Less Corolla and more Cross-over
The Corolla Cross is a pretty big hit for the brand, and sales in 2024 were hot. Okay, so not exactly RAV4 hot (the best-selling crossover in America), but just over 93,000 units for the year is a huge jump from 64,000 sold in 2023. That number constitutes both the gas-only Corolla Cross and the hybrid version. As good as sales are, there’s no mistaking the Corolla Cross as a crossover that stands out in a crowd. It looks a bit more vanilla than the Corolla sedan and hatchback, but that’s about to change for 2026. The brand wants to continue to distinguish between the two variants, but they’re both more prominent for next year.
Fresh faces and wheels for the exterior
Toyota
The first thing you notice about the gas-only model is that the grille has a larger mesh pattern that gives it a more truck-like look. There’s also a new thick black bezel bar across the top, matching the new black mesh. The Toyota badge has moved from the mesh section to the top bezel, and the front bumper has been slightly modified. The revised hybrid model loses its large black grille and trades it for a body-colored lattice pattern from the Crown Signia and the refreshed Camry. It loses the slightly bulky section around the front badge, replacing it with a flatter, cleaner nose.
2026 also ushers in new paint colors and new wheel designs to freshen up the look. The XLE trim gets 18-inch dark gray alloys, and the sporty XSE trim adopts the same wheels but clad in black. If you opt for the new Cavalry Blue paint on the Hybrid SE or XSE, Toyota throws in a contrasting jet black roof. The overall look of the new Corolla Cross’s exterior should make it more noticeable on the street, and that’s a good thing.
Hello, bigger screen. Goodbye (some) piano black
Toyota
There are some important changes to the interior, although the overall styling remains the same. The Corolla Cross gets a new center console that ditches the chunky vertical bars. The center console is flatter, and there’s a new RAV4-like shift knob that’s no longer surrounded by horrid piano black that was a dust and fingerprint magnet. The wireless charging deck gets more space around it, too. The look is cleaner, and the space that opens up between the center stack and center console contributes to a more open cabin.
Toyota
The standard 8.0-inch touchscreen remains, but the 2026 Corolla Cross will get a new 10.5-inch touchscreen in higher trims, much like the Corolla sedan. We’re happy to see that physical controls for audio and climate remain, rather than moves like the redesigned Mazda CX-5 that places controls on the touchscreen.
Unchanged under the hood
Toyota
Both the gas and hybrid models for 2026 keep their powertrains. The gas version is powered by a 169-hp 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine, while the gas-electric Corolla Cross retains its 196-hp hybrid setup, which combines a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine with three electric motors. All-wheel drive is standard on the hybrid, while the gas model is FWD with optional AWD. Pricing hasn’t been disclosed, but that should be made known well before the refreshed versions arrive in showrooms later this year.
Final thoughts
The 2026 Corolla Cross won’t be quicker or more efficient, but its new looks should make it stand out a bit more in a crowded field of subcompact crossovers. The two versions continue to be distinct from one another, at least up front, but the refresh will make them even more so. The changes to the interior aren’t as dramatic, but they modernize the cabin nicely. Overall, the Corolla Cross is a compelling offering that should satisfy daily commuters and small families, and the updates to its looks are timely ones.