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Toyota extends hybrid battery warranty to 10 years, 150K miles for 2020 models (Update: Lexus, too!)

The longer warranty extends to all 2020 hybrid, plug-in hybrid and fuel cell models, even those already on the road.

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Headshot of Antuan Goodwin
Antuan Goodwin Senior Writer, Electrified Cars
Antuan started out in the automotive industry the old-fashioned way, by turning wrenches in a driveway and picking up speeding tickets. He now has nearly 20 years of expertise and experience behind the wheel of hundreds of cars, including electric, hybrid, plug-in hybrid, hydrogen, and traditional combustion vehicles. For each car he tests, Antuan covers more than 200 miles behind the wheel and evaluates driving dynamics; acceleration and braking performance; range; and efficiency. Antuan's goal is to use his extensive car knowledge to educate CNET readers and help with their next car-related buying decision. Whether you're EV-curious, an EV-enthusiast or a combustion-car loyalist, Antuan will bring you the unbiased advice, reviews, best lists and news you need. You can reach Antuan at antuan.goodwin@cnet.com
Expertise Nearly two decades of testing, driving, reporting on, writing about, reviewing, and editing content about electric and ICE cars. Category focus is on electrified cars, EVs, HEVs, PHEVs, ICE cars, EV infrastructure, EV chargers, EV adapters, EV news, auton Credentials
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Antuan Goodwin
2 min read
2020 Toyota Corolla Hybrid
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Here's a fun fact: Last year, 44% of the hybrid vehicles sold in the United States were Toyotas. That's a lot of Prii and yet, over 20 years after the first Prius hit the road in Japan, the automaker still faces concerns from some shoppers over perceived reliability and cost of replacing the large battery packs that make hybrid motoring possible. To help allay those concerns, Toyota is beefing up the warranty on its electrified vehicle batteries.

The automaker announced today that it is extending its hybrid battery warranty to 150,000 miles or 10 years, whichever comes first, up from the previous 100,000-mile or eight-year assurance. Other hybrid components -- such as the electric motors, power electronics controls, inverter and so on -- will retain the same eight-year/100,000-mile hybrid system warranty.

The warranty stretch applies to all seven 2020 model-year hybrids and plug-in hybrids, including the Prius and Prius Prime, as well as hybrid variants of the Corolla, Camry, Avalon, Highlander and RAV4. Toyota tells me that the extension applies even to 2020 hybrids currently on the road -- so fret not if you just picked up a shiny new RAV4 Hybrid -- and extends to subsequent owners, which should help keep the resale value nice and high.

The hydrogen fuel cell Toyota Mirai's battery pack is also covered. Presumably, the newly announced 2020 RAV4 Plug-in will also count when it hits the road.

"People still have hesitations about owning a hybrid vehicle," said Heather Updegraff, general manager of Toyota Vehicle Marketing and Communications. "Our goal is to minimize that concern and this new warranty extension for the hybrid battery is just another way we are leading the industry and putting our customers first."

In a concurrent release, Toyota's luxurious Lexus division also announced an identical 150,000-mile or 10-year hybrid battery extension to cover its 2020 model year electrified vehicles including the RX, UX, NX, LC, LS and ES hybrid sedans, coupes and SUVs.

Originally published Oct. 10.

Update, Oct. 11: Adds Lexus 2020 hybrid vehicles warranty coverage.Â