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News › The sexy new Prius Australia can't buyNews · 31 October 2026

The sexy new Prius Australia can't buy

Why it matters: A sleek, frugal hybrid and plug-in that's already right-hand drive is exactly what Australia's new fuel efficiency rules reward. See the photos, the interior, the full Japanese specs and our case for bringing it here.

New models

Toyota Prius Z plug-in hybrid in Mustard yellow
Photo: TTTNIS, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons.

Toyota's fifth-generation Prius has been on sale in Japan since January 2023: lower, sleeker and far quicker, with a 144 kW 2.0-litre hybrid rated at about 3.5 L/100 km and a 164 kW plug-in hybrid that does 0–100 km/h in 6.7 seconds and 87–105 km on electricity. It's built in right-hand drive, yet Toyota Australia dropped the Prius in 2022 and in April 2026 said there was "no plan at this stage" to bring it back.

Photos, specs and why it's not here ›Toyota Corolla Hybrid running costs ›

Source: CarExpert

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How we work it out, and our sources

Weekly cost = the car's energy use × 250 km × your electricity or fuel price, with 90% of charging at home. Prices are list prices at November 2026; check with the dealer.

  • Electricity: 2026–27 default rates (AER, Victorian Default Offer, state retailers). Public charging: Sydney network prices, July 2026.
  • Petrol and diesel: capital-city daily averages from state government price feeds, via FuelRadar, 12 November 2026. Diesel for Hobart, Canberra and Darwin is estimated from the national fall.
  • Cars: maker figures via CarExpert, Drive, CarsGuide and EV Central. Plug-in electric range is taken as 80% of the claim.
  • Servicing: published capped prices; marked as an estimate where not yet published (CarExpert comparison).
  • Tyres: an EV set lasts about 35,000 km, a petrol or hybrid set 50,000 km (RACV); prices from Gridly.
  • Home charger: about $2,000 installed ($1,000–$3,000). Novated leases: PwC summary.

Printed from EV Pick Australia · evpick.com.au. Prices and costs are estimates; check with the dealer. © 2026 EV Pick (T. Crouch). For personal use only; not to be copied, republished or sold without permission.

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