Hybrid hype is paying dividends for Toyota

As proof that persistence pays off, Toyota’s hybrid-electric technology is not only a big part of the car maker’s immediate future, but it’s finally resonating with buyers in droves. Oh, what a feeling indeed.

The original Prius debuted in Australia as an obscure stand-alone model in October 2001, generating just 137 sales. However, with the addition of the electrified Corolla sedan and C-HR variants, Toyota’s hybrid range now comprises eight models (with the Yaris due in 2020).

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Toyota is potentially eyeing more than 25,000 hybrid sales in Australia for 2019 – smashing all previous records. It’s an impressive feat given around 100,000 hybrids in total have been sold since the inception of the Prius 18 years ago.

Speaking at the Corolla sedan and C-HR launch, Toyota Australia Vice-President Sales and Marketing, Sean Hanley, said that the seemingly overnight success of the hybrid range comes down to affordability.

“I think that’s the key here. With any alternative powertrain, clearly the Australian market is saying, you know what, we’ll accept change, but it has to be affordable and it has to be practical.

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“Hybrid-electric right now is that practical solution to reducing CO2 … it performs well and there’s no infrastructure. It is a practical outcome with lower emissions and lower fuel consumption.”

However, it’s not monetary factors alone that are generating the leap in sales figures, with Hanley stating that offering the technology in more than one model is generating big benefits.

“Hybrid demand is running at close to 40 percent for Corolla [without the sedan] and RAV4, and above 50 percent for Camry.

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“At some point next year I remain confident that hybrid-electric will reach 20 percent of Toyota’s total monthly sales.

“If we had free supply, I have no doubt we’d be selling even more.”

Both of the latest additions are firsts for Toyota. However, the cost to trade up to hybrid differs between the Corolla sedan ($24,835 and $28,235 respectively in Ascent Sport and SX sedan petrol grades) and the top-spec petrol C-HR Koba ($33,940 ). The former garners a $1500 premium, whereas it will cost you an extra $2500 to step from the petrol Koba to the $36,440 Koba hybrid.

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The Corolla sedan hybrid also gains added standard equipment over its petrol-only equivalent.

In addition to the hybrid application, the updated C-HR is enhanced with angular styling tweaks and a new infotainment system. Like the Corolla, the compact SUV gains an 8.0-inch touchscreen (increased from 6.1-inch) with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto as standard.