A thorough explanation of the surprising fuel economy of the new 4th generation Harrier Hybrid and the four-year owner experience! Actual fuel economy revealed!

The fourth-generation new Harrier Hybrid is gaining popularity for its urbane and sophisticated design, comfortable ride, and excellent fuel efficiency. In this article, I will explain in detail the actual fuel efficiency, appeal, and improvements from the owner’s perspective , having driven more than 25,000 km over four years .

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What we learned over the course of four years! Harrier Hybrid’s actual fuel economy

The catalog fuel economy is 22.3km/L in WLTC mode, but my average actual fuel economy over four years (about 26,243km) was 16.7km/L. I mostly drove it around town, and in winter the fuel economy dropped due to the use of the heater and traffic jams, but it was still a satisfactory figure. Especially on long-distance highway trips, I could get more than 19km/L, and I really felt the benefits of the hybrid system.

As an aside, I was also the owner of a 4th generation Prius 2WD early model, and the actual fuel economy was 23.0km/L. The catalog value was 37.2km/L in JC08 mode, so I was disappointed by the difference. (The difference comes from how you drive.) In other words, with my driving style, the difference with the Prius was only 6.3km/L. This shows that the fuel economy is astonishingly good.

The smartphone app “My TOYOTA” can also be used to check driving diagnosis, but as you can see, the driver is not paying attention to the accelerator or driving in any special way.

Advantages of the Harrier Hybrid

Here are some good points of the Harrier Hybrid that I’ve experienced after driving it for four years:

Luxurious interior and exterior: The sophisticated exterior design and interior made with high-quality materials make this a pleasure to own.
Quiet and comfortable ride: The quietness unique to the hybrid system and the firm suspension make for a comfortable drive.
Advanced safety features: The latest safety features, including Toyota Safety Sense, provide a safe and secure driving environment.
Ample power and acceleration performance: Powerful acceleration makes starting and overtaking stress-free.
High resale value : I had a hybrid Z “Leather Package” with a vehicle price of 4.82 million yen at the time, but when I traded it in to Toyota for a new car, they bought it for about 4.3 million yen. In other words, I only spent 520,000 yen on the vehicle price over the course of four years, so it was a really great purchase.

Improvements to the Harrier Hybrid

On the other hand, there were some areas that I felt needed improvement.

Rear seat comfort: Unlike the front seats, the rear seats are prone to road vibrations and are not particularly comfortable. Some people may find them cramped on long rides.
Luggage space usability: The luggage compartment floor is high, so loading and unloading heavy items can be a little difficult.
High price: The price is high compared to other SUVs, so the hurdle to purchasing one may be high.

Until the 4th generation new Harrier Hybrid pays off

This was a very difficult question to answer when considering fuel efficiency and price. When comparing both grades “G”, the gasoline model is 3,529,000 yen and the hybrid model is 4,119,000 yen, so the difference is 590,000 yen. Furthermore, the hybrid car is eligible for an eco-car tax reduction of about 30,000 yen, so the difference is about 560,000 yen.

Here we will calculate the cost of gasoline, and examine how much driving it will cost to make up for the gasoline bill of about 560,000 yen. In reality, we will calculate based on the actual fuel consumption listed above.

Fuel economy for gasoline vehicles (2WD) is calculated based on WLCT mode fuel economy: 15.0km/L (13.0km/L). Fuel economy for hybrid vehicles (2WD) is calculated based on WLCT mode fuel economy: 19.0km/L (17.0km/L).

Calculation of driving 10,000 km when gasoline price is 170 yen per liter

Gasoline model 10,000km=130,769 yen
Hybrid car 10,000km = 100,000 yen

The difference is only 30,769 yen after 10,000 km, so even if you drive 100,000 km, the difference is only 307,690 yen. You will have to drive about 200,000 km to make up the difference…

Even if you think you’re likely to sell your new car after about five years or 100,000km, choosing a hybrid car will cost you less than 252,310 yen. Just because it’s a hybrid doesn’t mean you can choose it lightly. Furthermore, in the case of the “Harrier,” there is no difference in exterior design from the hybrid, so you can’t be proud of it.

