If you were on the lookout for a guide on hybrid cars in Sri Lanka, then you have come to the right place.
The Toyota Prius, Toyota Aqua, Toyota Axio, Honda Fit, and Honda Vezel are the most popular hybrid cars in Sri Lanka. ikman, being Sri Lanka’s largest online marketplace, identified these to be the top hybrid models in Sri Lanka, using the search volumes and popularity of inventory on ikman.
In this guide, you will find a general overview of each model, their performance as hybrid vehicles, and what you should expect when buying each model. Without taking more time, let’s dig in!
How does a Hybrid Car Work?
There is an electric motor and gasoline engine. These two work in conjunction in order to realize efficient fuel economy and decreased emissions. Still, it allows you to drive at the speed and distance necessary. Moreover, hybrid cars let you experience a smooth, quiet ride. This is especially true about driving at low speeds!
Toyota Prius
The Toyota Prius is a popular four-door hybrid hatchback Toyota has been producing since 1997. Since its introduction, the model has been through four generations. Through this process, it continued to become more aerodynamic and fuel-efficient. This model comes three different varieties (Eco, Standard, and AWD).
This is a full hybrid electric automobile – a vehicle that can be run by gasoline or electric power or both. In fact, the popular opinion considers the Prius model to be one of the cleanest as well as most fuel efficient gasoline-powered cars available.
Is the Toyota Prius a Good Car?
Yes. This is one of the best choices you can make when it comes to hybrid cars in the vehicle market. This model comes with a capable hybrid system, and lets you experience a smooth ride. In fact, the Prius has unbelievably good fuel economy ratings.
The base ECO trim offers some cool features like active grille shutters and a lighter battery to achieve a higher 58 mpg city rating. Other trim levels also feature bigger wheels, SofTex leatherette seating, heated seats, and adaptive lighting.
The interior of the model consists of two rows of spacious seats. The drive gets even better as the model features user-friendly infotainment features. What’s more, there is also more cargo room than most of its competitors. You also get to experience Toyota’s Safety Sense suite of driver-assist features, too. All in all, this is a model that is a combination of both quality and value.
The Prius as a Hybrid Model
The Toyota Prius is a parallel hybrid. In other words, this model has a gasoline engine and electric motor. Moreover, they are separate from one another. What is even special about the Prius is that the gasoline engine and the electric motor can run on their own.
In producing this model, Toyota ensured that the Prius will use more electric power than gasoline power whenever possible. So, you will use the electric motor when the driving speed is low. An example of this would be when you are pulling out of the driveway or stuck in traffic. On the other hand, once you start accelerating, the energy needed by the car increases. In turn, the electric motor alone fails to take full responsibility for it. Thus, the gasoline engine enters the scene to provide enough power.
However, in cases where you will go for a full acceleration, you will fully switch to the gasoline engine. In between, when you slow down or start to brake, you will switch to the electric motor. This is in order to save fuel.
Should You Buy the Toyota Prius?
If fuel economy is one of your priorities in selecting a hybrid car, the Prius is one of your best choices out there. It has been able to obtain fuel economy ratings into the 50 mpg range (54 city/50 highway). The price of a Prius ranges between LKR 5 million to 10 million these days.
However, if you are into looks, then you might want to reconsider any other of its competitors.
The current appearance of the model is due to the fact that Toyota continued to increase its aerodynamics. Currently, it has a very low 0.26 coefficient of drag, which is lower than a Nissan GT-R.
Another point of concern is that if you buy this vehicle considering its fuel efficiency as the key factor, then you will tend to drive slow. Obviously, if you want to get good gas mileage, this is something you will not be able to avoid. So, if you want to go fast, you might want to rethink going for the Toyota Prius.
Honda Vezel
The Honda Vezel is also known as the “Urban SUV.” Honda launched this model in 2013. It comes in several models including X, RS, and X L.
Is the Honda Vezel a Good Car?
