's burgeoning hybrid portfolio now includes a hybrid, petrol-electric version of the Jazz hatch.

In the world of slow-starters, Infiniti has been the standard bearer.

Can the Nissan Leaf compete with the legendary Datsun 240Z in a drag race?

No longer is the Prius an only child, now part of a family that includes the Camry and two new Prius siblings - the "v" and the "c".  The "c" is the "city" car hybrid version of the Yaris, which is at least a $2000 price rise over the top spec petrol powered light car from Toyota but there's 30-odd more

We turn the spotlight on the car world's newest and brightest stars as we ask the questions to which you want the answers. But there's only one question that really needs answering -- would you buy one? What is it? This is the 3-Series BMW hybrid for want of a better term but forget any hybrid preconceptions you may have. This car is a high performance sedan offering super fuel economy along with  striking welly and dynamics. It's also crammed with luxury kit. Shop it against the 335i  you will be really surprised. How much? Goes for $97,700 but there are plenty of options to hike that as well as four option packs, Sportline, Modern, Luxury and M Sport. All ad up to a few grand to the purchase price. What are competitors? Not many really. Benz has some BlueEfficincy models but none goes as far as the Bimmer ActiveHybrid. Same from Audi though they do have some fuel economy kings in their lineup. What's under the bonnet? There's a 3.0-litre turbo straight six petrol engine mated to a 40kW electric boost engine located between the eight speed auto transmission and the engine proper. It's a neat installation. Drive still goes to the rear wheels. A lithium ion battery absorbs regenerative electric energy harvested when braking or deceleration. The combined output of electric and petrol engines is 250kW/450Nm The ActiveHybrid can run entirely as an EV if required and does so automatically when cruising. How does it go? Like a rocket. Puts away a 0-100kmh sprint in a tidy 5.3 seconds offering strong acceleration at all speeds merely by pushing the accelerator. Handling is sharp to. This is a fast, engaging sports sedan, not a wimpy fuel miser that grudgingly gives up forward motion. Is it economical? Surprisingly so rated at a mere 5.9-litres/100km. It's significantly better than the petrol only 335i Bimmer and we reckon you could do even better than the claimed figure with a little effort and planning. Is it green? Yes, minimises carbon production due to low fuel consumption Is it safe? Hi fives. But many driver assistance features are optional. Is it comfortable? Yes, leather sports seats, heads up display, drive experience control with Eco-Pro, Comfort and Sport modes, electronic diff lock, electric power steering, rain and dusk sensors, cruise control with braking, premium audio, Bi-xenons, on board computer with internet, 6.5-inch info screen with proferssional satnav, voice control, 18-inch alloys What's it like to drive Super impressive  have your cake and eat it too. Offers performance on par with the 335i with the economy of the 320 four banger. Has excellent dynamics, powerful brakes, great engine sound, sexy stylin Is it value for money At just under 100k, good value against possible competitors. A technology showpiece. Would we buy one In a flash.

It's almost time to take back the hybrid. But before doing so we thought we'd throw in a tank of the good stuff to see whether it made a difference. Although 98 RON Premium fuel is more expensive, it's better for your car and delivers more kilometres per litre. Would it have the same effect in a hybrid car we wondered? Priced from $35,990 the new Multi-Information Display (i-MID) is pretty cool, but unlike the Insight it misses out on satnav which is not available as an option either (different buyers we're told). Bluetooth is standard along with a USB Audio Interface for music players. The 1.5-litre four cylinder petrol engine is the primary source of power, assisted when necessary by a 17kW electric motor. Together, they produce 82kW of power at 5500 revs and 172Nm of torque between 1000 and 3500 revs. Unlike an electric car or plug-in hybrid you can't recharge this car with from a wall socket. The lithium-ion (Li-Ion) battery is recharged as you're going along. It uses a claimed 4.4 litres of fuel per 100km, slightly more than the Toyota Prius at 3.9 litres/100km. It's a biggish small car that doesn't compromise on space. The seats are comfortable and the instruments all large and easy to read/use. The styling however is conservative, apart from the multi-layered dash with its large digital speedo set above the other dials. The Civic gets a full five stars for crash safety, with a long list of standard safety gear including six airbags, next-generation Vehicle Stability Assist (VSA), an anti-lock braking system (ABS) with Brake Assist and a new Motion Adaptive Electric Power Steering. It's surprisingly torquey thanks to the quick response electric motor. The electric motor is designed to provide extra oomph during acceleration, but once you're up and running it cuts out as the system goes into charge mode. Drive is to the front wheels through a CVT continuously variable auto with its characteristic slur. After a couple of thousand kilometres the Civic Hybrid is starting to show some real promise. Fuel consumption dropped to a low 5.3 litres/100km and that has something of a halo effect on the rest of the drive experience. After all, the main reason for buying a hybrid is the lower fuel consumption and the lower impact this has on the environment isn't it? The Honda Civic Hybrid offers enough to satisfy undemanding drivers, but those buyers attracted by this car will be more interested in the technology than performance.

