Do you love your Toyota Hybrid? You should

[Rimmer]

 

 

Have you ever stopped to think what makes Toyota so special? The answer is much simpler than it seems: 

it doesn’t break. Just like that. Toyota doesn’t use parts that break, so instead of designing solutions for potential failures, it eliminates the failures at the root, always staying one step ahead of any situation. Want to know what else makes Toyota the king of cars? Toyota, from tradition to innovation

 

Toyota hybrids don’t rely on conventional transmissions. Instead, they have a unique way of transferring power to the wheels, which avoids fluid changes and saves money for users over the lifespan of the vehicles! No conventional starters Instead of the starters we know, it starts using Toyota’s own motor-generator, a highly reliable component they’ve been using for years. Also, it’s included in their power-train warranty (while other brands choose not to include it…) Goodbye to alternators 

 

Normally, alternators are components that fail quite often (more than we’d like…) and in many cases the “bill” goes up to $960!! 

Toyota hybrids don’t want that for their vehicles, so they use DC to DC converters, since they don’t have moving parts, they last longer. No timing chains either 

So, Toyota wants their timing chains to be much more durable and not require as much maintenance. Similarly, they also don’t use accessory belts (because they use an electric water pump). And the air conditioning? It also has its own system, it uses a heat pump in its more modern hybrids, and there’s no need for a belt to make it work.

 

Toyota, from tradition to innovation , they usually have a revolutionary approach almost always: All are benchmarks of the Japanese brand, but, with more than a decade of data and millions of their vehicles on the roads, it’s more than just a brand. Toyota takes care of every step it takes, and that’s essential in an industry that moves as fast as this one. Now they’ve decided to eliminate parts that aren’t necessary (important to highlight this) so that the vehicles have fewer failures, making them much more durable. 

 

No CVT gears or belts Toyota hybrids don’t rely on conventional transmissions. Instead, they have a unique way of transferring power to the wheels, which avoids fluid changes and saves money for users over the lifespan of the vehicles! No conventional starters Instead of the starters we know, it starts using Toyota’s own motor-generator, a highly reliable component they’ve been using for years. Also, it’s included in their powertrain warranty (while other brands choose not to include it…) 

 

The “Missing” Parts That Make All the Difference

No CVT belts or gears

Toyota’s e-CVT is almost maintenance-free. No belt wear, no fluid swaps, no headaches.

 

No conventional starter motor
It uses a motor-generator for starting—simpler, more reliable, and covered under the powertrain warranty.

 

No alternator

Instead, Toyota hybrids use a DC-DC converter with no moving parts. No failure, no $900 repair bill.

 

No timing belt or standard chains
Fewer moving parts = fewer service visits. And no risk of snapped belts or expensive maintenance.

 

No accessory belts

They’re replaced with electric pumps (like for water and A/C), cutting wear points even further.

 

No turbochargers
Electric motors deliver torque instantly. Toyota doesn’t need turbos to boost power—and that’s one more thing that won’t break.

 

No hydraulic power steering pump
Fully electric power steering. No leaks, no fluid, no pump to fail.

Would you trade high-tech complexity for long-term reliability?

 

 

[LosLobo]

8 hours ago, Rimmer said:

 

 

Have you ever stopped to think what makes Toyota so special? The answer is much simpler than it seems: 

it doesn’t break. Just like that. Toyota doesn’t use parts that break, so instead of designing solutions for potential failures, it eliminates the failures at the root, always staying one step ahead of any situation. Want to know what else makes Toyota the king of cars? Toyota, from tradition to innovation

 

Toyota hybrids don’t rely on conventional transmissions. Instead, they have a unique way of transferring power to the wheels, which avoids fluid changes and saves money for users over the lifespan of the vehicles! No conventional starters Instead of the starters we know, it starts using Toyota’s own motor-generator, a highly reliable component they’ve been using for years. Also, it’s included in their power-train warranty (while other brands choose not to include it…) Goodbye to alternators 

 

Normally, alternators are components that fail quite often (more than we’d like…) and in many cases the “bill” goes up to $960!! 

Toyota hybrids don’t want that for their vehicles, so they use DC to DC converters, since they don’t have moving parts, they last longer. No timing chains either 

So, Toyota wants their timing chains to be much more durable and not require as much maintenance. Similarly, they also don’t use accessory belts (because they use an electric water pump). And the air conditioning? It also has its own system, it uses a heat pump in its more modern hybrids, and there’s no need for a belt to make it work.

