Toyota Surprise: Corolla Cross Under Consideration For India!
Toyota in India offers a limited number of products compared to other markets. However, with rising competition, the Japanese brand is now considering expanding its lineup. One of the products expected to be introduced in the Indian market is the Corolla Cross SUV. As per recent reports, the manufacturer is planning to bring this new SUV to India in the coming years.
The Toyota Corolla is a well-known name in the Indian market, but it has always been associated with a sedan. Internationally, however, things are different, as Toyota offers a crossover version called the Corolla Cross. Interestingly, this is not the first time Toyota has considered launching the Corolla Cross in India.
The first time Toyota evaluated the Corolla Cross for India, the project was shelved due to commercial viability concerns. Production was initially expected to begin by June 2026, but the brand later realised that the SUV did not meet the required business case. Now, the project is said to be back on track, with Toyota planning to manufacture this SUV at its upcoming Aurangabad facility. The SUV is expected to be launched by late 2028 or early 2029.
As mentioned earlier, Indian buyers recognise the Corolla as a sedan, but internationally, the lineup is more diverse. Earlier, the Corolla Cross was expected to be introduced as a seven-seater SUV in India to compete with models like the Mahindra XUV 7XO and Tata Safari.
The current-generation Corolla Cross is based on the TNGA-C platform, which also underpins the Innova Hycross. It is expected that Toyota may make modifications to the existing model to increase the wheelbase, allowing it to accommodate a third row of seats. This also reflects the growing popularity of budget-friendly seven-seater SUVs in India, as seen from the strong sales performance of models like the XUV 7XO and Tata Safari.
In terms of design, the Corolla Cross is likely to retain a similar look to the international version. It is expected to come equipped with premium features such as a touchscreen infotainment system, automatic climate control, leatherette upholstery, electrically adjustable seats, seat ventilation, a multifunction steering wheel, a panoramic sunroof, cruise control, a digital driver display, Level 2 ADAS, and more.
Like most manufacturers, Toyota is shifting away from diesel engines toward petrol and hybrid powertrains. With the upcoming Corolla Cross, Toyota is expected to follow a similar strategy. Since this model is likely to be offered as a seven-seater, Toyota may equip it with a 2.0-litre strong hybrid petrol engine that produces around 184 PS and 206 Nm of torque - the same setup seen in the Innova Hycross.
Toyota has already announced that it will discontinue the Innova Crysta next year. At the same time, the brand plans to introduce a lower-spec strong hybrid version of the Hycross for customers looking for an efficient and affordable 7-seater MPV. The upcoming Corolla Cross could serve as an alternative for buyers who prefer a hybrid SUV over an MPV in this segment.