Toyota Corolla could drive PHEV from Melbourne to Sydney and back on just one tank of fuel

The next-generation Toyota Corolla could be the first in the series to feature a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) system, allowing the car to travel up to 2,100km according to foreign reports.

Japanese publication Best car 13th generation statement Wreath It is expected to launch in 2026 and will not only continue as a regular hybrid like the current model but also have a PHEV version.

Unlike the current Toyota Corolla hybrid, which combines a naturally aspirated 1.8-liter four-cylinder gasoline engine with a motor/generator, the new PHEV is expected to use a turbocharged 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine paired with an electric motor.

This new generation engine is Previewed by Toyota earlier this year as a more compact and fuel-efficient product, Best car The report could give the Corolla a driving range of up to 2,100km.

Numbers as large as these are not unattainable, even with such a small engine.

Chinese giant BYD in the May has launched its fifth-generation ‘DM-i’ PHEV system, which is said to have a driving range of 2,100km – in contrast to China’s lenient test cycles – through a combination of a 1.5-litre petrol engine and electric motor, with the latter mated to a 15.87kWh battery pack.

However, technical details about the new Corolla and its PHEV powertrain remain limited. Best car has speculated that the setup could find its way into RAV4Toyota’s best-selling car globally – although no specific date has been given for the event.

It’s also not known how far the Toyota Corolla PHEV can travel on electric power alone, unlike the brand’s current hybrids which can only travel at low speeds as the electric motor assists the petrol engine at higher speeds.

Such a setup currently offers a claimed fuel consumption of between 3.9 and 4.0L/100km for the Corolla sedan and hatchback, with a theoretical range of close to 1,100km.

Toyota has yet to make any official announcements about the next-generation Corolla.

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