2026 Toyota Corolla PHEV may offer 2100km fuel range
Japanese report heralds immense driving range thanks to plug-in hybrid power for next-generation small carThe next-generation 2026 Toyota Corolla will reportedly be good for more than 2100km of driving range from a single tank of fuel, thanks to an advanced plug-in hybrid powertrain and a slippery new design.
That astonishing fuel range, which is longer than that of any other new vehicle currently available in Australia, would theoretically allow you to drive from Melbourne to Rockhampton without stopping.
And it comes from respected Japanese website Best Car, which claims that Toyota’s next-gen small car will primarily be offered with hybrid powertrains – as has become the norm for Toyota in Australia – including a high-tech plug-in hybrid system that combines the Japanese giant’s all-new 1.5-litre combustion engine with its latest EV powertrain technologies.
The report doesn’t go into a lot of detail nor cite any credible sources, but claims the new 1.5-litre four-cylinder petrol engine shown by Toyota in May will set new class standards for thermal efficiency and combine with the extra range provided by solid-state batteries.
Advances in electric motor efficiency will apparently also play a part in extending the total range of the next Corolla and indeed every other electrified Toyota model in future.
Toyota previously announced it would roll out its solid-state EV battery technology in 2027, starting with an all-electric version of the Crown luxury crossover that’s set to cover more than 1500km on a single charge.
But the catch is the solid-state battery tech will be reserved for flagship models like the Crown EV, leaving mass-market models with less advanced bi-polar lithium-iron phosphate batteries.
Toyota says that when it’s rolled out in 2026, this will offer a 20 per cent increase in cruising range compared to its current lithium-ion battery tech, while being cheaper to produce and faster to recharge.
What that means for the first Corolla PHEV remains unknown at this stage, but Best Car speculates its aerodynamic exterior design will take inspiration from the unnervingly pretty Prius not sold in Australia, with a low and sleek front-end, heavily raked windscreen, wedge-shaped silhouette and minimal sharp edges.
Odds are the Corolla’s future PHEV powertrain will also be offered in the updated Prius Prime come 2026.
Related: Diesel, hybrid or electric: Which has the longest driving range?
Related: Toyota axes its petrol-only cars and SUVs
Related: Toyota, Mazda and Subaru join forces on next-gen combustion engines
Related: Fuel-efficiency standard will drive more electric Toyotas
Related: Next Toyota Crown EV to have 1500km range
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