Toyota Hints at Possible Small Crossover to Join Lineup

A new small crossover could be joining Toyota‘s lineup in the United States and it’s a variant of no less than the legendary Corolla.

The Corolla Cross, recently introduced by the Japanese automaker, is arriving in Thailand soon. And if the general make-up of this model is any indication, it’s highly likely for the model to enter the American automotive market as well.

The model is a larger sibling to the C-HR despite having the same 103.9-inch wheelbase and is also several inches wider, longer, and taller than the Corolla hatchback. But it’s a little smaller than the RAV4, comfortably slotting in between the two crossovers if it comes to the U.S.

The global-spec Corolla Cross is powered by a standard 1.8-liter inline-four engine that delivers up to 138 horsepower and 130 lb-ft of torque, paired to a continuously variable transmission and a front-wheel-drive.

This is the same setup that can be seen in the entry-level trim of the Corolla sedan as well as the C-HR in the U.S., so it wouldn’t be a challenge for Toyota to build another vehicle with a similar architecture under the hood.

For its hybrid drivetrain, the Cross shares the same features with the Corolla hybrid sedan—a 1.8-liter mated to electric motors for a combined 121 horsepower. Also being considered as a possibility is a more powerful 2.0-liter inline-four that makes up to 169 horsepower, which has also been offered in some versions of the Corolla sedan and hatchback.

Toyota has not formally announced if the Corolla Cross will arrive in the U.S., but signs are pointing towards this possibility, especially considering that the company has already filed a trademark for the name.