Australia’s best-selling passenger car appears set for an update which could help it fend off some tough competition.
Japanese outlet Creative Trend reports an updated Toyota Corolla will be released in Japan in October 2022.
Exterior updates will reportedly include restyled headlights and tail lights and a refreshed grille, as well as new colour options.
There may also be an updated instrument cluster with a larger display, however Creative Trend’s source didn’t provide specific details.
Corolla Ascent Sport 
Corolla ZR
The Australian-market Corolla currently offers a 4.2-inch instrument cluster screen in Ascent Sport and SX models and a 7.0-inch screen in the range-topping ZR.
Toyota will reportedly introduce a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster to its Harrier crossover later this year, but it’s unclear just how far down the Toyota range this will be filtered.
Unspecified updates will also reportedly be made to the Toyota Safety Sense suite in the Corolla.
The Japanese-market Corolla will also reportedly lose its naturally-aspirated 1.8-litre four-cylinder engine in favour of the 1.5-litre three-pot from the Yaris.
No mention was made of the 125kW 2.0-litre naturally-aspirated and 90kW 1.8-litre hybrid four-cylinders sold in Australia, or the turbocharged 1.2-litre four-cylinder sold in Japan, suggesting these will carry over unchanged.
Pictured: current Corolla ZR
Markets like Europe also get a 135kW 2.0-litre hybrid four-cylinder, not to mention a handsome wagon model.
There was also no mention of the GR Corolla, however that model is almost certain to be revealed this year following a long-running teaser campaign by Toyota USA.
It’s expected to borrow the GR Yaris’ turbocharged 200kW/370Nm 1.6-litre three-pot, however it’s rumoured to get an extra 20kW to play with. All-wheel drive and a six-speed manual are expected to remain.
The addition of the GR Corolla will give the Hyundai i30 N some competition.
It’s unlikely Australia will miss out on the hot Corolla, which will be the first performance-focused Corollas sold here in years.
Corolla ZR sedan.
The Corolla managed to fend off an insurgent Hyundai i30 to remain Australia’s best-selling passenger car in 2021.
However, the i30 has gained ground with the introduction of a sedan, which has retained the Elantra nameplate in other markets.
Toyota sold 28,768 Corollas in 2021 against 25,575 i30s, however the i30 took the lead in the first month of the new year with 1642 sales against 1442 for the Corolla.
Nipping at their heels are the Kia Cerato (1208) and Mazda 3 (1273).
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