Toyota's record setting hybrid car: You'll only need to refuel nine times a year in the 2025 Toyota Prius as it smashes world record with amazing fuel use figure

Toyota has showcased just how efficient its hybrid tech really is.

Wayne Gerdes has set a new Guinness World Record for the lowest fuel consumption driving from LA to New York City in his new Toyota Prius.

This might be the most boring Cannonball Run ever but Toyota’s hybrid prowess was on full display.

Gerdes completed the circa-5168km journey using just 2.5L/100km, smashing the previous record of about 3.1L/100km and well below the Prius' claimed 4.1L/100km figure.

To put that distance in perspective, it is more than a 1000km further than driving from Sydney to Perth.

Using just 2.5L/100km meant Gerdes only had to fill up every 1700km or so, or just twice on the whole journey.

The average Australian is claimed to travel roughly 15,000km a year, which means they'd only need to visit a petrol station about nine times every year, if matching these figures.

It wasn't all controlled lab-like conditions, either. His journey took him through a range of conditions from mountain passes more than 2000m above sea level and deserts where the temperature exceeded 40 degrees.

Gerdes also said he encountered extremely strong winds for stretches, which can drastically affect fuel use.

There is no word on what his average speed was during the test.

The Prius used isn’t a plug-in hybrid either, it uses the same 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine and electric motor set-up found in the Corolla Cross, C-HR and Corolla hybrids.

Unfortunately for Australians, Toyota axed the Prius from sale several years ago and has no plans to bring the new-generation version here.

Toyota has switched its entire range of hatchbacks, sedans and SUVs to hybrid power in Australia, though.

Total distance travelled is firming as the new battleground for carmakers as the popularity of hybrids and plug-in hybrids boom around the world.

Chinese electric car and plug-in hybrid maker BYD often touts how long its vehicles can travel on a single tank of fuel.

It recently debuted the Seal 07 DM-i plug-in hybrid in China with claims of 2000km total range.

This claim was made using the more lenient Chinese light-duty vehicle test cycle (CLTC), compared to the more globally recognised WLTP test cycle from Europe.

Plug-in hybrid fuel use claims can have an element of mystique around them, though.

The Seal 07 DM-i is claimed to use just 3.9L/100km, but it would need to have the battery recharged often to get close to those figures.

 This is because once the battery is depleted the car relies on a smaller than usual petrol engine to lug around a heavier than usual car due to the added weight of the battery and electric motor.

It has been rumoured that Toyota will team up with BYD to roll out the Chinese brand’s plug-in hybrid tech in its next wave of new cars, though.