 

Toyota, from tradition to innovation , they usually have a revolutionary approach almost always: All are benchmarks of the Japanese brand, but, with more than a decade of data and millions of their vehicles on the roads, it’s more than just a brand. Toyota takes care of every step it takes, and that’s essential in an industry that moves as fast as this one. Now they’ve decided to eliminate parts that aren’t necessary (important to highlight this) so that the vehicles have fewer failures, making them much more durable. 

 

No CVT gears or belts Toyota hybrids don’t rely on conventional transmissions. Instead, they have a unique way of transferring power to the wheels, which avoids fluid changes and saves money for users over the lifespan of the vehicles! No conventional starters Instead of the starters we know, it starts using Toyota’s own motor-generator, a highly reliable component they’ve been using for years. Also, it’s included in their powertrain warranty (while other brands choose not to include it…) 

 

The “Missing” Parts That Make All the Difference

No CVT belts or gears

Toyota’s e-CVT is almost maintenance-free. No belt wear, no fluid swaps, no headaches.

 

No conventional starter motor
It uses a motor-generator for starting—simpler, more reliable, and covered under the powertrain warranty.

 

No alternator

Instead, Toyota hybrids use a DC-DC converter with no moving parts. No failure, no $900 repair bill.

 

No timing belt or standard chains
Fewer moving parts = fewer service visits. And no risk of snapped belts or expensive maintenance.

 

No accessory belts

They’re replaced with electric pumps (like for water and A/C), cutting wear points even further.

 

No turbochargers
Electric motors deliver torque instantly. Toyota doesn’t need turbos to boost power—and that’s one more thing that won’t break.

 

No hydraulic power steering pump
Fully electric power steering. No leaks, no fluid, no pump to fail.

Would you trade high-tech complexity for long-term reliability?

 

 

I’ve had my Yaris Cross HEV for a year now, and I tend to agree with everything you’ve said. Toyota really nailed it with their hybrid engineering—reliable, efficient, and low-maintenance.
 

One thing I noticed recently was what I thought was an issue with the electric power steering. After letting a friend drive me in my car for a few days, I felt like the steering was a bit different when I got back behind the wheel—almost like it had adjusted to their driving. I looked into it, and amazingly it turns out the system does adjust based on recent driving inputs. So, with a few days of regular driving, it will eventually reset back to my style.
 

I’m still getting to grips with all the functionality—such a giant leap in technology from my previous ICE Toyotas. It’s been a slow learn for me. The manual feels like War and Peace, and I haven’t been able to find an online English manual for the ASEAN version either. While Toyota has clearly focused on mechanical reliability and simplified systems under the hood, there’s definitely more driver-facing tech to get used to than in the past.
 

What model have you got? Mine’s not the top-of-the-range Luxury—it’s the Premium.

[safarimike11]

8 hours ago, Rimmer said:

 

 

Have you ever stopped to think what makes Toyota so special? The answer is much simpler than it seems: 

it doesn’t break. Just like that. Toyota doesn’t use parts that break, so instead of designing solutions for potential failures, it eliminates the failures at the root, always staying one step ahead of any situation. Want to know what else makes Toyota the king of cars? Toyota, from tradition to innovation

 

Toyota hybrids don’t rely on conventional transmissions. Instead, they have a unique way of transferring power to the wheels, which avoids fluid changes and saves money for users over the lifespan of the vehicles! No conventional starters Instead of the starters we know, it starts using Toyota’s own motor-generator, a highly reliable component they’ve been using for years. Also, it’s included in their power-train warranty (while other brands choose not to include it…) Goodbye to alternators 

 

Normally, alternators are components that fail quite often (more than we’d like…) and in many cases the “bill” goes up to $960!! 

Toyota hybrids don’t want that for their vehicles, so they use DC to DC converters, since they don’t have moving parts, they last longer. No timing chains either 

So, Toyota wants their timing chains to be much more durable and not require as much maintenance. Similarly, they also don’t use accessory belts (because they use an electric water pump). And the air conditioning? It also has its own system, it uses a heat pump in its more modern hybrids, and there’s no need for a belt to make it work.

