Toyota introduced the first hybrid vehicle for the mass market — the Prius — in 1997. Since that time, millions of hybrid cars have rolled off of Toyota’s production lines. The Prius and Venza are designed from the ground up as hybrids, while Toyota made hybrid versions of its gas-powered models: the Corolla, Camry, Avalon, RAV4, and Highlander.
There are actually a variety of different types of hybrid vehicles based on how their powertrains are built, but they all have one thing in common: the pairing of a gasoline combustion engine and an electric motor.
Toyota hybrid vehicles are parallel hybrids that can run solely on electricity at times — something uncommon among hybrids vehicles that typically can’t run on pure electric power and only use it to boost the efficiency of the gasoline engine. In low-speed city traffic, the hybrid system uses electric battery power. If the battery runs low or the car picks up speed, the gasoline engine takes over.
How can a Toyota hybrid run on electricity when it doesn’t need to be plugged in to be recharged? As you drive, electricity is generated when the brakes are applied, and this recharges the battery.
Compared to the Corolla sedan, the Corolla Cross SUV has a higher line of sight and a taller ride height. Its exterior design features a distinctive black grille flanked by bright LED lighting. Black body accents give the Corolla Cross a bold appearance.
You can make the Corolla Cross even more versatile with a variety of available accessories. Add a roof rack with crossbars to make adventuring a bit easier or an activity mount to hold your bicycles.
The affordable Toyota Corolla Hybrid was chosen as the 2020 Green Car of the Year by Green Car Journal for many reasons, including its EPA-estimated combined highway/city rating of 52 mpg.* If you think hybrids are weak and not exciting to drive, get behind the wheel of the Corolla. With a wide, road-hugging stance and Hybrid Power Mode, the Corolla offers a responsive in drive Breinigsville with impressive handling.
All Toyota hybrids — including the Corolla Hybrid — are covered by an enhanced Hybrid Battery Warranty good for 10 years or 150,000 miles.
The Camry features a Dynamic Force Hybrid Engine using an electric motor and Electronic Continuously Variable Transmission to achieve optimal efficiency for its class. The Camry is fun to drive, responsive, and produces no vehicle emissions when it is in electric-only mode. The lithium-ion battery has been situated to allow for maximum trunk space, and the lightweight materials in the Camry give you even more efficient performance.
There are four driving modes you can choose from on the Camry Hybrid: EV for electric only, ECO for maximum fuel efficiency, Normal for highway driving, and Sport for extra responsiveness and tighter handling.
The aerodynamically shaped Avalon uses a 2.5-liter Dynamic Force Engine at the heart of its hybrid powertrain to average a combined-city/highway rating of 44 mpg.** While you are enjoying the open roads of Pennsylvania in your hybrid Avalon, you can think about the 118 tons of carbon dioxide that hybrid vehicles have kept from entering the atmosphere.
Toyota even offers hybrid SUV models, such as the RAV4 Hybrid that delivers 219 horsepower.
Its available electronic, on-demand all-wheel drive and sport-tuned suspension make for an exhilarating drive, and its five drive modes let you choose how much fuel you want to conserve or utilize for sporty performance. To the ECO, EV, Sport, and Normal modes, the RAV4 adds Trail mode, which applies brakes independently to each of the wheels for added traction in when the RAV4 has activated AWD.
The Toyota Highlander is a midsize SUV with seating for seven people, and is the largest vehicle Toyota offers as a hybrid.
The Highlander is an ideal blend of power and efficiency for large families in Breinigsville. It offers generous space and lots of available comfort features. You can choose between the standard front-wheel drive or available all-wheel drive, depending upon how much stability you want on the road. If you are looking for a comfy SUV for ferrying the kids to school, sports practice, and music lessons, the Highlander can help you conserve gas on your drives. If you want to hook up a small boat and go fishing, the Highlander Hybrid is rated to tow up to 3,500 pounds.
Toyota’s AWD-e system is not quite like all-wheel-drive systems you might find in other cars. Unlike a traditional AWD system — where some of the excess power to the front wheels is diverted to those at the rear — Toyota’s AWD-e system uses a small motor to add electric-generated power to the rear wheels in those few moments when it really matters.
Delivering 7 horsepower and 40 lb-ft of torque, the electric motor in the Toyota Prius AWD-e kicks in at low speeds between 0-6 mph to help improve your launches, whether on asphalt or low-grip surfaces. It may then continue to provide power to the rear wheels at speeds up to 43 mph if needed to help maintain traction.
This is especially beneficial during aggressive acceleration as well as when extra grip is needed to launch the car on slippery roads or snowed-in driveways here in Breinigsville. And because Toyota expects the AWD-e system to be favored among drivers in areas like Pennsylvania that get ice and snow in the winter, engineers used a different battery in the Prius AWD-e that delivers better performance in cold climates.
The downside of this battery is that it is heavier than normal. However, Toyota took great care to ensure the AWD-e system did not compromise the car’s efficiency. For example, despite the extra weight, the 2022 Prius AWD-e’s fuel economy is almost on par with the Prius FWD models, earning a combined 49 mpg.[1] That’s only three less combined mpg than the front-wheel-drive Prius LE and XLE models get.
Want to spend less money on gas on your next vehicle? Consider a hybrid model from Krause Toyota. Contact us to find which hybrid models we currently have in stock.
*Projected EPA-estimated mpg rating 53 city/52 hwy/52 combined estimates for 2021 Corolla Hybrid LE as determined by manufacturer. EPA estimates not available at time of posting. Use for comparison purposes only. Your mileage will vary for many reasons, including your vehicle's condition and how/where you drive. See www.fueleconomy.gov.
[1] EPA-estimated 58 city/53 hwy/56 combined mpg for 2022 Prius L Eco; EPA-estimated 54 city/50 hwy/52 combined mpg for 2022 Prius LE, XLE and Limited and Nightshade Edition; EPA-estimated 51 city/47 hwy/49 combined mpg for 2022 Prius LE AWD-e and XLE AWD-e and Nightshade Edition AWD-e. Use for comparison purposes only. Your mileage will vary for many reasons, including your vehicle's condition and how/where you drive. See www.fueleconomy.gov.