2026 Toyota Corolla Cross Gets New Nose, Bigger Screen

Toyota's smallest SUV gets styling tweaks that continue to differentiate hybrid from gas-only.

Toyota on Thursday revealed the 2026 Corolla Cross, the latest in a quick barrage of product updates. The brand's littlest SUV has been on sale for a few years now, so it was due for a mid-cycle facelift. In addition to the exterior tweaks, there are also changes to the cabin and tech suite.

The tweaks consist of a new front fascia design for both gas and hybrid models. The former sees the more subtle change, with a reworked grille. The hybrid model ditches the T-shaped air opening for a body-color mesh pattern not unlike that of the Crown Signia. Toyota's excellent Cavalry Blue is now available for the two top trims of each drivetrain, and can be paired with a black roof on the hybrid model. New 18-inch alloy wheel designs round out the visual changes.

Inside, Toyota has rejigged the center console for what it says is more storage space. The gas-powered XLE and hybrid XSE also see the larger 10.5-inch touchscreen migrate over from the Corolla sedan as standard. It's bigger sure, but it loses the volume knob for fiddlier buttons. The other trims (L, LE, S, SE) stick to the 8.0-inch screen, though LE and SE buyers can upgrade. Similarly, in America the Cold Weather package's heated front seats and steering wheel are standard on the X trims and optional on the mid-level models. (It's already standard in Canada.) Top trims also benefit from an available 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster.

Finally, the XLE trim gains the Portobello interior color scheme, one we really enjoy in other, larger Toyota SUVs.

The rest of the Corolla Cross package is unchanged. Gas-powered, front-drive models have a torsion-beam rear suspension and an independent rear for AWD. Both draw power from a 2.0-liter inline-four producing 169 horsepower, through a continuously variable transmission (CVT) with a physical first gear. The hybrid remains the way to go: not only is it more fuel efficient—an estimated 42 mpg (5.6 L/100 km) combined on every trim—but it's more powerful (196 horsepower) and quicker (around 8 seconds to 60 mph / 96 km/h).

Toyota Safety Sense 3.0 is standard on all trims, with a long list of driver assists and safety features including an easy-to-use adaptive cruise control. Blind spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert is standard on LE, SE, XLE, and XSE trims.

The pre-facelift Corolla Cross impressed us enough to earn second place in our massive small SUV comparison last year. Will the tweaks put it over the top? We'll find out when it arrives in dealerships later this year.

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