When we hear the term hybrid, it usually conjures up images of a geekmobile, a car created in the name of fuel economy that no one really wants to drive. The first hybrids might have been like this, but there's another kind of hybrid these days one that draws on the electric motor to boost performance. VALUE The BMW ActiveHybrid comes in at $97,700, available with an eight speed automatic transmission only. TECHNOLOGY The ActiveHybrid 3 features BMW's 225kW/400Nm twin turbo 3.0-litre petrol straight six, together with a 40kW/210Nm electric motor, for a combined system output of 250kW and 450Nm - 25kW more power and 50Nm more torque than the 335i on which it's based. Modulating the delivery of power to the rear wheels is an eight-speed automatic transmission that has been integrated with the electric motor into a single housing. The 675Wh lithium-ion battery pack is tucked away under the floor in the boot. ELECTRIC ONLY You can't plug this car in and charge it. Charging happens as part of normal driving. But it can run on electric power only up to a speed of 75 km/h. With a full charge and keeping to a speed of 35km/h, it has a range of up to 4km - not very far. The battery pack and other hybrid components add 135kg to the weight and boot space is reduced by 90 litres, but the split fold rear seat remains. The car accelerates from 0-100km/h in 5.3 seconds and fuel consumption is 5.9 litres/100km, down from 7.2 litres/100km. To reduce fuel the system shuts down at traffic lights as well as when braking or cruising up to a speed of 160km/h. DRIVING Make no mistake, this car is first and foremost a 335i, with twin turbos and plenty of mumbo. Punch the accelerator and it takes off. Acceleration is strident, the engine note impressive and it's an exciting car to drive. The Hybrid is all this and more. To make the most of the hybrid system you must first put the car into ECO PRO mode, one of several drive modes available. In this mode the car makes more frequent use of full electric mode for maximum efficiency. The rev counter area includes displays showing the amount of boost being provided by the electric motor, as well as energy flow and energy recaptured during braking. Driving in ECO Pro mode in Germany we felt the engine turn off frequently at traffic lights, as well as when lifting off the accelerator or just driving slowly with a light application of the throttle. The result after about 120km of driving was 8.2 litres/100km, not outstanding but we weren't really trying others got in the low 6s. ECO Pro is designed to work in tandem with the car's satellite navigation system, looking ahead to see where it can deactivate the petrol engine to save fuel. VERDICT Civic duty or devious marketing ploy? It's an intriguing way to entice people to buy and drive more hybrids, in effect giving them a 335i but with a top up in performance. The twin turbo 335i has an enviable reputation as a driver's car it will be interesting to see what the public makes of this one? BMW ActiveHybrid 3 Price: from $97,300 Engine: 3.0-litre 6-cyl; petrol 225kW/400Nm; electric 40kW/210Nm; combined 250kW/450Nm Warranty: 3 years/unlimted km Crash rating: n/a Transmission: 8-speed hybrid automatic; RWD