 

Toyota, from tradition to innovation , they usually have a revolutionary approach almost always: All are benchmarks of the Japanese brand, but, with more than a decade of data and millions of their vehicles on the roads, it’s more than just a brand. Toyota takes care of every step it takes, and that’s essential in an industry that moves as fast as this one. Now they’ve decided to eliminate parts that aren’t necessary (important to highlight this) so that the vehicles have fewer failures, making them much more durable. 

 

No CVT gears or belts Toyota hybrids don’t rely on conventional transmissions. Instead, they have a unique way of transferring power to the wheels, which avoids fluid changes and saves money for users over the lifespan of the vehicles! No conventional starters Instead of the starters we know, it starts using Toyota’s own motor-generator, a highly reliable component they’ve been using for years. Also, it’s included in their powertrain warranty (while other brands choose not to include it…) 

 

The “Missing” Parts That Make All the Difference

No CVT belts or gears

Toyota’s e-CVT is almost maintenance-free. No belt wear, no fluid swaps, no headaches.

 

No conventional starter motor
It uses a motor-generator for starting—simpler, more reliable, and covered under the powertrain warranty.

 

No alternator

Instead, Toyota hybrids use a DC-DC converter with no moving parts. No failure, no $900 repair bill.

 

No timing belt or standard chains
Fewer moving parts = fewer service visits. And no risk of snapped belts or expensive maintenance.

 

No accessory belts

They’re replaced with electric pumps (like for water and A/C), cutting wear points even further.

 

No turbochargers
Electric motors deliver torque instantly. Toyota doesn’t need turbos to boost power—and that’s one more thing that won’t break.

 

No hydraulic power steering pump
Fully electric power steering. No leaks, no fluid, no pump to fail.

Would you trade high-tech complexity for long-term reliability?

 

 

I went into a large shopping mal a couple of years ago. There was a display featuring Toyota (Corolla I think) Cross Hybrids. At the time, I didn't have much of an idea (sorry in advance) what a Hybrid was, so I asked one of the promotion girls. (She didn't even know what the word "Hybrid" meant, but she could pronounce it quite effectively.)

[Rimmer]

13 hours ago, LosLobo said:

 

What model have you got? Mine’s not the top-of-the-range Luxury—it’s the Premium.

 

I think the picture at the top is actually the car we bought taken in the showroom, I guess its a mid range model, but still way too much to get to grips with, electric seats, dash cam front and rear etc....

 

I asked them for an English Manual, took about six weeks to get it, none the wiser for having it though as you say its like War and Peace.

 

I had no idea about the steering adjusts to recent inputs, have to be careful with that as my wife drives it as well  😁

[LosLobo]

2 hours ago, Rimmer said:

 

I think the picture at the top is actually the car we bought taken in the showroom, I guess its a mid range model, but still way too much to get to grips with, electric seats, dash cam front and rear etc....

 

I asked them for an English Manual, took about six weeks to get it, none the wiser for having it though as you say its like War and Peace.

 

I had no idea about the steering adjusts to recent inputs, have to be careful with that as my wife drives it as well  😁

Yeah, it's a learning curve. I try to address at least one function a week — still a long way to go. Leaving adaptive cruise control till last!
 

I find AI some help in understanding it, but sometimes it's as clueless as me.
 

If your car has dual dash cams (front and rear) as standard, and two-tone leather seats, 18" wheels with 215/50 R18 tires, panoramic glass roof, Qi wireless charger, Panoramic 360 View Monitor, Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS), and a powered tailgate with kick sensor — it's Luxury Premium. Otherwise, it's Premium or Smart.
 

I would have loved the 360° view monitor, TPMS, and a powered tailgate with kick sensor, but I really didn’t want the unnecessary sunroof in this climate, and I’m not a fan of the low-profile tires either. The normal suspension on SUVs with high ground clearance is already firm enough.
 

The manual tailgate is very heavy — burdensome for an old guy like me — and I’m currently looking into an OEM aftermarket solution to fix that.

That’s Thai marketing for you — bundle the good with the bad!
 

Though it's the top-selling B-Segment SUV in Thailand at the moment, I'm surprised there aren’t more posters on this board — the Yaris Cross led the B-segment SUV category in 2024, even outselling all EVs including the BYD Dolphin. The larger Corolla Cross continues to be a strong seller in the C-segment, though interestingly, the Yaris Cross has recently overtaken it in sales as well.