This is a compact SUV with small dimensions. So, this is a plus point if you are in the city and have parking space issues. Moreover, the interior space is large enough for all passengers to have a comfortable ride. In addition, there is also a large cargo space.
In terms of fuel consumption, the car consumes just 4.9 liters per 100 kilometers. This is indicative of its environmental concerns. Moreover, this is a good choice when it comes to the expenses.
The Honda Vezel as a Hybrid Model
The Vezel comes with its new “Sport Hybrid i-DCD” system (Intelligent Dual Clutch Drive). In fact, this is a combination of a 1.5-liter engine with direct injection, dual-clutch gearbox and electric motor. Moreover, there is the choice between a front- or all-wheel drive. This allows one to drive the model both in the city as well as rural areas and mountains.
Plus points of this model includes the fact that the drive feels like that of a 2.0-liter gasoline engine. In addition, the noise level, as Honda guarantees, is of a large sedan.
Should You Buy the Honda Vezel?
If you are for looks, then the Vezel is surely an obvious choice. This model is a head turner. It beats the Toyota Prius in this aspect without any difficulty. It features curvy edges and mean looks. In addition, its rims add to the overall look, enhancing the appearance to a rich look.
In terms of performance, the 1.5 litre engine of the Vezel falls a bit short behind compared to the Prius’s 1.8 litre engine. The reason is, given the engine capacities, the Prius stands ahead when it comes to acceleration and torque. However, it is important to note that the Vezel is not slow either. It is only that it is slower than the Prius.
As mentioned previously, the Vezel’s noise is lesser. This is also lesser than that of the Prius. Therefore, it also helps to make it a fun drive in the Vezel. The price of Vezel ranges between LKR 7 million to 12 million these days.
Toyota Aqua
The Toyota Aqua is a full hybrid gasoline hatchback. It is a supermini or a subcompact model. It has been in production since 2011. This model is also known as the Toyota Prius C.
Is the Toyota Aqua a Good Car?
In terms of looks, you can call the Toyota Aqua a handsome car. Like the Prius, the build of the body takes an aerodynamic shape. This is to improve fuel efficiency when driving at highway speeds.
Being a subcompact model, one will find the passenger compartment a bit too restricted. To add to that, the interior build looks cheap, too. Well, given that this one of the cheapest cars with full hybrid powertrain, cheap quality cosmetic material should not come as a surprise.
The Toyota Aqua as a Hybrid Model
The Toyota Aqua comes with a 1NZ-1LM 1.5 – liter engine. This is mated to an electric motor. This produces an output power of 73KW. In fact, this is capable of accelerating the car from 0 to 100km/h in 10.7 seconds.
This model comes with electric continuously variable transmission (CVT). However, it is only available in 2 wheel drive options.
However, when it comes to the initial pickup, one would not be very happy. The solution for this is to disable the ECO button. This will get you a good pickup. But, on the other hand, it will cost you more fuel.
A hard press on the gas pedal will get the hybrid power mode starting. In this mode, both the engine and the hybrid power works in combination to power the vehicle. This is a useful feature during tight overtakes.
Should You Buy the Toyota Aqua?
To achieve the maximum fuel efficiency in the Aqua, you need to drive the vehicle below 60km/h on normal roads. Moreover, you need to maintain this speed without prolonged hard acceleration or sudden braking. You will also need to keep the vehicle speed below 100km/h when driving on highways. It is also necessary to make sure that you maintain the same velocity throughout the journey. So, if your main concern in buying this model is its fuel efficiency, then you need to first figure out whether your mode of driving suits the aforementioned requirements. The price of Aqua ranges between LKR 5 million to 9 million these days.
Toyota Axio
The Toyota Axio is a 5-seat sedan with 4 cylinders DOHC. The car is not only fuel-efficient, but reduces CO2 by around 64 percent. This Toyota car is front-wheel drive model and can achieve a fuel efficiency of 33.0 km/L.
Is the Toyota Axio a Good Car?
The Toyota Axio has a rating of 52 mpg when it comes to its fuel economy.
