Watch Out, Honda Civic
The humble Corolla nameplate has found itself attached to a few not-so-humble concepts over the last few weeks. First, we got an early look at the all-new Corolla Concept ahead of its debut at the Japan Mobility Show, before the lifted Corolla Cross Hybrid Nasu Edition was unveiled.
Both hinted at a much more exciting future for the best-selling car of all time, and now, the full reveal of the Corolla Concept has not changed that perception. It looks nothing like today’s Corolla, and the arresting exterior design is complemented by an interior dripping with just as much fresh thinking.
Related: From Humble Beginnings to Global Icon: The Toyota Corolla Story
A Corolla That Doesn’t Look Like a Corolla
Toyota Corolla Concept Toyota
It doesn’t matter what angle you look at it from—this is no ordinary Corolla. It’s an exceptionally angular design, and the aggressive lighting flows with the exaggerated lines and angles of the body. The hood is low and short, and the windscreen appears particularly large as it sweeps into the black roof. By modern car design standards, the A- and B-pillars are shockingly slim. The way the beltline ascends from front to back is unique, and the rear is characterized by a fastback-like profile. A broad, slim taillight bar wraps around the body, and the Corolla script is the only indication that this is, in fact, a Corolla.
Toyota Corolla Concept
There’s more innovation inside, with a floating dashboard structure. There’s a center island with a gear selector, and the display screens are closely packed around the steering wheel. Toyota has used light, airy materials and soft ambient lighting lower down, and the floor appears flat, freeing up plenty of space. A passenger-side screen is also equipped.
We expect many elements to be toned down for production (assuming this previews an actual production model), but as it stands, the Corolla Concept is even more of a glow-up for the sedan than the new Prius was for the economical hybrid hatch.
Multiple Powertrains Expected
During Toyota’s presentation in Tokyo, the company touted a wide range of powertrain options for the Corolla. Although the concept looks like it’s electric, the company said that gas, hybrid, and plug-in hybrid powertrains are all planned, too.
No further technical details were shared, but the multi-powertrain strategy makes sense for a nameplate that’s sold in vastly different markets across the world. Gas-only Corollas still make a lot of sense in regions like Africa, and while Toyota is working towards a more robust EV lineup, its hybrids remain tremendously popular in regions like Europe and the United States.
Related: Toyota Says You’ve Been Misled—Most “Hybrids” Aren’t Really Hybrids
Why It Matters
Toyota
An all-new generation of the Corolla is expected to arrive sometime in 2027, or possibly a bit earlier, as the current one has already been in production for eight long years.
If it’s anything like this concept, it will turn the small sedan segment on its head. Traditional rivals like the Honda Civic and Volkswagen Jetta still play it safe, but for the first time, the Corolla looks like a car you’d buy because it’s desirable, not purely because it’s sensible. Despite the rise of crossovers, the Corolla remains one of the best-selling sedans in the world, including in the United States.
Cumulative sales of the Corolla nameplate have surpassed 50 million units globally after 12 incredibly successful generations. It looks like the best of the Corolla is yet to come.
