Maxwell said:
@Cody
There’s one part on the registration plate that isn’t blurred out. Honestly, I’m not sure if it’s a hybrid or not. I’m not very familiar with this car yet; it just arrived.
I’m struggling to understand how someone could buy a vehicle without knowing what’s under the hood. I always do a ton of research before making a purchase. I even skim through the manual just to avoid surprises.
@Cole
It’s one thing not to know if it’s a hybrid, but it’s not that common for most buyers to research the drivetrain that much. I usually do, but some don’t. I once had a Toyota salesman tell me the Corolla Hybrid had the same engine as the regular gas version—it didn’t.
@Audrey
Oh man, salespeople are terrible for that. By the time I get to the lot, I already know so much more than they do. It feels like they’re just there to upsell and trick you.
@Cole
Seems like a small group of buyers really care about the mechanical details. Most probably don’t look into it that much.
@Cole
I don’t really care that much if it’s a hybrid. ‘We fitted a new hybrid system.’ Okay, I don’t mind. I just care that it’s a Toyota diesel engine. But hey, instant torque is nice.
Maxwell said:
@Cole
I don’t really care that much if it’s a hybrid. ‘We fitted a new hybrid system.’ Okay, I don’t mind. I just care that it’s a Toyota diesel engine. But hey, instant torque is nice.
It’s an important distinction, though. For example, the hybrid Lexus ES has had reliability issues with the drivetrain, compared to the non-hybrid version. Toyota isn’t immune to reliability problems, so some research is still good.
@Cole
So, you’re calling the i-FORCE MAX hybrid system unreliable? I think it’s great, and it’s definitely not ‘bad’ in terms of reliability. The Toyota Tundra with the i-FORCE MAX has had no issues. But yeah, doing research is a smart move.
@Maxwell
Well, I was talking about the hybrid system in the ES 300h, especially the ones from the 2010s. The i-FORCE MAX has only been around for a couple of years, so it’s still a bit untested in terms of long-term reliability. We’ll see how it holds up over time.
@Cole
Fair enough, we’ll wait and see.
@Cody
Yeah, that’s not a US plate on the front. 
Yeah, on further inspection, that looks like a Swedish plate. Oops.
Yeah, on further inspection, that looks like a Swedish plate. Oops.
I really wish we got the diesel here. The 4-cylinder gas engine is slow in these things, but the diesel would at least be torquey and get better fuel economy. It’s probably not faster, but it would fit the Cruiser better.
@Fern
I actually had a Tacoma Hybrid as a loaner, and it was pretty nice and torquey. But yeah, in the US, we’re not big on diesels.
It’s about time someone added a vehicle that’s actually good! The latest models have gotten so boring. Hope it works well, and I can’t wait to hear more!