The sexy new Prius Australia can't buy
Toyota's fifth-generation Prius went on sale in Japan in January 2023, lower, sleeker and far quicker than the Prius Australians remember, with a 164 kW plug-in hybrid that does 0–100 km/h in 6.7 seconds. It's built in right-hand drive in Toyota City, yet Toyota Australia has never sold it. Here's the car, what it's like inside, and why it isn't here.
A Prius that turns heads
Forget the wedge-shaped taxi. The new Prius sits lower, with a swept-back roof, a sharp, shark-like nose and 19-inch wheels on the top grade. Toyota's design chief said it's "a car to be driven by all people, not just the few," and for once a Prius is bought partly for its looks.
Inside
The cabin is just as different. The driver looks at a compact digital display set high in front of the wheel, with a large touchscreen in the middle of the dash. And because Japan drives on the left, these are right-hand-drive cars, exactly like ours.
The trade-off for that sleek roof is less rear headroom and boot space than the old Prius.
Specs: the versions sold in Japan
| Version (Japan) | Power | Fuel use or electric range | Drive | Price in Japan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.8 hybrid (X, U) 1.8-litre petrol hybrid | 103 kW | about 3.1 L/100 km (U grade) | Front or all-wheel drive | from ¥2,750,000 |
| 2.0 hybrid (G, Z) 2.0-litre petrol hybrid | 144 kW | about 3.5 L/100 km (Z, 19-inch wheels) | Front or all-wheel drive | from ¥3,200,000 |
| 2.0 plug-in hybrid (Z) 2.0-litre plug-in hybrid, 13.6 kWh battery | 164 kW, 0–100 km/h in 6.7 s | 87–105 km on electricity, then about 3.3–3.8 L/100 km | – | ¥4,600,000 |
Japanese figures: fuel use converted from Toyota's WLTC km/L figures (28.6 km/L = 3.5 L/100 km); electric range and plug-in figures as quoted by Toyota Japan, longer on 17-inch wheels. Prices include Japanese consumption tax and aren't a guide to what it would cost here. 1.8-litre output from WhichCar.
- Solar roof: the plug-in can have a roof panel that Toyota says adds enough charge for up to 1,250 km of electric driving a year.
- Plug-in punch: 164 kW and 0–100 km/h in 6.7 seconds, far quicker than any Prius Australians have driven.
So why can't Australians buy one?
Toyota Australia dropped the Prius in 2022 after 21 years. Sales had dwindled to just 77 in 2021, its last full year, because hybrid versions of the Corolla, Camry and RAV4 had taken its buyers. Since 2024 Toyota's whole Australian range has been hybrid, apart from off-roaders and GR performance cars, so in Toyota's eyes the Prius no longer has a job to do.
The message has been mixed. In November 2025, Toyota Australia's Sean Hanley told CarsGuide it "could" return one day, calling it "a damn good-looking car" and saying the company would look at it again "over the next year or two". But in April 2026 his successor, John Pappas, told CarExpert: "There's no plan at this stage to bring the Prius back." Some grey importers bring them in privately.
Our take: Toyota should bring it
- It's already right-hand drive and built in Japan, where most of Toyota's Australian cars come from.
- It would help Toyota meet Australia's new fuel efficiency rules. A 3.5 L/100 km hybrid and a plug-in that does most city driving on electricity are exactly what the rules reward.
- The plug-in fills a gap. Toyota's first plug-in here is the RAV4; a sleek, efficient plug-in car would sit below it.
- People want it. Private imports, and the reaction every time it's shown, suggest there are buyers.
This section is EV Pick's opinion. The rest of this page is based on Toyota's figures and published reports.
What you can buy instead
- Toyota Corolla Hybrid: the closest thing in Toyota showrooms, with a similar 1.8-litre hybrid system.
- Toyota Camry Hybrid: bigger and roomier, the car that replaced the Prius for many buyers.
- Toyota RAV4 Plug-in Hybrid: Toyota's plug-in, in SUV form.
- The first Prius: the one that started it all, in our Legends series.
Sources
- Toyota: all-new Prius HEV launched in Japan (January 2023)
- Electric Cars Report: Prius plug-in hybrid on sale in Japan (March 2023)
- CarsGuide: Prius could return (November 2025)
- CarExpert: Aussie door closes again for the Prius (April 2026)
- WhichCar: cars we wish were sold here, Toyota Prius
- CarExpert: why isn't Toyota bringing the new Prius here?
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Common questions
Is the new Toyota Prius sold in Australia?
No. Toyota Australia stopped selling the Prius in 2022 and hasn't sold the fifth-generation model. In April 2026 Toyota Australia said there was no plan at this stage to bring it back.
How fast is the new Prius plug-in hybrid?
Toyota Japan quotes 164 kW and 0–100 km/h in 6.7 seconds for the plug-in hybrid, the quickest Prius yet.
How economical is the new Prius?
In Japan the 2.0-litre hybrid is rated at 28.6 km/L on the WLTC test (about 3.5 L/100 km) and the 1.8-litre at 32.6 km/L (about 3.1 L/100 km). The plug-in can drive 87–105 km on electricity.
Is the new Prius right-hand drive?
Yes. It's sold in Japan, which drives on the left like Australia, so right-hand-drive cars are already built.
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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 October 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: ACCC capital-city averages, 21 October 2026.
- 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 · 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.