From the outside, it is difficult to decide whether the Axio is a hybrid vehicle. Its exterior design is more towards that of a conventional vehicle. Moreover, it shares many similar features as the Corolla Sedan.
The Toyota Axio as a Hybrid Model
The power delivery of the Axio is not smooth compared to other hybrids. The throttle calibration results in delayed reaction from a standing start.
The Axio uses its batteries sparingly. It only has about two kilometres of range. Moreover, any brakes will affect this range, too. However, it is not clumsy how the model switches between using the batteries, using the engine or using both the batteries and engine at once.
Should You Buy the Toyota Axio?
If you are a Toyota lover, and your focus is on the model’s fuel economy, then undoubtedly your choice will be the Prius. In the Eco trim, the Prius gets up to 56 mpg while the Axio is a bit behind with 52 mpg. Moreover, the Prius is available in all-wheel drive while the Axio is not.
When it comes to the interior space, the Axio is again behind the Prius. The Prius has more front and rear head room, rear shoulder room, and front and rear hip room than the Axio.
However, if you consider the exeriot appearance, then your choice will be the Axio. In addition, this model is also enjoyable to drive.
All in all, the Toyota Axio is cheaper, has good fuel economy numbers, and looks better. So, what model you prefer comes down to your personal preference. The price of Axio ranges between LKR 7 million to 12 million these days.
Honda Fit
The Honda Fit is a five-door B-segment supermini or subcompact car. This model has been in production since 2001. This model so far has gone through fourth generations.
Is the Honda Fit a Good Car?
Interior space of the Honda Fit needs to be appreciated. There is enough front and rear space. Even three adults can fit in the back. Boot capacity enough for putting heavy and bulky cargo. This is an important feature given that this is a subcompact city car.
You will find soft-touch material used for the cabin, quite surprisingly, given the price range of this model. However, this does not mean that there are no hard plastic surfaces. Anyhow, this is similar to many of the model’s competitors.
The steering wheel is very modern and comes with features. However, it does not take much time to get used to all the controls. Moreover, you will also find out that you can read the instrument cluster at a glance.
The Honda Fit as a Hybrid Model
The Honda Fit comes with a 1.5 i-VTEC engine with 100 kW (134 bhp) and 134 Nm of torque. An electric motor in combination provides instant torque delivery at any RPM.
As a result, you will experience a smooth and confident acceleration regardless whether you are driving around the city or on the highway. This also helps save a lot of fuel. Moreover, the lithium-ion batteries reduce weight while giving more range in EV mode. Regenerative braking is responsible for charging the batteries.
However, the earlier Fit models are less fun to drive. You will have a difficult time figuring out what is happening on the road because of the engine sound. Therefore, the later versions come with a 7-speed DCT. The dual-clutch gearbox provides a much more direct feel. In addition, you will also experience lightning-fast shifts, great smoothness and great fuel efficiency.
Should You Buy the Honda Fit?
In terms of the ride, the Honda Fit offers a more comfortable ride. It also offers better handling compared to the Toyota Prius. However, if your main concern is the fuel economy numbers, they are lower than the Prius, especially in the city.
The Honda Fit is also a bit behind when it comes to low-end torque. However, if you are on a budget, you will find the Honda Fit cheaper than a used Prius. The price of Fit ranges between LKR 5 million to 8 million these days.
Final words
The Toyota Prius, Toyota Aqua, Toyota Axio, Honda Fit, and Honda Vezel are the most popular hybrid cars in Sri Lanka. While all the models offer good fuel economy numbers, other features such as the drive, engine power, appearance etc. will influence the final decision of any buyer. In the end, it all comes down to whether you focus more on the fuel economy or the budget in hand.
We hope that this guide helped you have an idea as to what model suits you best. Moreover, if you want to know more about these models in detail and explore more options in Toyota and Honda, check out the top 5 Toyota models in Sri Lanka and the top 5 Honda models in Sri Lanka.
