Toyota Corolla Cross - 2026 facelift

The Toyota Corolla Cross has been around for four years since its 2021 debut on Japanese roads, and as the times demand it, the Corolla Cross was revised for the 2026 model year with the addition of the new GR SPORT variant.

2026 Toyota Corolla Cross

2026 Toyota Corolla Cross

The updated Toyota Corolla Cross starts at 2,760,000 Japanese Yen plus additional costs, so what to expect for the 2026 update of the one heavily debated as either a welcoming addition or treason to the Corolla heritage?

Beginning on the front, the 2026MY Corolla Cross features an updated front fascia with a body-coloured honeycomb grille, with the strip joining the headlights now illuminated. The main lamps have been redesigned with available adaptive LED technology and L-shaped daytime running lights framing illuminated “dashes”. At the back, the LED taillights were revamped with a C-shaped graphic and fins. It even features a wide range of revamped wheels to choose from.

The new GR SPORT variant, which wears a Toyota emblem instead of the Corolla emblem on the front, features a massive octagonal lower grille and rectangular outer trims with a 10 mm lower ride height, 19-inch machined Y-spoke alloys, and gloss black logos.

2026 Toyota Corolla Cross interior

Inside, the Corolla Cross features a new, wider centre console, gaining a USB-C port, a Qi wireless charger, a sliding storage box, and redesigned cupholders. It still fits up to five people and the boot space slightly packs more room than its hatchback equivalent, the Corolla Sport, because the Cross is longer and wider than the Sport.

2026 Toyota Corolla Cross

Like the entire Corolla range (sedan, Touring Wagon, and Sport hatchback), except for the GR Corolla, no more petrol variants for this update. For the Z, S, and G variants, it features a hybrid powertrain with the 2ZR-FXE 1.8L petrol engine connected to an electric motor and Li-ion battery for front-wheel-drive and e-Four drivetrains. With up to 140PS of total power and CVT in hand, fuel economy is around 26.4km/L for FF variants and 24.6km/L for e-Four variants.

Exclusive to the GR SPORT variant is the 197 PS 2.0L M20A-FXS hybrid powertrain with e-Four, Li-ion battery, and a 10-speed sequential shiftmatic, delivering 23.3km/L of fuel economy based on WLTC Mode standards.

The Corolla Cross, like its counterparts, performs similarly due to its TNGA platform. The suspension setup varies depending on the variant. Front-wheel-drive models feature front MacPherson struts and rear torsion beams with coil springs. In the E-Four variants, the rear suspension is upgraded to a double-wishbone design. Meanwhile, the GR SPORT variant includes a specially designed MacPherson strut front suspension and a double-wishbone rear suspension, both of which offer improved rigidity. Additionally, it features a 4-level Drive Mode select system with SPORT and SNOW EXTRA modes.

Like last time, the Corolla Cross features Toyota Safety Sense as standard, and with a wide array of safety features, it's hard to say if drivers will trust this Corolla SUV for all the reasons.

Is this what the eavesdroppers of this crossover waited for? The facelifted 2026 Toyota Corolla Cross with its hybrid-only lineup, revamped exterior, revised interior, and the new GR SPORT variant? Hope this ends this conversation frankly, but if you want one, so be it.

Photo: Toyota Motor Corporation