The ‘v’ in the title of this Toyota Prius people mover stands for versatility, this being the first family oriented hybrid with seats for up to seven people. VALUE Priced from a pretty reasonable $35,990, plus on-road costs, Toyota’s Prius v is longer, wider and taller than the standard Prius. It has a longer wheelbase to take in three rows of seats, plus a small amount of cargo at the rear. This is made possible by installing the compact lithium-ion battery pack under the centre console between the front seats. Toyota Prius v has good quality materials and are matched by features including a 6.1-inch display-screen audio system, automatic air-conditioning, energy monitor, head-up display, keyless entry and ignition, daytime-sensing headlamps, electric power steering, cruise control and daytime running lights. The six-speaker audio includes steering wheel-mounted controls, AM/FM tuner and MP3-compatible single CD player. On top of this is USB / iPod connectivity and  Bluetooth compatibility with audio streaming. It also shows fuel consumption information instantaneously or in historical format. Prius v, like all new Toyota vehicles, is covered by the Toyota Service Advantage with a capped price of $130 for each of up to six scheduled logbook services in the first three years, or 60,000 km. TECHNOLOGY The powertrain makes use of the latest generation of Toyota's Hybrid Synergy Drive, which employs a 1.8-litre petrol engine and a powerful 60 kW electric motor for a combined system power output of up to 100 kW. Add to this lightweight construction and aerodynamic design, and it’s easy to see why Prius v has officially measured fuel consumption of 4.4 litres of petrol per 100 kilometres on the combined urban / highway cycle and put out carbon dioxide emissions of 101 grams per km. We got this as low as 4.2 litres on a mixed motorway/city run, but heavy-duty around town work had it running in the six to seven litre range – quite a climb. DESIGN The vehicle is no rework of the flagship Prius hatchback. An extended roofline pays homage to the iconic Prius triangle silhouette but the ‘v’ has a unique profile that provides additional headroom and luggage space. The three rows of quite firm seats are stadium style, each row is higher than the one in front giving occupants a panoramic view of surroundings. Notably headroom is far from compromised. Legroom in the two rear rows ranges from reasonable to cramped depending on the height of the occupant in front, while access to the third row presents the usual case for contortions. In other words these seats are best left for the little-uns. Folded, the 50:50 rear seat backs more than doubles a flat cargo area of 485 litres accessed through a high-lift rear door with low loading lip.  SAFETY On the safety side, seven airbags, a reversing camera, stability and traction control, and anti-lock brakes with brake assist and electronic brake force distribution are standard. Although the ‘v’ is the largest of the Prius family, it still has a good coefficient of friction at Cd 0.29. This low aero drag assists in lowering fuel consumption and emissions. DRIVING The Prius v produces a benign drive, constantly giving the impression that there’s not much going on under the skin. That’s far from the truth. From the moment the power button on the dashboard is pressed, illuminating a ‘ready’ on the instrument panel, constantly monitored control systems keep the hybrid set-up giving of its best. The dash-mounted transmission lever, which looks more to a joystick than a traditional gearshift, is the link to an electronically controlled infinitely variable transmission that seamlessly juggles ratios for best performance, driveability and economy. Three switchable driving modes, selected by buttons on the centre console, act on the powertrain, with ‘EV’ mode producing ultra-quiet running on electric motor power alone for up to two kilometres. The result is zero fuel consumption and emissions. ‘Eco’ mode optimises fuel economy by curtailing throttle response and limiting power consumption from the air-conditioning system, while ‘power’ mode boosts system performance, the latter accompanied by an angry growl from the powertrain when pushed. VERDICT Prius v has extended the Toyota hybrid’s appeal with room for seven adults and their belongings.

We turn the spotlight on the car world's newest and brightest stars as we ask the questions to which you want the answers. But there's only one question that really needs answering — would you buy one? What is it? This is Toyota's top of the range Prius — with all the bells and whistles. There are now about four variants of Prius kicking around the Toyota lot. How much? This one goes for $46,490 What are competitors? Any number of medium size SUVs in particular the two wheel drive variants that are flooding onto the market. Possibly Honda's Odyssey, Kia Rondo though not on price. What's under the bonnet? Has a Hybrid Synergy Drive petrol 1.8 litre engine adapted from Corolla and an electric helper engine. Total output is 100kW and we couldn't ascertain torque. Transmission is a CVT through the front wheels. Battery is finally a lithium ion unit. How does it go? Slowly. Even in Sport mode. You have to exercise the right foot to get the Prius V up and running. Car has an annoying engine slur accompanying changes in "ratios". This dents fuel economy a tad. Handling is acceptable and ride quality is similar. Is it economical? We achieved 5.7-litres/100km with mostly highway driving—- a long way away from the 4.4-litres/100km claimed. Is it green? Doesn't make much carbon dioxide but vehicle manufacture wouldn't be too environmental, especially the battery. Is it safe? Yes, should rate five stars if crash tested. Has a useful pre-crash system like Mercedes-Benz that prepares the car for a collision if imminent. Has multiple air bags, stability control and strong chassis construction. Is it comfortable? Good in the front seats, pretty good in the middle row too which has individual  fore/aft adjustment. No power seat adjustment though. Rear pews are tight and difficult to access — for small kids only. Minimal luggage space with all seats up. Plenty of luxury kit to while away the time — premium audio, climate control though we couldn't find any rear set vents, good connectivity, comfy ride and seats. Plenty of steering wheel controls, radar cruise. What's it like to drive? Boring. Is it value for money? Not really when you can get into the lower spec' Prius V model for 11 grand less. Would we buy one? No we'd buy the new RAV4 every day.

