While other nameplates – such as the Volkswagen Beetle – are arguably better known around the world, the Toyota Corolla series of compact cars reigns supreme (ahead of Ford's F-Series) as the best-selling nameplate of all times.
Born in 1966, the Corolla was already the world's best-selling car worldwide by 1974, with more than 50 million units sold as of 2021. The next milestone will be challenging to obtain, though, as crossovers, SUVs, and trucks are eating away market share from passenger cars. Produced across twelve generations, though, Toyota's Corolla has gained enough experience to mitigate such threats.
For example, the current E210 interpretation – which appeared in 2018 – is not only sold as a saloon, hatchback, and station wagon, but it also has a Corolla Cross CUV derivative. There's also a region-dependent GR Corolla variant covering all corners. However, since the facelift was introduced for the 2023 model year, it's already time to consider the future.
In America, for example, Toyota has the 2024 Corolla (sedan) on sale from as low as $21,900, the Corolla Hybrid from $23,300, the Corolla Hatchback from $23,355, Nightshade variants, and the feisty GR Corolla from just $36,100, which isn't too much considering its performance specifications. But some people believe that even more versions can enter the family – such as a Fastback model for a bit of practical sportiness.
Well, don't get your hopes up too much, though, as this idea comes from the imaginative realm of digital car content creators. Over there, the good folks over at the CarsVision channel on YouTube tried to unofficially present the next-generation Corolla, unlike anything we have seen during the current model's stint. It's not just a fastback sedan but also comes with a sleek and modern hypothetical design that is quite different from the quirky styling of the current saloon and hatchback.
If you think that today's clean and minimalist style doesn't suit the next Corolla, no worries – the peeps over at MV Auto have imagined the next compact best-seller with influences from the Prius instead. It's more in line with the Camry and Crown models, but this could also lead to confusion among less proficient customers, so maybe that's not precisely what Toyota should strive for.
Anyway, do remember to take all these renderings with a pinch of salt, as nothing is official from Toyota just yet. However, we can easily extrapolate that when the time comes for a generational switch, the all-new Corolla would still come with many of the same powertrain options – gasoline and hybrid, maybe even the feisty Prime plug-in hybrid seen in the 220-hp Prius. What do you think? Will Toyota move to change Corolla generations soon, for the 2025 model year, or will it wait at least until 2026 or 2027MY?
Aurel has aimed high all his life (literally, at 16 he was flying gliders all by himself) so in 2006 he switched careers and got hired as a writer at his favorite magazine. Since then, his work has been published both by print and online outlets, most recently right here, on autoevolution. Full profile
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