The Corolla, Camry, Corolla Cross, RAV4 and Kluger are now available exclusively as hybrids Down Under
- Toyota Australia is placing more emphasis on hybrids in response to growing customer demand.
- The Corolla, Camry, Corolla Cross, RAV4 and Kluger are the latest hybrid-only models.
- The Gazoo Racing and Land Cruiser line-ups will retain their non-electrified engines, including the HiLux pick-up, Fortuner SUV and Hiace/Granvia vans.
Toyota is aiming for a carbon-neutral future in Australia by phasing out non-hybrid versions of more than half a dozen of its mainstream models. This shift means that the company will no longer sell exclusively petrol versions of these vehicles.
The company attributes this hybrid-focused shift to robust customer demand, though one wonders if this is just good marketing. Toyota predicts hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs) and battery electric vehicles (BEVs) will account for more than half of Australian sales by 2025.
More: Toyota GR says no to electric vehicles, yes to hybrids
Specifically, Toyota Australia has eliminated ICE-only powertrain options from the Corolla sedan, Camry sedan, Corolla Cross, RAV4 and Kluger SUV lineups. These models now join the ranks of the Yaris hatchback, Yaris Cross, Corolla hatchback and C-HR crossover, all of which were already available exclusively in hybrid forms.
It’s worth noting that the Prius, once a hybrid pioneer, is no longer available in the Australian market and isn’t expected to return anytime soon.
Exempt from Toyota’s hybrid-only mandate is the performance-oriented Gazoo Racing range – including the GR Yaris, GR Corolla, GR 86 and GR Supra – which is currently incompatible with electrification.
The Toyota HiLux pick-up, which was recently facelifted with the addition of a mild-hybrid diesel, will continue to offer non-electrified powertrain options. This approach also applies to the mechanically related Fortuner SUV, the entire Land Cruiser range (J70, J250, J300) and the HiAce/Granvia vans.
Toyota Corolla Cross
Toyota Australia Vice President Sales, Marketing and Franchise Operations Sean Hanley noted that demand for hybrids in Australia is “consistently” increasing. “Faced with this rising demand, we were confident in the future of HEV as the dominant powertrain for most passenger cars and SUVs, leading us to make decisions that would ultimately impact sales of gasoline-only models,” Hanley explains.
He also said HEV’s share of Toyota’s sales in Australia reached a record 33.5 percent in 2023, escalating further to 46.6 percent in the first five months of 2024.
“So far this year, our total HEV sales have more than doubled to 46,821 vehicles compared to the same period last year, with all models continuing to attract strong demand. In total, we have now sold more than 430,000 HEVs in Australia since the launch of the original Prius in October 2001,” said Hanley.
In a joint statement with Subaru and Mazda, Toyota recently reaffirmed its commitment to the development of combustion engines as part of its multi-pronged approach. The Japanese automaker is working on new 1.5-liter and 2.0-liter four-cylinder gasoline engines that will be inherently designed to be compatible with electrification and alternative fuels.
