Despite SUVs becoming the preferred body style among new cars, sedans from Japan continue to enjoy plenty of buyer interest in the U.S. Toyota’s Corolla, for instance, sold nearly 250,000 units in the U.S. in 2025 and recorded a 6.5% year-over-year growth.
The company is making a major investment in its iconic compact car to give it a full makeover for its thirteenth generation. Having spent time with the Corolla Concept, as well as the current and previous generation models, here’s everything we know and expect from the next-gen Toyota Corolla.
Design
The next-gen Toyota Corolla will be an evolution of the concept version introduced at the 2025 Japan Mobility Show. We saw the show car in person at its world premiere, and while that radical design looks truly enticing, we think the production model would be simpler, developed to be spacious and practical in a cost-efficient way.
The front-end of the next-gen Toyota Corolla is set to be cleaner and more futuristic. We expect a lower and shorter hood featuring raised outer sections, sharper and more technical-looking headlamps with C-shaped DRLs and three-element main lights, and a large body-colored covered nose area with minimal lines.
The side profile should have a much lesser influence of the concept, settling for a higher roofline, conventional front windows, and larger mirrors. We also expect Toyota to use regular wheels with higher-profile tires. The rear will likely be upright, squeezing out the maximum cargo volume from the compact dimensions, setting it apart from the Prius.
Interior
The interior of the next-gen Corolla should have a modernized design, but one that doesn’t sacrifice ergonomics and practicality. We expect a sleek dashboard integrating a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster and horizontal AC vents. The steering wheel should have a regular three-spoke layout and push buttons.
The center console, door panels, and seats will also have a completely new look in the next-gen Corolla. Toyota will likely use a 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system instead of the current model’s 10.5-inch unit, running an updated version of the Toyota Audio Multimedia system.
New tech features of the next-gen Corolla could include ventilated seats and digital key support as well, alongside wireless charging pad, USB-C ports, and the JBL Premium audio system that we found useful during our time with the current-gen sedan.
Specifications
We expect the next-gen Corolla to ride on an updated version of the GA-C platform, with ICE, hybrid, plug-in hybrid, and pure-electric offers globally. Whether it will launch the plug-in hybrid and pure-electric variants in the U.S. remains to be seen, but a more efficient hybrid model is an absolute certainty.
In a media briefing at the 2025 Japan Mobility Show, Toyota hinted that it will use a new 1.5-liter gas engine along with an electric motor in the next-gen Corolla Hybrid, as per a report from Paultan.org.
The engine, which was revealed to be in development during the Multipathway Workshop in May 2024, can produce around 70 kW (94 hp) and 120 Nm of torque, while the motor can develop approximately 30 kW (40 hp) of power.
This setup has the potential to deliver about 100 kW (134 hp) of total power, which would be close to the current model’s 1.8-liter engine-based hybrid system’s 138 hp. The smaller engine could bring significant weight savings and compensate for the minor loss in power. The EPA-est. fuel economy could be better than the current model’s 50 MPG (FWD)/48 MPG (AWD).
Toyota has not shared any details about the potential Corolla PHEV or Corolla EV. However, a report that Best Car published in October 2024 suggested that the former will be practically usable as an EV in daily driving.
Release Date
The next-gen Toyota Corolla could debut in the first half of 2027, with U.S. sales commencing soon after. Positioned under the Camry, we expect the hybrid variant’s prices to fall in the USD 25,000-USD 30,000 range, ensuring a clear distinction from the Prius Hybrid.
Also See: First Look Review: 2026 Toyota Corolla Cross Hybrid gains helpful improvements
Featured image: TopElectricSUV’s rendering of the 2028 Toyota Corolla based on the concept.
An automobile engineer by training, I’ve analyzed the global car market since 2005, with a keen focus on EVs since 2008. My journey in online automotive publishing spans 17 years, during which I have reviewed cutting-edge automotive technologies and interviewed leading global CEOs and vehicle developers.
