- The next Corolla is expected to land in 2026 with hatchback, sedan and wagon body styles.
- Powertrain options will likely include ICE, hybrid, plug-in hybrid and turbocharged engines.
- The 2027 GR Corolla might ditch its three-cylinder for a four-cylinder turbo with up to 400 hp.
Once upon a time, the Toyota Corolla was simply the default answer to “What car should I buy if I don’t want to think too hard?”. Dependable, affordable, and about as thrilling as a microwave oven. But that perception took a sharp left turn when Toyota crumpled its own rulebook, injected a hefty dose of Gazoo Racing (GR) madness, and rolled out a rally-inspired version of its twelfth-generation staple.
Future Cars: Everything We Know About The 2027 Toyota GR Corolla
Now that the current E210 generation, on sale since 2018, is inching toward the end of its lifecycle, all eyes are on what Toyota has planned next. Will they double down on bold moves or retreat to the safe, beige confines of suburbia? Let’s break down what’s known so far and speculate a little about the 13th-generation Corolla.
Daring Design
If Toyota’s recent design language is any indication, the next Corolla won’t be blending into traffic. Drawing influence from the latest C-HR+, Prius and Camry, the next Corolla will likely have a sharp-looking T-shaped front fascia with boomerang LED headlamps and sculpted bodywork. We’ve dressed our illustration in GR specification to boost visual attitude with carbon fiber inlays, large wheels and wildly-pumped rear haunches.
From the side, expect it to carry over a glasshouse like the current car, albeit with longer rear doors to improve rear seat access. Out back, we envisage slender LED taillights, a more upright rear hatch and a lower bumper that mirrors the front in its general design.
According to sources, Toyota plans to stick with the three-body-style formula: four-door sedan, five-door hatchback, and station wagon (Touring). However, availability will still be market-dependent, so North American buyers shouldn’t hold their breath for the wagon. And that’s a shame as rumor has it the Touring could come in three flavors: a standard model, a crossover-tinged variant, and even a full-fledged GR version. But before you get too excited, early reports suggest that if approved, the high-performance wagon will be a Japan-only treat.
A Futuristic Interior
Inside, the Corolla will likely borrow liberally from the new Prius, so expect a high-quality futuristic layout dominated by a wraparound dashboard, a 12.3-inch infotainment screen and a deep-set digital instrument cluster (so there is no need for a separate head-up display).
More: Can You Guess Which Non-Tesla EV Was Hertz’s Second-Best Seller In 2024?
Naturally, wireless Android Auto, Apple CarPlay, and smartphone charging will come standard. But Toyota might go a step further by integrating generative AI, offering smarter voice commands, seamless navigation, and quick-fire answers from an interactive digital owner’s manual.
Other highlights on the table include level 2 semi-autonomous driving assists, a panoramic glass roof, and a roomier trunk—all welcome upgrades over the current setup.
Hybrid Power For The Masses
Toyota’s upcoming 1.5-liter four-cylinder gasoline engine will serve as the heart of the lineup. In naturally aspirated form, it’s expected to push out around 128 horsepower (96 kW/130 PS). A turbocharged version could crank that up to 178 hp (132 kW/180 PS), serving duty across both standard ICE variants and an updated self-charging hybrid (HEV) lineup. There’s also talk of a plug-in hybrid (PHEV) version featuring dual electric motors for added punch and efficiency.
Recently previewed as part of Toyota’s new family of turbocharged and naturally aspirated engines, this 1.5-liter unit has been engineered with carbon-neutral fuels in mind. It also boasts improved thermal efficiency and more compact packaging compared to the current crop of Dynamic Force engines.
A New Rally-Inspired GR Corolla
As for the GR Corolla, conflicting reports suggest two possible paths. One theory points to an evolution of the current 1.6-liter turbocharged three-cylinder, potentially tuned to deliver over 300 horsepower.
The spicier rumor centers on Toyota’s upcoming turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder, reportedly destined for the new AWD Celica and other GR models. In street trim, it’s said to crank out up to 400 hp (298 kW/406 PS), with race-spec versions pushing beyond 600 hp. For the GR Corolla, though, it’s more realistic to expect output somewhere in the mid-300s, backed by an advanced AWD system to make sure all that power reaches the pavement effectively.
More: These Are All The Sports Cars Coming From Toyota GR
Toyota GR officials have made it clear: their sports cars will continue to offer a manual transmission alongside automatics. In fact, the company expects around 80 percent of US buyers to choose the stick shift version of the current GR Corolla, even after adding an automatic option last year. So, it’s a safe bet the next generation will keep the manual firmly in the lineup.
When Will We See It?
The 13th-generation Corolla is slated to debut in 2026, with North American models arriving as 2027 model year cars. Sales are expected to kick off shortly after the reveal.
Perhaps more interesting is what the Corolla will be up against when it lands. The compact car segment has taken a beating in recent years—Ford and GM have long since abandoned the space, and Mazda hasn’t made much noise about a new Mazda3.
More: Toyota Kills Japan’s $11K Corolla After 13 Years
On the bright side, Honda continues to rack up Civic sales, and Korean automakers are on a roll with the Kia K4 and Hyundai Elantra/i30. Volkswagen still has skin in the game with the Golf and Jetta, while European buyers can also choose from the Peugeot 308, Skoda Octavia, Opel Astra, Cupra Leon, and Citroen C4, just to mention a few.
What would you like to see in the next-generation Corolla? We’d love to hear what you think in the comments below.
