In my mind, Toyota is the smartest car manufacturer in the world at the moment. They’ve continued to invest in various potential future drivetrain options whilst others have naively pinned their colours to the EV mast too early in the piece.
One of those drivetrain options is the hybrid and Toyota, as the originators of passenger car hybrid technology over 25 years ago, has led the way with a series of ever improving models that have embraced it. And yet, here we are, some 18 months after the announcement of the best and most efficient version of the Prius to date, with Toyota Australia apparently adamant that they’re not going to import this car into our market here.
READ MORE: Toyota’s Le Mans-inspired Prius?!
TA appear oblivious to the ever growing potential for really good plug-in hybrids (PHEVs). It’s clear that a lot of consumers want to drive electric cars for one reason or another, as witnessed by the sales of Teslas and, increasingly, BYDs locally. But for many there are too many negatives associated with a full electric car, be that a lack of widespread charging capability or resale values by way of two examples.
Hence, the PHEV can make a lot of sense. It’s also clear that the US market is diverting down that road at a rapid rate of knots, listening to the recent outputs from Ford and GM, for example.
The latest, fifth-generation, Prius is a game changer. It no longer looks like it was designed by a committee of origami experts. The styling is sleek, modern and could even be labelled as sporty. By all accounts, the car drives extremely well in normal day to day motoring. And, like all Toyotas, you’d put money on it being very well put together.
Originally, this latest Prius wasn’t going to be sold in the UK either. But now Toyota UK have come to their senses and seen the opportunity. They’ve just put the PHEV version on sale there at a price which just undercuts the Tesla Model 3.
With around 220hp (165kW) from the 2.0-litre internal combustion engine and 13.6 kWh hybrid powertrain, it’s fast enough for most people. But, if you choose to use it in full electric mode, it’ll do around 80km, and that’s sufficient for plenty of consumers. Plug it in at home on a standard plug and it’ll recharge overnight.
And if you want to drive further afield, then the range capability in full hybrid mode is close to 1000kms at 4.8-litres per 100km, apparently.
Given the choice of this Prius or a Tesla Model 3 at similar money, I’d choose the Toyota every time. The Prius is a tickle smaller, and that, in today’s age of oversized cars, is no bad thing, making it easier to park and get in and out of. But it still seats five with very similar luggage capacity to the Model 3.
With the Tesla typically selling 1500+ units per month, why don’t Toyota see the opportunity to take a real slice of this as well as adding consumers who simply won’t buy a full EV at the moment?
Add in the strengths of the Toyota dealer network, with all that entails in terms of back up and service, and it would become difficult for many folk to justify a Model 3 over a Prius.
The Prius is designed to do exactly what a large number of drivers here would like – to have their cake and eat it.
Let’s summarise that:
– A full electric range that’s more than adequate for many people’s everyday motoring needs.
– An internal combustion engine that’s there and ready as soon as it’s needed for any journeys outside that everyday norm.
– The ability to recharge the battery at home without any special infrastructure, thereby enjoying off peak low cost electricity and greatly reducing the cost of motoring.
– A dealer network that’s inevitably way superior in terms of reach and availability than that offered by the major EV brands such as Tesla and BYD.
It’s a pretty compelling case. I’d also wager that resale values for the Prius would hold up better than those of full EVs in the fullness of time. Furthermore, the wider trade is likely to embrace the Prius in a way that it hasn’t done to date with the Tesla range, as I’ve discussed on these pages before.
For me, Toyota Australia actually have a responsibility to consumers here to offer the PHEV Prius here. It’s the best car of it’s type and price range in the world today and, Australians deserve to be able to buy this car.
Moreover, if Toyota want to be able to continue to offer (and profit from) LandCruisers and HiLux’s here (and we certainly want and need them) under whatever New Vehicle Efficiency Standard gets introduced, then surely it’s in their best interests to also offer one of the most practical and efficient cars built anywhere in the world at the moment, namely the Prius. In fact, not offering this car here is simply terrible PR at a time when much of the Toyota range is in the spotlight under these NVES proposals.
It’s a bloody no-brainer.
Hi Roland, I couldn’t agree more. If you go back to the previous model Prius Prime they had already smartened their act and improved the styling. We wanted one and found they were available in New Zealand so we imported one privately. It’s brilliant! Exactly what we wanted it to be. Daily driving on the battery and better fuel economy on longer trips. We spent about $200 on petrol for the whole year last year. The rest was on the battery.
