LC - Auto Hybrid Engine Shut Off - Not Engaging

[LCColorado]

I have almost 5k on my LC LC. I am very disappointed in the hybrid performance. Yes it is fast and has lots of torque around town. But, when I place my order I was lead to believe that it would get much better gas mileage and range. I hate having to go the the gas station all the time. I also assumed it would perform like other Toyota hybrid vehicles and have much more electric driving. For me it drives more like a fancy refined engine start/stop system for stoplights. I love the design I just wish I had the twin v6 like on the 550 with a 30 gal tank. All electric mode rarely happens with the way I drive I guess. Sea level.

I’m sorry if someone mislead you, but any Toyota hybrid that is isn’t a car/crossover SUV the hybrid systems are all about making power. They might get better MPG sometimes, but that isn’t the main goal of the engine. Just look at the TT V6 hybrid, that’s all about power, not efficiency.

FWIW the GX only has a 21 gallon tank, and because the MPG is even worse the range is about the same.

 

[BirdCruiser]

I agree. If not for gas savings why give it a 17 gal tank? I think the engineers missed the mark and had to eat some humble pie. 17 gal tank was already specified in production and they had to roll with it. Remember when it was first released and they were estimating 27-28 mpg? Then EPA bumped it down to 20-23. And now "real world" is less than that if the consensus on the forum is correct. There was a misconception for sure. Great esthetic and design but fell short on the powertrain.

 

[jnsplace]

Space and weight, likely. space is a premium, and perhaps a bigger tank would have required a bigger frame?

 

[MuddyDog]

The hybrid in the LC is more for power/torque then mpg. For the LC to operate more like the hybrid in the RV4, it would need a bigger battery.
You can get electric only for a short distance when driving slowly with little to no acceleration on your neighborhood streets (25 or less) as long as you have been driving long enough to charge up the battery and have not been driving aggressively or in sport mode.

But, maybe an update from Toyota adding a quasi-hybrid mode might provide slightly better hybrid performance geared around mpg instead of power for those that want to increase their mpg under normal around town driving. Toyota, you listening out there? Can that be done or are there inherent limits to the system where what we have now is what we got?

 

[LCColorado]

The hybrid in the LC is more for power/torque then mpg. For the LC to operate more like the hybrid in the RV4, it would need a bigger battery.
You can get electric only for a short distance when driving slowly with little to no acceleration on your neighborhood streets (25 or less) as long as you have been driving long enough to charge up the battery and have not been driving aggressively or in sport mode.

But, maybe an update from Toyota adding a quasi-hybrid mode might provide slightly better hybrid performance geared around mpg instead of power for those that want to increase their mpg under normal around town driving. Toyota, you listening out there? Can that be done or are there inherent limits to the system where what we have now is what we got?

The battery is pretty small, I feel like it would fully deplete too quickly to make that work.

 

[EOD Guy]

The hybrid in the LC is more for power/torque then mpg. For the LC to operate more like the hybrid in the RV4, it would need a bigger battery.
You can get electric only for a short distance when driving slowly with little to no acceleration on your neighborhood streets (25 or less) as long as you have been driving long enough to charge up the battery and have not been driving aggressively or in sport mode.

But, maybe an update from Toyota adding a quasi-hybrid mode might provide slightly better hybrid performance geared around mpg instead of power for those that want to increase their mpg under normal around town driving. Toyota, you listening out there? Can that be done or are there inherent limits to the system where what we have now is what we got?

I agree with you on the power/torque, but I have had "all electric drive" at 60+ mph on numerous occasions.

 

[AMP]

I agree with you on the power/torque, but I have had "all electric drive" at 60+ mph on numerous occasions.

Wow - that’s wild. Yea I’ve hit all electric but it’s all sub 25 mph…basically idle. I doubt I’ll ever hit those speeds in EV mode living in Colorado. As mentioned in my original post, I really think the lack of oxygen(9500+ft elevation) drastically affects how/when the models switches on.

 

[AMP]

Has anyone else found that the cold weather greatly affects the Electric Motor kicking on?

 

[cvx5832LC]

Has anyone else found that the cold weather greatly affects the Electric Motor kicking on?

Yes, as in it's not going into electric mode as much. That said, no effect to mpg, in fact it's gone up a little bit with the colder air.