About comfort

So far, I have been talking about the price, but I would like to talk about comfort as well. The “inline 4-cylinder 2.0L direct injection engine + Direct Shift-CVT” model is perfect in terms of price, but not so much in terms of comfort. I have driven the 3rd generation Harrier and 4th generation RAV4 gasoline 2.0L, and my impression is that it is very slow to start. The torque is insufficient for the weight of the car , and even if it is improved with Direct Shift-CVT, it will still feel slow. The “inline 4-cylinder 2.5L direct injection engine + motor” is Toyota’s specialty hybrid system, and although the car will start running only on the motor, torque is the motor’s specialty, so you can expect a very good start. Furthermore, the overseas model ” Venza ” only uses this hybrid engine specification . It has proven that it is possible to drive overseas . Furthermore, when using “radar cruise control”, there is a high possibility that there will be a difference because the compatibility between the electric control and the hybrid is good. In terms of comfort performance, I recommend the “hybrid car” .

My thoughts on comparing the new and old models

The new Harrier is equipped with the Dynamic Force Engine, an in-line 4-cylinder 2.0L direct injection engine that uses the TNGA-K platform to increase body rigidity and achieve a maximum thermal efficiency of over 40%. This provides a higher level of quality and comfort than the conventional Harrier. In addition, the new model has expanded the options by adding a 2WD model to the hybrid model. For those who do not need a 4WD, the fact that they can choose a hybrid car at a more reasonable price is a major benefit.

Exterior

In terms of the exterior, when comparing the “S” and “G” grades, you’ll want to choose the “G” when you consider the appearance and convenient features such as the “chrome plating on the front and rear” and “LED daytime running lights.”

The next-generation Toyota Safety Sense has more detection accuracy and items than the previous model, and safety technology has been greatly improved. This significantly reduces the burden on the driver. It is not that the old model is outdated, but since the evolution of three years is reflected as it is, it is worth considering switching from the old model.

The new Harrier is available in grades “S”, “G”, “G “Leather Package”, “Z” and “Z “Leather Package”, as well as hybrid and gasoline vehicles. When considering the total cost, gasoline vehicles are cheaper, but if you want a comfortable ride, you should also consider the hybrid.

interior

The interior of the new Harrier comes standard with luxury car features such as a power tailgate, illuminated entry system, and digital inner mirror. Considering these features, you’ll probably want to choose the G. With its full complement of advanced technology and safety equipment, there’s no problem choosing the G for a car that costs over 3 million yen, even if it’s only 300,000 yen more.

The old model also has a sense of luxury, but the new model has a 12.3-inch touch screen, JBL premium sound, and a head-up display, making it even more advanced and comfortable. The price is about 300,000 yen higher, but it is well worth it.

For those who want to fully experience the new equipment, we recommend the Z, which comes equipped with a 12.3-inch T-Connect SD navigation system, hands-free power tailgate, and color head-up display.

In conclusion, the most recommended new Harrier is the hybrid car “Z”. If you have a budget, consider the “Hybrid Car” “Z “Leather Package”.

4th generation new Harrier specs

Peck	Harrier
full length	4,740mm
Overall width	1,855mm
Height	1,660mm
Wheelbase	2,690mm
engine	2.5L inline 4-cylinder direct injection engine “Dynamic Force Engine” + motor		2.0L inline 4-cylinder direct injection engine “Dynamic Force Engine”
Maximum power	131kW (178hp) / 5,700rpm		126kW (171hp) / 6,600rpm
Maximum torque	221Nm (22.5kgm) / 3,600-5,200rpm		207Nm (21.1kgf･m) / 4,800rpm
Front motor maximum output	88kw (120ps)		–
Front motor maximum torque	202Nm (20.6kgm)		–
Rear motor maximum output	–	40kW (54ps)	–
Rear motor maximum torque	–	121Nm (12.3kgfm)	–
System maximum output	160kW (218ps)	163kW (222ps)	–
transmission	Electric variable speed transmission		Direct Shift- CVT
Drive system	2WD	E-Four (4WD)	2WD	4WD
Vehicle weight	1,710kg	1,770kg	1,620kg	1,680kg
Minimum turning radius	5.5m to 5.7m
WLCT mode fuel consumption	22.3km/L	21.6km/L	15.4km/L	14.7km/L
Tire size	225/55R19 235/55R18 225/65R17
Passenger capacity	5 people

A word from the editorial department

The fourth-generation new Harrier Hybrid is a car with many appealing features, including good fuel economy of 16.7km/L , luxury, and comfort. It also has a high resale value, making it more economical than it looks. There are areas for improvement, such as the comfort of the back seats and the ease of use of the luggage space, but overall it can be said to be a car that provides a high level of satisfaction. If you are considering purchasing one, be sure to take a test drive and experience its appeal for yourself.