100% agree more with your sentiments regarding Toyota Australia’s stance on PHEV vehicles. It’s disheartening to hear that despite the growing demand and interest in plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs), Toyota has yet to offer a viable option in the Australian market.
As a consumer who has been eagerly awaiting the arrival of a decent PHEV for almost two years, I share your frustration. The fact that BYD has been approved to sell the new PHEV Seal U in Australia while Toyota remains hesitant to introduce a PHEV Prius is truly baffling.
In comparison to full electric vehicles (EVs), PHEVs like the Prius offer the best of both worlds, especially in a country like Australia where infrastructure for EVs is still inadequate. The Prius PHEV presents a practical and efficient solution that bridges the gap between traditional combustion engines and fully electric vehicles.
Your point about resale values and wider acceptance within the trade industry is spot on. The Prius has already proven its longevity and reliability, and I have no doubt that it would hold its value well over time.
Toyota Australia indeed has a responsibility to its consumers to offer the best possible options, and the PHEV Prius unquestionably fits the bill. Not only would it benefit consumers looking for efficient transportation, but it would also align with Toyota’s reputation for innovation and sustainability.
I echo your sentiments that failing to offer the Prius PHEV in Australia is a missed opportunity for Toyota, both in terms of public relations and future business prospects. It’s time for Toyota to reconsider its position and prioritize the introduction of the Prius PHEV to the Australian market.
Thank you for shedding light on this important issue.
What Toyota seems to be missing is that the Prius is such a great package and none of their other cars appeal to us. We have 2x Prius gen 2 which are so great we have not upgraded them. When we saw the gen 5 we wanted them. Finally a Prius that retains the huge storage for a hatch but now with beautiful styling and added performance/economy to boot. The corolla is too small and we dont like SUV’s, Camry’s dont have a hatch, so we stick to our gen 2’s for now, until we can get a gen 5
Roland of the top ten selling cars in Australia 2023 Toyota have 3 and one of those is the Hybrid the Rav 4. The Toyota Corolla which is based on the old Prius only came in 12th which was the best selling non ute/SUV/Tesla. So here’s the rub. If you have a petrol car fill up at a petrol station. Have a electric car fill up at home. If you have a Prius I have to fill up at both…no thanks. Plus a Prius is not a ute or SUV so no one will buy it. I know you like me are from an era where sedans ruled but that time has gone and the Prius shape is not wanted. Even Tesla are trying to make their cars look like a SUV. Toyota have hit the mark. If you want petrol or diesel pick Hilux/Prado. If you want a hybrid RAV4/Corolla. If you want a full electric Pick the new BZ4X. Come on Roland you’re a smart guy you did wonders with 888. Why are you hammering winners like Toyota (rally and Hypercar champions), Honda best F1 engine (said they were ugly) and Ford (you said something about the ranger, best selling car in Oz). Pick on the real donkey of the automotive industry, GM. You’ll have enough material from those Muppets to last a lifetime.
Hi Roland,
You’ve addressed the Elephant in the room- namely Toyota Australia.
For years the senior management at Toyota Oz have hardly had to lift a finger and they are profitable. When you can buy a similar spec car in othe rmarkets for almost half the money you are left asking questions.
Just pay a few journos a little side wage (you know who you are) and keep the hate on petrol variants, efficient engines and to hell with emission controls- thats the second owner’s problem. Easy peasy.
Now things are getting hard and Toyota Oz STILL wont bring into Australia their best cars. This new Prius, the petrol 300 series, so many variants we miss out on. Even the 2.4 GD6 craps all over the 2.8 we were stuck with for so long, suffering debilitating DPF issues because of it. Second owner’s problems.
We need to bring in some serious emission standards, so these elderley gents have to do something for the other 90% of Australia who aren’t stuck in the past.
Hi Roland,
You’ve addressed the Elephant in the room- namely Toyota Australia.
For years the senior management at Toyota Oz have hardly had to lift a finger and they are profitable. When you can buy a similar spec car in othe rmarkets for almost half the money you are left asking questions.
Just pay a few journos a little side wage (you know who you are) and keep the hate on petrol variants, efficient engines and to hell with emission controls- thats the second owner’s problem. Easy peasy.
Now things are getting hard and Toyota Oz STILL wont bring into Australia their best cars. This new Prius, the petrol 300 series, so many variants we miss out on. Even the 2.4 GD6 craps all over the 2.8 we were stuck with for so long, suffering debilitating DPF issues because of it. Second owner’s problems.
We need to bring in some serious emission standards, so these elderley gents have to do something for the other 90% of Australia who aren’t stuck in the past.