Toyota draws the line on 'hybrid': Australia's new labels
Toyota draws a clear line between mild and full hybrids
Toyota draws the line on 'hybrid': Australia's new labels
Toyota Australia rejects 48-volt mild-hybrid claims, reserving 'hybrid' for HEV and PHEV models. New V Active badges aim to cut confusion and build trust.
2025-10-06T06:50:13+03:00
2025-10-06T06:50:13+03:00
2025-10-06T06:50:13+03:00
Toyota wants to clear up the confusion around the word “hybrid.” The company argues that some automakers stretch the term to cover cars with 48-volt systems that can’t actually move under electric power. Sean Hanley, vice president of Toyota Australia, noted that these mild-hybrid setups only lend a hand during start-up and acceleration, and shouldn’t be conflated with full hybrids that pair a dedicated electric motor with a battery able to drive the car without the engine.He emphasized that Toyota does not consider a 48-volt system a true hybrid, describing it instead as an assistive technology. The line he draws feels fair: if a car can’t propel itself electrically, calling it a hybrid blurs what buyers should reasonably expect.To make things clear, Toyota splits its systems into three types: MHEV, a mild hybrid with 48-volt assistance; HEV, a full hybrid such as the Prius or RAV4 Hybrid; and PHEV, a plug-in hybrid that charges from the grid, like the Prius Prime.To avoid misleading shoppers, Toyota will badge Australian models with 48-volt hardware—including the HiLux and Land Cruiser Prado—as V Active rather than Hybrid. The company says it will reserve the word “hybrid” for vehicles that can run on electricity alone. Hanley added that honesty is the foundation of trust and that not every so-called hybrid lives up to the name. A straightforward label like this should make showroom conversations simpler—and set a clearer benchmark for the term.
Toyota, hybrid, mild hybrid, 48-volt, HEV, PHEV, MHEV, V Active, Australia, HiLux, Land Cruiser Prado, Prius, Prius Prime, RAV4 Hybrid, terminology, badging, consumer clarity
2025
Michael Powers
news
Toyota draws a clear line between mild and full hybrids
Toyota Australia rejects 48-volt mild-hybrid claims, reserving 'hybrid' for HEV and PHEV models. New V Active badges aim to cut confusion and build trust.
Michael Powers, Editor
Toyota wants to clear up the confusion around the word “hybrid.” The company argues that some automakers stretch the term to cover cars with 48-volt systems that can’t actually move under electric power. Sean Hanley, vice president of Toyota Australia, noted that these mild-hybrid setups only lend a hand during start-up and acceleration, and shouldn’t be conflated with full hybrids that pair a dedicated electric motor with a battery able to drive the car without the engine.
He emphasized that Toyota does not consider a 48-volt system a true hybrid, describing it instead as an assistive technology. The line he draws feels fair: if a car can’t propel itself electrically, calling it a hybrid blurs what buyers should reasonably expect.
To make things clear, Toyota splits its systems into three types: MHEV, a mild hybrid with 48-volt assistance; HEV, a full hybrid such as the Prius or RAV4 Hybrid; and PHEV, a plug-in hybrid that charges from the grid, like the Prius Prime.
To avoid misleading shoppers, Toyota will badge Australian models with 48-volt hardware—including the HiLux and Land Cruiser Prado—as V Active rather than Hybrid. The company says it will reserve the word “hybrid” for vehicles that can run on electricity alone. Hanley added that honesty is the foundation of trust and that not every so-called hybrid lives up to the name. A straightforward label like this should make showroom conversations simpler—and set a clearer benchmark for the term.
