Shock Toyota comeback!

That the Toyota Prius is set for a return to Australia inside the next 18 months, and possibly sooner, is no surprise.

As CarsGuide has recently reported, market forces and consumer preferences are shifting and the sleek five-door liftback is suddenly looking very promising for this market.

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But the big news is that it’s likely to be a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) only proposition, to once again blaze a trail of affordability and accessibility, just like its four previous hybrid-pioneering predecessors did for 21 years from 2001.

This would essentially make the Prius Toyota’s first affordable PHEV ever in Australia – and it should cost less than the related, next-gen RAV4 small SUV version that’s coming shortly.

According to Toyota Motor Company Australia (TMCA) Vice President Sales, Marketing and Franchise Operations, Sean Hanley, the time is right for PHEV-powered Toyotas in this country.

“A plug-in hybrid would be incredibly helpful. (And we would lean towards a PHEV more than the hybrid) because I believe in the next now to the next five years, that will be the powertrain of choice in the light SUVs and passenger vehicles. It'll be a PHEV, but you've got to balance them up.”

This strategy makes complete sense for Toyota, since every passenger car and most of its SUVs already offer a full series-parallel hybrid, effectively making the earlier Prius’ mission of being the accessible petrol-electric innovator redundant.

Additionally, Hanley believes the latest-gen Prius’ striking styling and standout silhouette will broaden its appeal beyond the eco trailblazer of previous iterations – and all while meeting Australia’s increasingly more-stringent New Vehicle Efficiency Standards (NVES).

“The reason that we are (looking at Prius) is because the new generation has a very, very appealing style, and a very appealing powertrain,” he added. “Which I believe under an NVES market situation, would have a role to play.

“It is a very good-looking car. I was in Japan for three weeks recently and I saw them every day. I think it is incredibly impressive. But it's not only about what it looks like…. it's (also) partly about what powertrain we can bring in, and at what cost.”

To that end, Hanley says TMCA is investigating exactly when and how it can deliver an accessible Toyota PHEV to Australians.

“So, yes, we are opening up a new study (for Prius),” he said. “Now, it's not going to be immediate, but it could be possible in the next 12 months… if it proves to play the role that we think it can play, yes.”