[mfd101]

I've been thinking of buying a Rav 4 next year but I gather they're not available in Thailand(?).

[richard_smith237]

1 hour ago, LosLobo said:

Leaving adaptive cruise control till last!

 

IMO - this is quite lethal...   Adaptive cruse control..  I'll explain why - my own mistake, but one with a very frightening result. 

 

I was driving down the relatively quiet highway at about 120kmh...    following another car with the Adaptive Cruse control on (which follows at a 'set distance' and adjusts speed according to the car in front as they adjust speed)...

 

The car in front pulled off and I carried on along the highway at 120kmh with the Adaptive Cruse Control still on (at 120kmh)...   I saw a slow car up ahead, probably travelling about 60kmh in the middle lane.

 

I saw in my rear view mirror a car approaching at speed, but with plenty of time for me to 'go around the slow car in front'... 

 

As I approached the car in front and drifted across to the right hand lane my car suddenly braked hard and slowed from 120kmh to 60km in an instant...   the car behind approaching, then suddenly barrelling down on me at speed.

 

... It appeared that I had 'moved over towards the right-hand lane and slammed on my brakes'...   

 

The Adaptive Cruse Control had braked hard 'thinking / computing' I was going to hit the slow car in front.

 

A catastrophic accident very nearly occurred due to computer interference - we have to use this tech with caution - I never used my Adaptive Cruse Control after that.

 

 

[LosLobo]

15 minutes ago, richard_smith237 said:

 

IMO - this is quite lethal...   Adaptive cruse control..  I'll explain why - my own mistake, but one with a very frightening result. 

 

I was driving down the relatively quiet highway at about 120kmh...    following another car with the Adaptive Cruse control on (which follows at a 'set distance' and adjusts speed according to the car in front as they adjust speed)...

 

The car in front pulled off and I carried on along the highway at 120kmh with the Adaptive Cruse Control still on (at 120kmh)...   I saw a slow car up ahead, probably travelling about 60kmh in the middle lane.

 

I saw in my rear view mirror a car approaching at speed, but with plenty of time for me to 'go around the slow car in front'... 

 

As I approached the car in front and drifted across to the right hand lane my car suddenly braked hard and slowed from 120kmh to 60km in an instant...   the car behind approaching, then suddenly barrelling down on me at speed.

 

... It appeared that I had 'moved over towards the right-hand lane and slammed on my brakes'...   

 

The Adaptive Cruse Control had braked hard 'thinking / computing' I was going to hit the slow car in front.

 

A catastrophic accident very nearly occurred due to computer interference - we have to use this tech with caution - I never used my Adaptive Cruse Control after that.

Fair enough! The result could have been fatal. Thanks for the warning -- what car was it?

[ronster]

Thinking of buying the corolla cross gr as seems to tick all the boxes. Seen the Yaris cross and good looking car also but just not quite big enough or enough power .

Have a pajero that can't fault in all the years that had it but don't need such a big car now and new model seems to be ages away from release.

[brewsterbudgen]

Any reason why a Toyota is better than a similar model (hybrid) from Honda, Nissan or MG?

[LosLobo]

2 hours ago, brewsterbudgen said:

Any reason why a Toyota is better than a similar model (hybrid) from Honda, Nissan or MG?

That’s a fair question — and honestly, Toyota doesn’t win on every feature or price point, but there are some solid reasons people lean toward them, especially for hybrids.

 

For one, their hybrid system is just really proven. Over 25 years in the game, and they’ve simplified the design — no starter motor, no alternator, no traditional transmission — fewer things to break. It’s all about long-term durability and low running costs.

 

When I was living in Phuket about 8 years ago, there were three Toyota service centres — and at one point, not a single Honda one. That kind of local support makes a big difference. Honda has always felt a bit more like a young man’s car to me — nice styling, a bit sportier — but not necessarily built with the same long-term mindset.

 

I’ve had three Nissans over the years and honestly, I would never ever consider one again. Too many issues that added up over time — just not worth the hassle.

 

MG? They’ve made a lot of progress and offer great features for the price, but I still question the long-term reliability, parts availability, and resale value. That’s where Toyota really shines — they hold their value better than most brands here, especially hybrids.
 

Toyota hybrids may not be the flashiest, but they’re practical, smooth, and just work — which is what I value more these days.