Hybrid cars big enough to take a bike
-
- Posts: 24
- Joined: 15 May 2007, 11:13pm
Hybrid cars big enough to take a bike
Can anyone recommend a relatively small Hybrid car, probably a hatchback which we can easily put 2 road bikes in the back of. One of the bikes will have a mudguard. I don't mind dropping the front wheel out & laying the bikes on top of each other vertically but would like to avoid bent mudguards. I wondered about a Toyota Yaris Hybrid.
Re: Hybrid cars big enough to take a bike
Hi,
If you can get hold of a Honda Jazz hybrid you can get two full sized bikes in with front wheels off when the rear seats are folded flat. The bikes will go in upright and pointing forwards, at either side of the space,leaving loads of luggage room between them too.
You'll have to settle for a second hand Jazz hybrid as the current model is available as petrol only in the U.K. Think the hybrid was available new until 2015 so should be possible to get a decent one.
Worked well for us but didn't get on with the auto gearbox. Kept it for nearly 4 years though as the load space was Tardis like.
I made a board with quick release clamps to secure the front wheels which made it all quite secure.
If you google 'bikes in a Honda Fit' (the name they give the Jazz in America) you'll find pictures which first led me down that route.
Think the Yaris might be a bit small, certainly not as tall at the back.
If you can get hold of a Honda Jazz hybrid you can get two full sized bikes in with front wheels off when the rear seats are folded flat. The bikes will go in upright and pointing forwards, at either side of the space,leaving loads of luggage room between them too.
You'll have to settle for a second hand Jazz hybrid as the current model is available as petrol only in the U.K. Think the hybrid was available new until 2015 so should be possible to get a decent one.
Worked well for us but didn't get on with the auto gearbox. Kept it for nearly 4 years though as the load space was Tardis like.
I made a board with quick release clamps to secure the front wheels which made it all quite secure.
If you google 'bikes in a Honda Fit' (the name they give the Jazz in America) you'll find pictures which first led me down that route.
Think the Yaris might be a bit small, certainly not as tall at the back.
Re: Hybrid cars big enough to take a bike
Just found this pic which gives a good idea of space available. The hybrid battery is in the spare wheel well under the floor but there's enough space for a space saver spare or you can rely on the roadside repair kit that comes with car.....some kind of sealant as a get you to a garage fix.
https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=two+b ... wmIFUnzysM:
https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=two+b ... wmIFUnzysM:
Re: Hybrid cars big enough to take a bike
Mitsubishi do their small four wheel drive, the Outlander, as a plug in hybrid. It'll take a couple of bikes with ease.
'Give me my bike, a bit of sunshine - and a stop-off for a lunchtime pint - and I'm a happy man.' - Reg Baker
-
- Posts: 24
- Joined: 15 May 2007, 11:13pm
Re: Hybrid cars big enough to take a bike
You're right about the Honda Jazz. The only hurdle is that owners love them so much that there are very few for sale 2nd hand & as you say the Hybrid isn't made any more. The Mitsubushi certainluy ticks all the boxes of being environmentally friendly, good driving range & plenty of space but spending £35,000 on a car goes against the grain. I'm a cyclist at heart. The car is a way of getting to bike events & overseas cycling holidays.
-
- Posts: 15215
- Joined: 30 Nov 2013, 11:26am
Re: Hybrid cars big enough to take a bike
fivebikes wrote:Hi,
If you can get hold of a Honda Jazz hybrid you can get two full sized bikes in with front wheels off when the rear seats are folded flat. The bikes will go in upright and pointing forwards, at either side of the space,leaving loads of luggage room between them too.
You'll have to settle for a second hand Jazz hybrid as the current model is available as petrol only in the U.K. Think the hybrid was available new until 2015 so should be possible to get a decent one.
Worked well for us but didn't get on with the auto gearbox. Kept it for nearly 4 years though as the load space was Tardis like.
I made a board with quick release clamps to secure the front wheels which made it all quite secure.
If you google 'bikes in a Honda Fit' (the name they give the Jazz in America) you'll find pictures which first led me down that route.