Boring, bland, cardigan-car - once upon a time, these were commonplace phrases when talking about a Camry. Reliable but uninspiring is no longer the catchcry, thanks to a sharp new suit and some serious work on the chassis, the new Camry has made solid progress in the appeal stakes and the hybrid has the added greeny factor without being weird enough to only draw an early-adopter crowd. VALUE The hybrid Camry range starts at $34,990 but we've been thrown the keys to the HL top-spec model, which pushes the price up to $41,990 - Toyota says there's $4500 of extra gear for a $1500 price rise. Both front occupants in the HL get power-adjustable seats (the driver's is equipped with a two-position memory), dual-zone climate control, keyless entry and ignition, a reversing camera and rear parking sensors, 17-in alloy wheels, fog lights, a rear bootlid spoiler, a leather-wrapped steering wheel with audio and phone controls, an electric rear-window shade and auto-dipping rearvision mirror. The HL hybrid also gets an exceptional 10-speaker JBL digital radio and iPod integrated sound system and the satnav (with SUNA real-time traffic info) are all controlled by the touchscreen, which also displays the rearvision camera. TECHNOLOGY The most obvious technology is the petrol-electric drivetrain - a 2.5-litre petrol four-cylinder engine, a tricky set of gears and two electric motors. It all adds up to a smooth and efficient system that seamlessly goes from electric only to petrol-electric drive, as well as driving and generating charge for the battery, with little in the way of disturbance as the petrol motor starts and stops as required. The result is a 118kW/213Nm petrol four-cylinder engine combining the electric motor producing 105kW/270Nm 650v electric motor, which gives the driver plenty of pep when required. The HL's JBL 10-speaker surround sound system has iPod integration via Bluetooth or USB cable and uses lightweight speaker and amplifier components. It's one of the first mainstream cars to feature full digital radio compatibility - Toyota says digital radio produces significantly clearer sound from mainstream radio stations as well as exclusive digital-only stations. DESIGN This is where the current car can leave its old image behind - the look is sharp and it almost has character. It's not grown a great deal over the outgoing car but the "bracket creep" of medium cars is obvious when you consider the first Camry of several decades ago. The new car is 375mm longer, 135mm wider, 75mm taller and its wheelbase is 175mm longer, plus  - in hybrid form at least - it weighs 565kg more. The hybrid model gets a different grille, a blue-tinged badge and headlight trim. The cabin has ample space and hits the quality mark when it comes to fit and finish - it will easily accommodate a family of four and has rear vents and a rear window shade, all of which are handy for keeping kids comfy and quiet. The test car had light coloured upholstery which shows wear quickly - again, the rugrat factor would warrant a darker colour - but there's good in-cabin storage. The bootspace has improved, with relocated electrical systems improving bootspace by 8 per cent to 421 litres. Where the engineering and design falls down is with a miniscule 300kg towing capacity, but more on that later. SAFETY The new Camry range carries a five star ANCAP crash rating - the old one did too but the 2012 model went very close to full marks. The top-spec model's safety features list includes seven airbags (dual front, side, full-length curtain and a driver's knee), a seatbelt use warning system for all seats, stability and traction control and ABS brakes. The flagship hybrid also gets the blind spot monitor system (which detects vehicles dwelling in the next lane) and auto-dipping high beam system. DRIVING This is no longer bland and mundane transport. First impressions of cabin quality continue when the start button is pushed and silence often follows. Resist the temptation to hit the button again and look for the READY light - while noise is often absent the hybrid wafts away on battery power alone until the right foot heads further into the accelerator pedal. The ride is firmer than you might expect but it deals with road bumps nicely and manages to corner with reasonable aplomb as well. The local Toyota engineers have had a hand in tuning it for Australian driving tastes as well as taking into account the battery weight over the rear wheels. It's not going to frighten an SS-V V8 Commodore on a bendy back road, but it's not going to disgrace itself either, with steering and handling properties that border on enthusiastic. Where the hybrid is going to score is in the fuel economy stakes - the outgoing car was not thirsty but the new drivetrain has improved its appetite by more than 13 per cent to 5.2 litres per 100km, with our stint in the car in mainly suburban running returning numbers in the six range. The improvements in the boot have given near-normal levels of luggage space but the Camry hybrid has been engineered with a towing capacity of only 300kg (braked or unbraked) - the car goes electric-only when reversing, hence the low number. Toyota says is sufficient to tow a small trailer - given the average 6x4 can weigh 250kg that doesn't leave much for cargo. A normal Camry has a braked towing capacity of 1200kg, or 500kg for an unbraked trailer; even a base-model Yaris three door has a braked towing capacity of 900kg, or 550kg unbraked. VERDICT Workhorse issues aside the petrol-electric Camry provides smooth, quiet and frugal family motoring that is good value-for-money, particularly when you consider the Camry's size and the Prius pricetag. Toyota Camry Hybrid HL Price: from $41,490 Warranty: 3 years/100,000km (hybrid battery 8 years/160,000km) Resale:  46 per cent (Source: Glass's Guide) Service interval: 15,000km/9 months Safety rating: five stars Spare: Full-size alloy Engine: 2.5-litre 118kW/213Nm petrol four-cylinder, 105kW/270Nm 650v electric motor Transmission: CVT; FWD Body: 4.8m (L); 1.8m (w); 1.5m (h) Weight: 1610kg Thirst: 5.21/100km, on test 6.2; tank 65 litres, 91RON; 121g/km CO2