Hot Toyota hybrid to return? 2024 Toyota Prius could charm its way back to Australia after all!

Will the Toyota Prius return to Australia after all?

Late last month, Toyota in the United Kingdom announced that it would reverse an earlier decision made last year to axe the series, by reinstating the pioneering petrol-electric hybrid to its model line-up.

As it had in Australia, at the time, Toyota UK dropped the Prius in 2022 due to dwindling sales, stating that it had achieved the company's goal of introducing consumers to the benefits of hybrid.

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Toyota made the point that the spread of hybrid technology to most other models in the brand's range, such as in the Corolla, C-HR and RAV4, meant that the Prius was no longer required.

However, stronger-than-anticipated demand for the fifth-generation redesign introduced in Japan and in North America late last year seems to have prompted the rethink.

Reaction to the Prius 5's styling in particular, which eschews its predecessor's divisive busy design elements for a cleaner and smoother look, has been met with almost universal approval from the press – and that sentiment has been echoed strongly in social media as well.

It eschews its predecessor’s divisive busy design elements for a cleaner and smoother look.

According to Toyota Australia Vice President Sales, Marketing and Franchise Operations, Sean Hanley, while no decision has been made as to whether the new Prius might return to Australia for the time being, he would not rule anything out.

"Nothing has been decided," he told CarsGuide at last month's Japan Mobility Show in Tokyo.

Back in May, 2022, Toyota in Australia announced the previous Prius’ local demise after four generations over nearly 21 years.

"We decided to drop the last one because it was a choice between it and other models like the CH-R, Corolla Cross and RAV4... and at the time, there just wasn't a market for it like the SUVs.

"It is not too late for the Prius... but at this stage, I can't say if it is going to return to Australia."

As the recent Toyota UK announcement implies, the opposite seems to be true with the latest Prius.

Interestingly, the latest Prius shares its Toyota New Global Architecture (TNGA) GA-C platform with the imminent second-gen C-HR. Elsewhere in the world, it is offered in 1.8-litre hybrid and 2.0-litre hybrid configurations.

Back in May, 2022, Toyota in Australia announced the previous Prius' local demise after four generations over nearly 21 years and almost 21,000 sales, due to dwindling demand. In 2021, it managed to find only 77 buyers, reflecting a dramatic decline that the company blamed on the broader availability of hybrid options in most of its mainstream best-sellers.

In the United States, the Prius 5 has reversed other small-car hatchback trends by sustaining sales.

However, one Toyota dealer told CarsGuide at the time that there was considerable resistance to the Mk4's design from the moment that model hit the forecourts in 2016.

As the recent Toyota UK announcement implies, the opposite seems to be true with the latest Prius.

In the United States, the Prius 5 has reversed other small-car hatchback trends by sustaining sales, and may even be on track to exceed its expected 35,000-unit target for 2023.

Interestingly, the latest Prius shares its Toyota New Global Architecture (TNGA) GA-C platform with the imminent second-gen C-HR.

It's also worth noting that the Toyota is offered as both a regular series-parallel hybrid as well as a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) option, known as the Prius Prime, broadening the model's appeal to American consumers.

Will Toyota Australia follow suit? Back in September, Hanley revealed that he is open to offering more PHEVs in this market.

"Plug-ins have developed beyond where they were even 10 years ago," he said at the time. "There's been a progression of technology since then, PHEVs now offer benefits which make it more viable in this market.

Late last month, Toyota in the United Kingdom announced that it would reverse an earlier decision made last year to axe the series.

"Whether we go down that route - I wouldn't rule it out."

Do you want to see the latest Prius in Australia? Let us know in the comments below.