Think the Yaris might be a bit small, pcertainly not as tall at the back.
What was the problem with the gearbox?
Entertainer, juvenile, curmudgeon, PoB, 30120
Cycling-of course, but it is far better on a Gillott
We love safety cameras, we hate bullies
Cycling-of course, but it is far better on a Gillott
We love safety cameras, we hate bullies
Re: Hybrid cars big enough to take a bike
Basically it is a step less cvt design. Probably okay day to day in flattish parts of the country but in hilly West Yorkshire it struggled when going uphill trying to maintain even a modest speed. There was a 'sport mode' which allowed up and down shift points using finger paddles behind the steering wheel but it wasn't great, even trying to change 'gear' when negotiating a gentle bend in the road wasn't great. Previous car was a Prius, a more sophisticated hybrid system although still cvt, which was better on the hills but useless for carrying bikes inside. Plus it was always way off it's claimed fuel economy whereas the Jazz, on a steady run in flattish terrain, would easily achieve the quoted mpg. As a side note, the CO2 emissions were just over 100 but the NOX was much better. Apparently Japanese car makers were/are more interested in this which is why fewer diesels feature in their ranges, even in the UK.
If you can put up with the cvt box the hybrid Jazz is great. Depends on where you live I guess.
If you can put up with the cvt box the hybrid Jazz is great. Depends on where you live I guess.
-
- Posts: 11043
- Joined: 7 Jul 2014, 9:45pm
- Location: Near Bicester Oxon
Re: Hybrid cars big enough to take a bike
fivebikes wrote:Basically it is a step less cvt design. Probably okay day to day in flattish parts of the country but in hilly West Yorkshire it struggled when going uphill trying to maintain even a modest speed. There was a 'sport mode' which allowed up and down shift points using finger paddles behind the steering wheel but it wasn't great, even trying to change 'gear' when negotiating a gentle bend in the road wasn't great. Previous car was a Prius, a more sophisticated hybrid system although still cvt, which was better on the hills but useless for carrying bikes inside. Plus it was always way off it's claimed fuel economy whereas the Jazz, on a steady run in flattish terrain, would easily achieve the quoted mpg. As a side note, the CO2 emissions were just over 100 but the NOX was much better. Apparently Japanese car makers were/are more interested in this which is why fewer diesels feature in their ranges, even in the UK.
If you can put up with the cvt box the hybrid Jazz is great. Depends on where you live I guess.
Technically not - it's much, much cleverer than that*, but I'm being pedantic
*and worth looking up, were you so minded.
Re: Hybrid cars big enough to take a bike
Fair enough....I looked it up and it is not a cvt (although described by Toyota as an eCVT system). It was definitely more sophisticated than the Honda but didn't really cut it as a vehicle for load carrying, particularly bikes. We did stick them on a roof rack on the Prius but no amount of sophisticated technology could overcome the resultant drag and the fuel economy was down in the 40s....With bikes inside the Jazz we got around 60 mpg on similar journeys, even more if we kept the speed to around 65 mph.
Also, the Prius is now seriously expensive!!! I'd be looking at the Hyundai hybrids I reckon though not sure what load capacity is like.
We now plan journeys by train whenever possible and take Bromptons!!
Also, the Prius is now seriously expensive!!! I'd be looking at the Hyundai hybrids I reckon though not sure what load capacity is like.
We now plan journeys by train whenever possible and take Bromptons!!
Re: Hybrid cars big enough to take a bike
You could look at the Kia Niro. I was considering one as it is often described as one of the few hybrids which can take a tow bar (I put the bikes on the tow bar as the dogs are in the boot) but, unfortunately, the UK models are not sold as towing compatible. I'm not sure I would describe the Outlander as particularly small and the hybrid version doesn't fare well in some reviews.
-
- Posts: 24
- Joined: 15 May 2007, 11:13pm
Re: Hybrid cars big enough to take a bike
Popped into the Tpyota garage & measured the length of the boot from the back of the front seats(in their furthers back position) to the back of the boot ie the length of the well to put the bikes in.
