Even Toyota Believes Their Compact SUV Appears Too Dull | Carscoops

      A Toyota Europe executive acknowledged that the Corolla Cross requires a more dynamic design to succeed in the European market.

      The automaker’s more eye-catching C-HR outsells the Corolla Cross by a margin of four to one.

      Earlier this year, Toyota introduced a subtle facelift for the TNGA-based model.

      Check out the images below. It’s the Toyota Corolla Cross. It isn’t the most thrilling crossover to view, is it? Five years ago, Toyota opted to create an SUV version of its popular Corolla. While this move has attracted a growing number of shoppers who prefer crossovers to small hatchbacks, it still fails to evoke strong emotional appeal—even after its recent update. This could help explain the decline in sales in Europe.

      In the first four months of this year, Toyota sold 11,259 units across Europe, making it the 25th best-selling compact model in the region, a decrease of 14 percent compared to the previous year. In contrast, during the same period, the C-HR, with its more bold and flashy design, sold 41,950 units, reflecting a 9.6 percent increase over the prior year.

      In a recent discussion with Auto News, Andrea Carlucci, the head of product strategy and marketing at Toyota Europe, noted that the Corolla Cross needs a more vibrant design to boost sales across the continent.

      “We don’t have the perfect Corolla Cross for Europe, considering it’s a global model,” he stated. “If we introduce more European flair, sales will increase.”

      As for a potential update, there is currently no information on when the Corolla Cross will enter a new generation. However, as the existing model has been on the market for five years, an update shouldn’t be more than a couple of years away. Carlucci mentioned that by sticking with the TNGA platform, Toyota can develop various body styles for different markets, allowing for a more appealing design tailored to European customers.

      “The key point is that Toyota has designed the TNGA platform to enable regional development of upper bodies,” Carlucci explained. “The vehicles should align with European consumer preferences, rather than fusing the desires of U.S. and Japanese buyers.”

      Although the current generation of the Corolla Cross has been out for a while, Toyota recently refreshed it for the 2026 model year across all markets. In Japan and Europe, they also launched a GR Sport trim, which will not be available in North America. However, to be fair, when compared to the striking C-HR or even the standard Corolla hatch, the design of this SUV still seems rather unremarkable.