Toyota Hyryder real world fuel economy tested, explained

Toyota’s Hyundai Creta-rivalling Urban Cruiser Hyryder gets two powertrain options – a strong hybrid and a mild hybrid, with the latter offered with a 6-speed automatic and a 5-speed manual gearbox. The mild-hybrid manual powertrain is also available with an all-wheel-drive option.

We put the hybrid and the AWD version through our instrumented real-world fuel efficiency tests to find out how it performs in the real world.

1. Strong hybrid’s efficiency is almost twice as good
2. Ambient temperatures affect hybrid’s mileage
3. Mild-hybrid’s 6-speed gearbox would have enhanced highway efficiency

What is the real world fuel efficiency of the Toyota Hyryder?

The hybrid version’s petrol engine runs an efficient Atkinson cycle, hence, as expected, the numbers are substantially higher than the standard version. In our instrumented tests, the hybrid returned a staggering 20.28kpl in the city and 22.85kpl on the highway. What’s interesting is that the numbers are quite the opposite to what we achieved on the Maruti Grand Vitara Hybrid with the exact same set-up (23.77kpl city and 20.39kpl highway).

Also see: Toyota Innova Crysta diesel returns with minor facelift; bookings open

During our test of the Hyryder, the outside temperature was over 35 degrees and we noticed that the air-conditioning seemed to be working hard to maintain a cool cabin temperature.  Hence the system was more often in petrol-only mode than in EV mode, which explains the lower efficiency figure as against the Grand Vitara hybrid. On the highway, the hybrid system often switched to EV mode, while cruising at speeds between 90-100 kph, which boosted efficiency.

The mild-hybrid mated to a 5-speed manual transmission, with automatic engine stop-start, torque assist and brake energy recuperation, returned 10.83kpl and 15.67kpl in our city and highway tests. What’s interesting is that while it has the same powertrain as the Brezza, the brake energy recuperation isn’t as aggressive as the Maruti’s nor does the throttle response seem as dull. So the Hyryder feels a bit more effortless in comparison and fares better in terms of efficiency than the Brezza (10.47kpl/15.89kpl). While cruising at 100kph on the open road, the Hyryder’s engine spins at 3,000 rpm in fifth gear. Having a sixth ratio would have certainly made it a more relaxed cruiser and improved fuel efficiency too.  

Autocar India’s fuel efficiency testing

Before our real-world fuel efficiency test, we fill the tanks of our test cars to the brim and maintain tyre pressures based on the manufacturer’s recommendation. These cars are driven in fixed city and highway loops, and we maintain certain average speeds. Throughout our test, there is only one person in each car, running the air con and other electricals like the audio system, indicators and wipers when required, just like how a regular user would. Periodic driver swaps further neutralise variations in driver patterns. At the end of each cycle, we calculate efficiency by filling them up to the brim again.

Also read:

Maruti Grand Vitara real world fuel efficiency

Toyota Urban Cruiser Hyryder review

Hybrid vs Petrol vs Diesel