A new trim for the Corolla will appear in showrooms for the 2026 model year. Called the FX Edition, it draws on memories of the old-school Corolla FX16 – but doesn’t add any extra power under the hood.
In fact, the Corolla Hatchback FX is based on the entry-level SE trim, albeit with the addition of various and sundry visual drama. Those 18-inch white-finished alloy wheels look good and a wing now sprouts from the rear hatch like a spoilt child’s bottom lip. A trio of entertaining colors are on tap: Inferno, Ice Cap, and Blue Crush Metallic. You and I know them better as orange, white, and blue.
There’s nothing new under the hood, with a 2.0-liter four-banger serving time behind the grille. It is good for 169 horsepower and 151 lb-ft of torque. At least fuel economy should be appealing, pegged at 33 mpg on the combined cycle. No mention is made of suspension changes, so expect typical Corolla handling and not anything approaching GR levels.
Gearheads like us will moan this is a missed opportunity for Toyota to build a rival to the Civic Si but, truth be told, the brand doesn’t really need to spend the money to create such a machine. The mighty GR takes its fight to the Type R, while the GR86 theoretically – both in terms of horsepower count and asking price – stands ready to park itself in the driveway of Si shoppers.
We’re assuming the FX will slot between the $23,780 SE and $27,080 XSE. Across the showroom, a GR86 starts at 30 grand while a GR Corolla is $38,860. If you’re curious, the sticker price of a Civic Si starts right on top of a GR86 these days while a Type R is $45,895.
There will be 1,600 Corolla Hatchback FX Editions assembled for America. Customers can expect the things to arrive at Toyota dealerships this autumn, with official pricing showing up closer to that date.
[Images: Toyota]
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