The world's all-time best-selling car has come in for a 'hammerhead' styling makeover – and tech upgrade – but it's unlikely to see roads past Chinese borders.
The popular Toyota Corolla has come in for a styling overhaul – with a new face inspired by the latest Prius and Camry – alongside an updated interior and roomier cabin.
However, the upgrades – pictured here via Autohome – are exclusive to the Chinese market, intended to keep the current-generation Corolla – introduced globally in 2018 – fresh until an all-new model arrives.
That all-new Corolla – due later this decade – was previewed by a Tokyo motor show concept last month, and is set for a radical styling overhaul with a choice of hybrid or electric power.
Changes for the facelifted Corolla sedan revealed at the Guangzhou motor show focus on a new front end, with the 'hammerhead' fascia debuted by the latest Prius and now seen on the Camry, RAV4, and other Toyota vehicles.
It includes new C-shaped headlights and a sportier lower front bumper, while elsewhere, there are new 17-inch alloy wheels, and an illuminated strip to connect the tail-lights, which gain smoked lenses.
Inside, the dashboard has been redesigned to accommodate a larger 12.9-inch infotainment touchscreen, powered by a new Qualcomm Snapdragon 8155 processor.
The air-conditioning controls have moved into the touchscreen, including adjustment of the air vents, which now stretch across much of the dashboard.
It is a common design feature in cars developed for the Chinese market, where buyers often favour a high-tech look over easier-to-use physical switchgear, unlike customers in Europe and Australia.
There's a new, wider gloss black centre console akin to the latest Corolla Cross, a revised gear shifter, and a new steering wheel hub with a repositioned Toyota badge.
The door panels and centre of the cabin appear to be unchanged, as does the 8.8-inch instrument display behind the steering wheel.
The updated, regular-badge Corolla – manufactured by Toyota's joint-venture with local firm FAW in China – rides on a 50mm-longer wheelbase (now 2750mm) shared with its near-identical twin, the Corolla Allion, for improved rear-seat space.
It has contributed to an overall length increase of 75mm compared to the outgoing model, as well as the Corolla sedan sold in Australia.
Overseas media reports claim a 126kW 2.0-litre non-turbo petrol four-cylinder will be the standard engine choice in China, with a hybrid combining a 1.8-litre four-cylinder with an electric motor and nickel-cobalt-manganese battery optional.
In Australia, a similar setup produces a combined 103kW, though earlier iterations have quoted 90kW.
The revised 2026 Toyota Corolla for China is due in showrooms in December 2025, but it is expected that there are no plans for an Australian launch, given local examples are produced in Japan.
Alex Misoyannis has been writing about cars since 2017, when he started his own website, Redline. He contributed for Drive in 2018, before joining CarAdvice in 2019, becoming a regular contributing journalist within the news team in 2020. Cars have played a central role throughout Alex’s life, from flicking through car magazines at a young age, to growing up around performance vehicles in a car-loving family. Highly Commended - Young Writer of the Year 2024 (Under 30) Rising Star Journalist, 2024 Winner Scoop of The Year - 2024 Winner
