2028 Toyota Corolla Cross is a RAV3

Toyota’s next-generation 2028 Corolla Cross is set to adopt RAV4-inspired styling and, with sales steadily climbing, could be poised to challenge – and potentially overtake – the Corolla’s popularity in the coming years.

Are we looking at the new Toyota RAV3? The brand equity in the RAV4 – the world’s best-selling vehicle for the past two years – is considerable.

While a name change is unlikely, Toyota’s next-generation Corolla Cross is almost certain to ditch the current small SUV’s bland styling in favour of a look lifted almost directly from the all-new RAV4.

That’s the word according to Japanese publication Best Car, whose sources within Toyota rarely get it wrong. 

And the timing couldn’t be more serendipitous for the brand, with the new RAV4 design already hitting the target in Australia with over 10,000 orders.

The compact SUV has been gaining momentum, with 12,686 sales recorded in 2025 – a significant uptick on the previous year – followed by a further 12 per cent increase so far in 2026.

If that trajectory holds, the Corolla Cross could realistically challenge the Corolla small car in the coming years when it comes to raw volume.

Best Car reports the new Corolla Cross will arrive in 2028 and adopt the RAV4’s signature C-shaped LED headlights, daytime running light treatment and bold grille design.

The family resemblance is claimed to be strong enough that the publication has dubbed it the ‘baby RAV4’ – though RAV3 has a neater ring to it.

That said, RAV4 stands for Recreational Active Vehicle with 4-wheel drive… and three-wheel-drive isn’t really a thing. RAV2 then?

Anyway, the Japanese outlet says the new model won’t just be a styling overhaul. 

It’s reportedly set to grow in size, stretching from 4460mm to 4650mm in length and widening from 1825mm to 1850mm, while dropping slightly in height.

That’s in stark contrast to the current Toyota RAV4 whose size, width and length remains exactly the same as the previous generation.

Those more planted proportions shown in Best Car’s render could improve its on-road presence and help it better compete with rivals such as the GWM Haval Jolion, Kia Seltos and Hyundai Kona – all of which have, at times, outpaced it on the sales charts despite Toyota’s brand strength.

Under the skin, all variants are expected to move to an upgraded TNGA-C platform paired with a sixth-generation hybrid system – one step beyond the fifth-generation unit recently introduced in the 2026 RAV4.

A GR Sport variant is also rumoured, potentially combining a new 1.5-litre four-cylinder petrol engine with a plug-in hybrid system and double wishbone rear suspension.

If the intel holds water, it would become the most dynamically focused small SUV in Toyota’s local line-up.

Toyota has already refreshed the current version with updated design and cabin tweaks to extend its lifecycle, but the underlying package is beginning to show its age against newer competitors.

A 2028 arrival for a ground-up replacement would align with Toyota’s typical product cadence, landing shortly after the wild-looking next-generation Corolla that’s expected in late 2027.

There’s also a question mark over naming. With Toyota leaning heavily into the RAV4’s rugged, adventure-ready positioning – underpinned by the ‘Long Live Recreation’ tagline – a smaller SUV that closely mirrors its design could warrant a more RAV-aligned badge.

For now, the details remain relatively solid from a well-connected source. But if accurate, the Corolla Cross could evolve from a quiet achiever into a segment leader.

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