A Toyota executive has said the Corolla Cross's design hasn't resonated in Europe, with the small SUV needing more "zest" to improve sales.
The Toyota Corolla Cross needs to offer more "zest" in response to lacklustre customer demand in Europe – even after the reveal of a sportier Gazoo Racing-themed model – a Toyota executive has admitted.
In an interview with Automotive News, Toyota Europe product and marketing boss, Andrea Carlucci, said the current Corolla Cross has not resonated in Europe as "it's a global model", not tailored to customer tastes in the region.
"We don’t have the perfect Corolla Cross for Europe, in the sense it’s a global model," he said. "If we bring more European zest, sales will be up."
The current Toyota Corolla Cross was first launched in 2020, but it did not become available in key markets – including Australia, Europe, Japan and the United States – until 2022.
While the initial Australian and European models looked identical, with a unique grille and bumpers, a mid-life facelift has unified its styling for most markets, including a new sports-themed GR Sport all-wheel-drive variant.
In Europe, the Japanese-made Corolla Cross was the 25th best-selling small SUV in the first four months of 2025 – down 14 per cent over the same time in 2024 – while the Turkish-built C-HR was the sixth best-seller, Automotive News reports.
In Australia, the Corolla Cross is the fifth best-selling 'small SUV under $45,000' with 5772 deliveries so far in 2025, behind the Hyundai Kona (8757), MG ZS (8232), GWM Haval Jolion (7029), and Chery Tiggo 4 (6228).
The Toyota C-HR – categorised as a 'small SUV over $45,000' – has recorded 1355 deliveries, behind the Volkswagen T-Roc (2299) and BMW X1 (2171) but ahead of the Mercedes-Benz GLA (1295), Audi Q3 (1149), and Lexus LBX (1071).
"The key point is that Toyota develops TNGA [platform] to allow regions to develop upper bodies," Carlucci added. "The cars need to be what Europeans want, not a mix of what US and Japanese buyers want."
This suggests Toyota will develop a unique look for the next Corolla Cross for Europe, despite its other key models – Yaris, Yaris Cross, Corolla and RAV4 – sharing an identical or almost-identical design with other regions, such as Australia, Japan and the United States.
The new model could arrive by the end of 2027, likely to follow after the debut of the next-generation Toyota Corolla hatchback, sedan and wagon.
Jordan is a motoring journalist based in Melbourne with a lifelong passion for cars. He has been surrounded by classic Fords and Holdens, brand-new cars, and everything in between from birth, with his parents’ owning an automotive workshop in regional Victoria. Jordan started writing about cars in 2021, and joined the Drive team in 2024.
