EV defeating hybrid wins European Car of the Year

The Toyota Yaris Hybrid has defeated the fully electric Fiat 500e and the Volkswagen ID.3 to take out the 2021 European Car of the Year award.

The judging panel awarded the Yaris 266 points, followed by the Fiat 500 with 240 points, the Cupra Formentor with 239 points and the Volkswagen ID.3 with 224 points.

It also praised Yaris’ hybrid electric technology for its smooth driving, low emissions, and accessible pricing, illustrating why 80% of European Yaris customers opt for the hybrid version.

Toyota New Zealand says large numbers of efficient hybrids such as the Yaris hatch can make a large difference to reducing carbon emissions.

Chief executive officer Neeraj Lala, says if the automotive industry is to transform from internal combustion to full electrification over time, hybrid technology represents a crucial step to enable that shift.

“Being named European Car of the Year is acknowledgement not only of the Yaris Hybrid’s class-leading safety, style and drivability, but also is a massive endorsement of hybrid’s role to play in the transition from petrol to zero emission cars,” Lala says.

“We started on the hybrid path many years ago with the Prius and now we are successfully introducing this technology into popular mainstream vehicles such as the Yaris, Yaris Cross, CHR, Corolla, Camry, and RAV4,” he says.

The Yaris is also a finalist in the 2021 World Car of the Year.

In New Zealand, more than 701 Yaris Hatch Hybrids have been purchased since its launch here in May 2020, including fleet purchases by government ministries.

“Toyota New Zealand supports the Government’s role as the exemplar and standard bearer for action on climate change,” Lala says.

 “It is encouraging to see these government ministries moving quickly to adopt the Government’s low carbon procurement policy and support the move to a carbon- neutral public sector by 2025,” he says.