Nestled in a quiet corner of the FAW Toyota joint venture booth at the 2025 Guangzhou Auto Show is the mid-life refreshed Corolla. This comes as a surprise, given that it’s the most popular variant of the model, which still holds the title of the best-selling car of all time.
The new iteration of the Toyota Corolla boasts significant upgrades to maintain its competitiveness after seven years on the market. As teased in earlier leaks, this C-segment sedan features an entirely redesigned front end, drawing inspiration from its siblings like the Prius and Camry. Embracing Toyota’s latest “hammerhead shark” design language, the 2026 Corolla sports C-shaped headlights. Below, L-shaped air intakes with integrated fog lights flank a slimmer central air dam.
Front view of the Toyota Corolla 2026.
The multi-spoke alloy wheels are another standout feature of this C-segment sedan. The 17-inch wheels on the 2026 Toyota Corolla bear a striking resemblance to those found on the older Lexus ES from 2015, even sharing the same size. Additionally, Toyota has added a black triangular panel at the rear edge of the window to create an elongated visual effect.
Toyota Corolla 2026 equipped with 17-inch wheels.
At the rear, the 2026 Toyota Corolla introduces a new red light strip connecting the reverse L-shaped taillights. Unlike the previous version, the taillight housings now feature a striking smoked finish.
Subtle enhancements to the rear of the Toyota Corolla 2026.
The most significant changes in the 2026 Toyota Corolla are found in the interior. The dashboard and door panels have been modernized with horizontal air vents and an additional central vent strip below. Further down, the expanded center console includes two smartphone slots, one of which supports Qi wireless charging—a design trend currently popular in the Chinese market.
The cockpit of the Toyota Corolla 2026.
While the 8.8-inch digital instrument cluster remains, the infotainment system has been upgraded to a larger, floating 12.9-inch screen powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8155 chip. However, the removal of physical climate control buttons in favor of touchscreen controls has sparked debate.
Rear seats of the Toyota Corolla 2026.
Under the hood, the 2026 Toyota Corolla undergoes a complete overhaul. The 9NR-FTS 1.2L and M15B-FTS 1.5L engines, previously offered in China, have been replaced by a naturally aspirated 2.0L M20E-FTS engine, delivering 171 horsepower, likely paired with a CVT.
A hybrid variant is also available, featuring a 1.8L Atkinson-cycle engine producing 98 horsepower, paired with two electric motors and a new nickel-manganese-cobalt (NMC) battery. Toyota claims a combined fuel efficiency of 4.13 l/100 km and a range of 1,041 km for the hybrid model.
Two new engines power the Toyota Corolla 2026 in China.
It remains unclear whether the refreshed Toyota Corolla will reach global markets like Vietnam. These extensive upgrades are undoubtedly necessary as the 12th generation ages, with the next generation still distant. However, markets outside China may receive less premium infotainment systems and different engine options.
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