The next Toyota Corolla could be the first in the nameplate’s history to be offered with plug-in hybrid (PHEV) power, unlocking up to 2100km of driving range according to overseas reports.
Japanese publication Best Car claims the 13th generation Corolla is due to launch in 2026, and will not only continue to be a conventional hybrid like the current model, but also be available as a PHEV.
Unlike the existing Toyota Corolla hybrid, which mates its naturally aspirated 1.8-litre four-cylinder petrol engine to a motor/generator, the new PHEV is expected to adopt a turbocharged 1.5-litre four-cylinder paired with an electric motor.
This new-generation engine was previewed by Toyota earlier this year as an even more compact and fuel efficient offering, which Best Car reports could provide the Corolla with up to 2100km of driving range.
Lofty figures such as these aren’t unachievable, even with such a small engine.
Chinese giant BYD in May launched its fifth-generation ‘DM-i’ PHEV system, claimed to provide 2100km of driving range – against China’s lenient test cycles – through the combination of its 1.5-litre petrol engine and electric motor, the latter of which is mated with a 15.87kWh battery pack.
Current Corolla sedan
Technical details about the new Corolla and its PHEV drivetrain are limited, though Best Car has speculated the setup could find its way into the RAV4, the best-selling Toyota globally – though it didn’t include a potential date for this to happen.
It’s also not known how far the Toyota Corolla PHEV would be capable of driving on electric-only power, unlike the brand’s current crop of hybrids which can only do so at low speeds as the electric motor supplements the petrol engine at higher speeds.
Such a setup currently provides claimed fuel consumption figures between 3.9 and 4.0L/100km for the Corolla sedan and hatch, respectively, with a theoretical range of almost 1100km.
Toyota is yet to make any official announcements about its next-generation Corolla.
MORE: Everything Toyota Corolla
MORE: Toyota, Mazda and Subaru commit to petrol power with new engines
