Featured For Toyota, hybrids become a tougher sell

That misconception of "tough sell with little to gain" needs to finally be squashed. RAV4 hybrid is proving the very assumption you just contributed to incorrect... hence the next class.

Far too often, we see discussions online focus entirely on micro-economics with no regard to macro-economics. In other words, they focus on doings of the automaker only with respect to a very narrow scope... like a single vehicle for a limited audience. At this stage, that's harmful. It holds back the work needed to grow the market.

In other words, don't be an enabler of the status quo. We now need to move beyond the stage you had been part of. This next one... mainstream acceptance... is very, very different. That means really making an effort to understand the new situation, known as a paradigm shift.

 

rav4h is proving that price matters most

 

The data contradicts your vague claim. Of course, price alone is never a gauge of demand anyway.

We're seeing dramatic growth in the United States, showing the next-gen hybrid has quite a bit of potential for traditional replacement.

They've have already seen that happen in Australia... https://thedriven.io/2019/05/27/toyota-stunned-as-consumers-flock-to-hybrid-version-of-new-rav4-suv/

 

what data? rav4h is the first toyota hybrid offered at close to non hybrid price

 

interesting article. I still don't see anything competing with Toyota hybrids though. Honda trying to with a small displacement turbo, but having loads of issues with the 1.5T + it's still not getting 40 + mpgs.

Not much competes with Prius, even the new honda insight, which is a cool car doesn't touch it's fuel economy number. Plus, it is just a regular sedan with a trunk. No hatchback option, which many hybrid owners are seeking.

 

I think it's clear the rav 4 Hybrid is selling quite well, so well, that many dealerships in Minneapolis have none to show. The one's they do have are mostly spoken for with deposits upon arrival. People are buying them without even a test drive!

Although, I have yet to see a 2019 prius on the road with the updated styling.

 

Prius Team, Toyota US Prius marketing team used to be here but abandoned us.

 

what do you mean by that @Prodigyplace ?

 

There was a user here @Prius Team that was Toyota US marketing team for Prius ( & later, Merai too). IT got passed along to a few people as their staff changed.
The account has been deleted.
@Tideland Prius any idea what happened??

 

tmi

 

oh, interesting. did not know that. I wonder if there's a reason for them not participating any longer. Maybe social media?

 

Maybe it had something to do with the move to Texas.

 

do you think this site is less attended and used with the lack of new prius sales? i am curious about that. I still really enjoy it a lot. I check it daily.

 

I and many others don't own a Prius anymore, but we still come here.

 

We are in the market to replace my wife's 9 year old sedan. She wants a compact SUV for ease of seat access, elevated visibility and safety. Gas mileage is a concern of mine (Prius driver) but options are limited...until I considered a rav4h. It has everything she wants (except Android Auto): along with more horsepower than its gas-only brethren. The hybrid premium is only $800 for a boost to 40 MPG (combined). Recoup the premium within a couple of years in gas savings (less if gas goes up) and it's all gravy from there. What's not to like (I know. No Android Auto). Why would anyone even consider the gas version?

The bridge has been breached?

 

exactly my point, it's all about price.

 

except cars are falling out of favor ....
It will be interesting to see who gets a pick up hybrid or plug-in to market first.
.

 

Kudos for that goes to the accountants, not the engineers. The Corolla doesn't have AWD to hide the hybrid cost in, so the car is $3000 more than the ICE model.

There might be cost saving when hybrid system production reaches the level of car transmissions, but there is no getting around the fact that copper(and nickel) costs more than steel and aluminum. A parallel system might be cheaper than a power-split one, but I suspect cost savings from the smaller motors goes to a larger battery.

Since the accountants are hiding the hybrid cost in the margins, the company doesn't feel advertising is worth it.

If mild hybrids are included, the shift is already happening.

Those markets have higher fuel prices than the US, which makes it easier to justify paying extra for a hybrid. Diesels have also fallen out of favor in some markets.

The Ioniq was even supply constrained here. Sounds like it was a case of under estimating demand, and not having the supplies for batteries lined up. Battery supplies will likely be a problem for cars in the near future. Sticking with NiMH will insulate Toyota against that, but the chemistry has a higher cost.

Not if you wanted a Rav4 hybrid without AWD. Toyota doesn't give you the option because they are using the profits from the ICE car's AWD to cover the hybrid cost. It's great marketing, but doesn't help with the hybrid cost in models that don't have AWD.

It appears the up coming Escape hybrid will have a $1200 to $800 price increase over the ICE model regardless of whether it has FWD or AWD. It's a 2020 model, and won't be out until the fall, so specific details are lacking. The high end trim has the lower difference, but the low trim hybrid might be better equipped than the low trim ICE one.

Ford. The F150 is getting one next year, and the likely system is the one in the upcoming Explorer.
There is a rumor that the new Tundra will have the hybrid system in that Lexus, though.

 

A number of years ago, when the Tundra was the size of the current Tacoma, it was rumored that Toyota was going to make a Tundra hybrid after they finished the Camry. That never happened.

IMO a Hybrid Tacoma make more sense as a next step before a Tundra. If I ever need to replace my 2000 Tundra, it will likely be a similar sized Tacoma.