Toyota promises five new hybrids within 30 months

Toyota Australia has committed to releasing five new hybrid models within the next 30 months, starting with the new-generation RAV4 early next year.

Although it remains tight-lipped about specific models beyond that, motoring.com.au has learned the other four new hybrids will be the C-HR and Kluger SUVs, plus the Yaris hatch and Corolla sedan.

What’s more, the petrol-electric Yaris and Kluger will be based on all-new models, so you can also expect next-generation versions of Toyota’s light-car and large SUV on sale Down Under by February 2021.

In fact, a new-generation version of North America’s seven-seat Highlander crossover – on which our Kluger is based – is due on sale in the US next year, as is the new Corolla sedan, while a new Yaris hatch is also due soon given the current model dates back to 2011.

The five additional hybrid models will bring to 10 the total number of petrol-electric models offered by Toyota in Australia not long after the end of 2020 – doubling the brand’s current range, which includes the Prius, Prius C, Prius V, Camry and Corolla hatch.

Further afield, Toyota has stated it will offer an electrified of every model in its range by 2025.

Toyota Australia made its most recent hybrid commitment at this week’s launch of the 12th-generation Corolla hatch, which includes a hybrid version of every model in the range for the first time.

“You can be sure we will accelerate both the availability and marketing of this core technology of the 21st century,” said Toyota Australia vice-president of national operations, Sean Hanley.

“We have a responsibly to take a stand and we are doing that with our hybrid model offensive. In the next 30 months we will have five new hybrid models available.”

The new Corolla hybrid hatch, which employs a less powerful (90kW) and less efficient (4.2L/100km) powertrain than the model it replaces, costs just $1500 more than the equivalent petrol variant.

This leaves the door open for Toyota Australia to also introduce a sportier and more powerful 2.0-litre petrol-electric version of the Corolla hatch that’s sold in Europe as the Auris.

Given the technology’s wider availability in Australia’s most popular car, Toyota expects hybrid versions to account for more than 20 per cent of Corolla hatch sales – which is still less than Camry (40 per cent) – and for a larger proportion of private buyers to opt for hybrid over petrol power.

Although Honda narrowly beat Toyota to be the first brand to offer a petrol-electric vehicle with its original Insight, hybrid tech has become synonymous with Toyota since its first Prius was launched in 2001.

Since then Toyota and its Lexus premium brand have become hybrid market leaders globally and in Australia, where both brands have sold only a small proportion of Toyota’s 11.5 million hybrid sales globally (including 115,000 in 2017 alone).

In the same period, Toyota says hybrid tech has reduced its fleet CO2 emissions by about 90,000 tonnes, although it’s starting from a high base given it sells more diesel-powered LCVs and SUVs than any other brand in Australia.

Nevertheless, Toyota has pledged to cut its global emissions by a further 90 per cent by 2050, and its near-term target is to sell 5.5 million electrified vehicles (hybrid, EV and fuel-cell) annually by 2030.

However, making hybrid mainstream could have ramifications for Toyota’s technology icon, the Prius, which sells in small numbers in Australia and — with a $35,690 starting price — costs almost $10,000 more than the cheapest Corolla hybrid despite sharing its powertrain and platform.

That leaves quirky styling as the Prius’ most unique selling proposition and Toyota Australia has ruled out a local introduction of the plug-in Prius Prime PHEV sold in other markets.

Unlike a host of other car-makers, Australia’s top-selling automotive brand says that for the foreseeable future it will remain without any plug-in models, because they would confuse Toyota’s simple ‘charge while driving’ hybrid message.

New hybrids coming from Toyota:
C-HR hybrid
Corolla sedan hybrid
Kluger hybrid
RAV4 hybrid
Yaris hatch hybrid