It’s not every day you hear about cars reaching more than 300,000 kilometers on the odometer and still going strong.

But that’s exactly what’s happening in Tacloban.

Toyota recently paid a visit to the Police Regional Office 8 in Leyte to check in on a fleet of hybrid patrol vehicles that have been in service since 2017. The trip was part of a “Goyokiki” activity, a Japanese practice that simply means going out and talking to customers face-to-face.

Back in 2017, the Philippine National Police in Tacloban received 45 Toyota Prius units from Government of Japan. These hybrids have been patrolling the streets 24/7 ever since. Non-stop daily grind, rough roads, and real-world conditions.

For most people, switching from a regular gas-powered car to a hybrid sounds like a big change. But the truth is, driving a Toyota Hybrid Electric Vehicle (HEV) feels just like driving any other car. No fancy controls. Just smooth and familiar experience.

The biggest difference is the fuel efficiency.

Toyota’s hybrid system lets you go farther on less gas, which makes it a smart choice for anyone looking to cut down on costs without compromising performance.

Still, it is normal for some people to have a few questions, especially about things like battery life or long-term maintenance. That’s why what happened in Tacloban really matters. These Prius units were not just tested in a showroom or a controlled environment. They were driven round the clock, every day, for years.

On 18 June 2025, a team from Toyota Motor Philippines, led by Vice President for CSO Service Planning and Administration Department, Marvin Gardiner and Toyota Tacloban Service Manager Dave Fenis, inspected 26 of those units to see how they’ve held up.

The results of the inspection of 26 of 49 Prius units donated by Japan showed the cars did more than just survive, they proved they can take a beating and keep on rolling.

Each Prius had logged an average of 193,000 kilometers. Some units even surpassed 300,000 kilometers, covering up to 300 kilometers a day extensively in tough, real-world conditions.

These are numbers you would expect from long-haul trucks, not hybrids used for city patrols.

Despite the mileage and demanding use, the Prius units are still running smoothly. Officers who have been behind the wheel had nothing but good things to say. Power mode is still very responsive. Ride comfort is still solid. And maintenance is surprisingly low hassle.

Even more impressive, the hybrid batteries, the part most people worry about when switching to an HEV, are still in very good shape.

Toyota ran health checks and found an average internal resistance of just 0.020 Ohms, which basically means the batteries are still performing at optimal levels.

There were a few minor underchassis issues, but nothing out of the ordinary for vehicles that brave rough roads every day. No major drivetrain or battery problems. Just reliable performance.

PLTCOL Roderick P. Condag, Acting Chief, RLRDD of PNP, Police Regional Office 8 summed it up best: “We sincerely thank TMP for going the extra mile to visit Tacloban and support our personnel. Toyota has never neglected us and continues to provide dependable aftersales service.”