Toyota Corolla Sedan Hybrid Might Get The New Prius’ All-Wheel Drive

At the 2018 Los Angeles Auto Show, Toyota unveiled the Corolla Hybrid Sedan. The electrified compact saloon uses the same powertrain as the Prius that consists of a 1.8-liter inline-four and two electric motors.

Just like the regular Prius, the 2020 Corolla Hybrid Sedan is front-wheel drive. However, the facelifted version of the Prius that was also unveiled at the L.A. show is offered with an all-wheel drive system, too.

Now, since both cars are underpinned by the TNGA architecture, technically the Japanese automaker could take the entire powertrain assembly from the AWD Prius and fit it in the Corolla. But are they actually interested in such a model? According to AutoGuide, who sat down with the brand’s North America General Manager, Jack Hollis, in Los Angeles, the answer is ‘yes’.

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“There is no doubt that it is [being considered]”, said Hollis. “We’re not ready to make a comment about AWD [Corolla], but the AWD systems are interchangeable, and/or growth in AWD we know is something that the U.S. consumer has asked for; it’d be silly not to deliver on that.”

A potential Corolla AWD-e is thus in the cards, although it has to make sense from a financial standpoint as well. If enough customers ask for one, then the car firm will likely put it into production. And it seems that it is quite possible to introduce the hybrid AWD system into the Corolla, as the model’s chief engineer, Yoshiki Konishi, confirmed.

Note: 2020 Toyota Corolla Hybrid Sedan pictured