Suzuki to Supply Toyota with an SUV BEV for a new Model

Toyota does make a Corolla hatchback hybrid and even a wagon version, but Americans supposedly don't want such, and SUVs have more profit. Honda now sells a Civic hatchback hybrid here.

There is also a Yaris hybrid. We won't get it for the same reason the Yaris ICE and Prius c went away, gas is cheap in the US. Fuel costs aren't high enough to choose the better fuel economy over paying a couple thousand more for the larger model for most buyers. Lower sales with lower profit then makes keeping the small model available a burden to the company.

 

with the current vehicle lineup, is the Prius even needed any more? It did its main job of promoting Hybrids which are now extending across other Toyota models..

 

Like the Aqua, it is still popular in Japan. Selling it in North America and Asia at this time is mostly about supporting the factory for the home market; Europe just gets the PHV. The things those dislike about the gen5(tire size) are because that is what buyers in Japan want. Even there, they had to take it in this sporty direction cause they also get the Corolla.

 

Not all models are available in all markets though. For example, although the Camry is made in Japan, it is not sold in Japan. lust european countries. Perhaps it is time for Toyota US to jettison the Prius in favor of other HEV or PHEV models.

 

That is a recent thing. Camry was sold in Japan through 2023. If not for the Ukraine war, Toyota would likely have stopped production in Japan. 2023 sales of the Camry in Europe was below 15k.

Perhaps the next one will be PHV only. Depends on whether feels they need the NA output for factory profitability.

 

Toyota seems to be having a big push to sell the Prius (Priis?) right now. I did a coolant, transmission, oil change in my 2021 AWD Prius last week so had to stop at the dealer to buy the fluids. Gone are most of the Tundra's and Tacoma's they had last time (they had lower APR and lease options on them) and I must've seen a dozen new Prius. Then I got an email from the dealer with lower APR's and lease options on the new Prius. So they are trying to get their sales improved.
I don't remember seeing a single RAV4 on the lot...those things are pretty hot right now, apparently.

 

It must vary by region. When I got my Camry in mid November. the dealer had a lot of pickups in the DC area. I just looked online now. These numbers probably include allocated vehicles.
Tacoma 32
Tacoma iForce Max 7
Tundra 16
Tundra iForce Max 5
RAV4 24
RAV4 Hybrid 15
RAV4 PHEV 4

By contrast,
Camry 20
Prius 2 (Both 2025 Limited AWD)