Toyota desires to promote practically 20,000 extra items of its smallest crossover
In 2024, Toyota managed to maneuver 93,021 examples of its not too long ago launched subcompact SUV, the Corolla Cross. Ostensibly a lifted Corolla, it slots into the lineup the place the Toyota C-HR was — a mannequin that’s scheduled to return quickly, though solely as an EV. Now, Toyota executives say they’ve excessive hopes for the Corolla Cross to attain increased gross sales numbers than the 2 fashions managed collectively. Blake Williams, a advertising and marketing planner for the Corolla, instructed Automotive Information that the model’s goal is 110,000 gross sales in 2026.
Toyota
Are Toyota’s hopes for the Corolla Cross practical?
Toyota’s purpose is lofty, however removed from unattainable. Promoting in extra of 100,000 examples outstrips the gross sales that Toyota managed with two separate fashions doing the lifting. Toyota moved 12,141 examples of the C-HR in 2022, the final full yr of gross sales for the mannequin. Including that to the 93,021 Corolla Cross fashions offered final yr — which is an all-time excessive for the nameplate — the corporate falls round 5,000 items brief. Nevertheless, it’s price remembering that Toyota up to date the Corolla Cross for the 2026 mannequin yr. Whereas enhancements seem minor, they’re areas the Corolla Cross’s goal demographic locations huge worth on, together with chunkier 18-inch wheels for enhanced curb enchantment, commonplace heated seats and steering wheel on all-wheel drive fashions, and a bigger 10.5-inch display.
Who’s discovering worth in enhancements like these? “We’re making an attempt to focus on that 18- to 30-year-old purchaser that’s popping out of school and that is their first actual huge buy,” Williams instructed Automotive Information. The facilities and enhancements, in addition to the minor stylistic updates, made to the Corolla Cross might definitely add up. Will it’s sufficient for five,000 extra items? Contemplating the subcompact section’s complete gross sales quantity of roughly 4 million items, in all probability. Nevertheless, the small SUV faces staunch competitors, not solely from outsiders just like the Chevrolet Trax and Subaru Crosstrek, but additionally from Toyota’s personal lineup.
The Toyota Corolla Cross is an effective worth, however is it ok?
The Toyota Corolla Cross begins at $26,085 earlier than you test a single choice field. For that, you get front-wheel drive, round 31 mpg, and a 2.0-liter, 169-horsepower four-cylinder engine. Hybrid fashions are pricier, beginning at $30,445, however you get even higher gasoline financial system and a roughly 30-horsepower bump. The subcompact SUV provides 46.9 cubic toes of cargo house and room for 5.
Chevrolet
The hurdles the Corolla Cross faces are instantly obvious when you think about that some rivals provide extra full packages. For instance, Subaru’s Crosstrek begins at $27,980, however comes with commonplace all-wheel drive, barely extra floor clearance, and slick 17-inch alloy wheels. Chevy considerably undercuts the Corolla Cross with the Trax’s $22,995 base value, and it nonetheless comes commonplace with big-ticket gadgets like wi-fi Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, lane hold help, and lane departure warning. It even has extra cargo house at 54.1 cubic toes. In the meantime, clients able to step as much as increased trims could also be swayed by the ever-present Toyota RAV4. The larger SUV comes with heaps extra cargo house, comparable gasoline financial system, extra horsepower, and comparable excessive marks for traditional options, together with wi-fi telephone integration and LED projector headlights, the latter of which are not commonplace on the Corolla Cross.
Remaining ideas
Finally, Toyota has set practical expectations for the Corolla Cross. Whether or not or not the small updates made for 2026 will enable the small SUV to take big steps ahead, although, stays to be seen. In accordance with Toyota’s Q2 2025 gross sales report, the model moved 51,324 items by the tip of June, representing a 13.6% enhance in quantity over the identical interval in 2024. Toyota might want to transfer the needle simply as a lot subsequent yr to appreciate its purpose of 110,000 items in 2026. Whether or not or not the hotly aggressive subcompact SUV section permits it to take action, nonetheless, is one other story.
