Toyota is preparing the arrival of the second generation of the Corolla Cross for the global market in 2028, promising a larger and more sophisticated vehicle. The medium sports utility vehicle will feature technologies inspired by the RAV4 and will offer, for the first time, an unprecedented version for seven occupants, aiming to compete directly with the Jeep Compass and Commander models simultaneously.
In Brazil, development of the new Toyota Corolla Cross is already underway under project code 654D. Internal sources revealed that the next generation of the SUV will have several engine options for the local market, including flex-only versions, full hybrid (HEV) and, for the first time in the model’s national lineup, a flex plug-in hybrid (PHEV) configuration. The images that illustrate the article are artistic projections by Kleber Silva (@kdesignag).
The driving force will be the 2.0 Dynamic Force four-cylinder engine, with 16 valves and variable injection system, already produced in the country. This means that the current 122 hp 1.8 flex hybrid engine, present in the first generation of the Corolla Cross, will be replaced. The new 2.0 HEV flex configuration promises significant gains in performance and energy efficiency, with a combined power of close to 180 hp and a lithium-ion battery.
Contrary to trends, Toyota does not foresee purely electric versions for the Corolla Cross in Brazil for now. The Japanese automaker’s strategy for fully electric vehicles in the country will focus on models imported from China, such as the bZ3X SUV, which has dimensions similar to those of the Corolla Cross, avoiding internal competition between products.
The plug-in hybrid version will also employ the 2.0 Dynamic Force flex engine, whose configuration will first be introduced in a compact-medium pickup truck. This new utility, derived from the current Corolla Cross and known as project 150D, is scheduled to launch in 2027. The mechanical package, inherited from the Prius PHEV, includes a 2.0 Atkinson cycle engine with 152 hp and 19.4 kgfm, combined with a 163 hp electric motor, resulting in a combined power of 223 hp.
In the case of the Prius, the 13.6 kWh battery pack provides a range of approximately 70 km in electric mode, according to measurements from the WLTP cycle. The pickup derived from the Corolla Cross should maintain this architecture, which even includes all-wheel drive. There is a possibility that Toyota will equip the second-generation Corolla Cross with a larger capacity battery, aiming to further extend the electric range.
The arrival of the second-generation Toyota Corolla Cross on the Brazilian market should occur a little later than in other countries, estimated between 2029 and 2030. Before that, the automaker will launch the 13th generation of the Corolla sedan. Based on the Corolla Concept, presented at last year’s Tokyo Motor Show, the new sedan will be a “four-door coupe sedan”, with a global debut in 2027 and in Brazil in 2028.
Information obtained by our team indicates that the new Corolla sedan is also under development in Brazil, under project code 913D. Both the “coupe sedan” and the new Corolla Cross (code 654D) will continue to use the TNGA-C platform, which will receive updates to its electrical and electronic architecture to integrate the latest connectivity and active safety technologies.
The new Corolla sedan should share the same flex, HEV flex and PHEV flex engine options as the Corolla Cross. The production of the entire new Toyota Corolla and Corolla Cross family will take place at the Sorocaba factory, in São Paulo, which is undergoing an expansion process as part of a robust R$11 billion investment plan by the Japanese brand in the country.