The Toyota Corolla, the Japanese automaker’s long-standing entry-level car in the U.S., is expected to undergo a redesign and move to its thirteenth generation in 2025. Projected to arrive for MY2026 in America, the next-gen Toyota Corolla should display changes across the board. Below is our wishlist for the 2026 Toyota Corolla Hybrid:
Bold Design
Like the new Camry and Crown, the next-gen Corolla Hybrid is expected to sport a bold design that gives it a classier character and better road presence. As we’ve depicted in our rendering (above), a more assertive front-end with sharper headlights and upper grille and a wider lower air intake would present it with a fresh lease of life. A more aerodynamic roofline and more intense rear-end with slimmer taillights are also in our wishlist for the Corolla’s transformation for 2025.
Modernized Interior
The next-gen Toyota Corolla should feature a more upmarket interior with improved material quality, better NVH levels, and several new comfort and convenience features. We hope that Toyota uses laminated glass in more places to make the cabin quieter. A 12.3-inch customizable digital instrument cluster is on our wishlist for higher variants.
Improved Passenger & Cargo Space
The 2026 Toyota Corolla Hybrid should address the current model’s issue of limited space in the back. Toyota particularly needs to improve the headroom for rear-seat passengers in the Corolla and will likely make adjustments with the redesign, complementing the Corolla Cross Hybrid. We’d also love to see Toyota improve the cargo space, which currently stands at just 13.1 cu. ft.
New Hybrid Powertrain
According to a report from Best Car Web, the next-gen Corolla Hybrid will feature the 1.5-liter gas engine that Toyota unveiled at the Multipathway Workshop in May 2024.
The current model uses a 1.8-liter engine producing 138 hp and 105 lb.-ft. of torque and a 70 kW (93 hp) electric motor in the front. In available all-wheel drive configurations, it employs an additional 30 kW (40.2 hp) electric motor in the rear, which is expected to continue with the next-gen model.
Plug-in Hybrid Variant
The big news about the next-gen Corolla is that Toyota also plans to offer its plug-in hybrid variant in the U.S. According to a Reuters report, the company will likely launch the Corolla PHEV in our market in 2027. This would make it Toyota’s cheapest plug-in hybrid in America, positioned below the Prius Plug-in Hybrid.
The aforementioned Best Car Web report said that the plug-in hybrid variant will also have the new 1.5-liter gas engine, but, thanks to a significantly bigger battery pack, it will boast a stunning combined driving range of about 2,100 km (1,305 miles).
Also See: 7 ‘different’ features that I found in the 2024 Toyota Tacoma Hybrid
While the EPA-estimated combined driving range might be lower than the Japanese-market specification, it would still be an impressive figure for a car of this class. The plug-in hybrid variant could deliver an EPA-estimated electric-only range of around 35 miles.
I got my Master’s in Business Management & Administration and have been an International Automotive News Editor since 2014. I’ve traveled to global motor shows and automotive events, driven various types of vehicles, and focused on hybrid and electric cars in the last 4 years.
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