Existing 2003 yaris 46"
2016 Yaris Hybrid 54"
2016 Auris hatchback Hybrid 63"
2014 Auris estate Hybrid 72" which I rekon I could almost get a tandem in.
Existing 2003 yaris 46"
2016 Yaris Hybrid 54"
2016 Auris hatchback Hybrid 63"
2014 Auris estate Hybrid 72" which I rekon I could almost get a tandem in.
Re: Hybrid cars big enough to take a bike
Here is a useful website for finding internal dimensions, sill heights etc of cars. I don't expect there are many hybrids in their list though. http://www.rica.org.uk/content/car-search
-
- Posts: 36781
- Joined: 9 Jan 2007, 2:44pm
Re: Hybrid cars big enough to take a bike
Aileen Brown wrote:Popped into the Tpyota garage & measured the length of the boot from the back of the front seats(in their furthers back position) to the back of the boot ie the length of the well to put the bikes in.
Existing 2003 yaris 46"
2016 Yaris Hybrid 54" ...
In common with other manufacturers, Toyota seem to have a policy of increasing the size of models and eventually introducing a new smaller car. Since the Yaris was introduced in 1998(?) the Aygo and, briefly the IQ, have slotted in as smaller than the Yaris. One thing to be aware of with the current Yaris - unless they have changed it yet again - is the back seats don't fold down in the same way as they did on the original, shorter, model. Previously, they used to fold over so that they formed a low barrier behind the front seats. Now, the backs fold down perhaps giving more load length but the resulting load area isn't flat. That will affect the height of the front part of the load area with the seats flat. I've had two Yarises if that's the plural. One V reg and the other a 10. I was surprised by the difference. Nothing to do with carrying bikes but the original system of the entire back seat sliding forward to increase the boot size has gone. I was so pleased by our first Yaris that when I got rid of the execrable Berlingo, I didn't fuss two much about the changes to the Yaris. I bought it with barely a look. BTW, I see from a review that the carrying capacity of the hybrid is the same as the conventional versions, which AFAIK, is not always the same.
Mention of the Berlingo reminds me that others seem to have been more successful at getting bikes in than I was.
Re: Hybrid cars big enough to take a bike
The problem with hatchbacks is the sloping roof line and useable internal space with the back seats down. Plenty of width and length but not enough height so unless you're happy with bikes laying flat down and stacked then choice is limited. If you're happy to remove both wheels and lower or remove saddles then there are plenty that will do the job. Depends on how much rebuilding and adjustment you're prepared to put up with.....? Probably okay if you're off on holiday somewhere for a week or so but a pain if you drive out somewhere for a 'take the air' ride lasting a couple of hours.
The new road tax levels for newly registered cars make some of the financial benefits of hybrids less attractive too. All electric cars will be okay but hybrids and other low CO2 vehicles don't benefit as before. Providing you don't go crazy and buy a real guzzler that costs a bomb then the tax, eked out by monthly direct debit payments will not be too much of an issue for many though.
You could have a look at some the small 'eco' petrol engine cars. In some cases the engines are small but the cars quite big!
Ford B Max, VW Golf SV.....other makes and models available.....wth tiny 1.0 litre petrol engines which can deliver decent mpg if driven carefully. Probably a close real world match for some hybrids?????
The new road tax levels for newly registered cars make some of the financial benefits of hybrids less attractive too. All electric cars will be okay but hybrids and other low CO2 vehicles don't benefit as before. Providing you don't go crazy and buy a real guzzler that costs a bomb then the tax, eked out by monthly direct debit payments will not be too much of an issue for many though.
You could have a look at some the small 'eco' petrol engine cars. In some cases the engines are small but the cars quite big!
Ford B Max, VW Golf SV.....other makes and models available.....wth tiny 1.0 litre petrol engines which can deliver decent mpg if driven carefully. Probably a close real world match for some hybrids?????
-
- Posts: 24
- Joined: 15 May 2007, 11:13pm
Re: Hybrid cars big enough to take a bike
Re the road tax. The solution is to buy a pre April 2017 registered hybrid as the road tax is determined by the date the car was registered.