Weirdly, Toyota doesn’t offer the Active Sport trim with the hatchback body

Toyota Corolla Active Sport Debuts In Japan With Aggressive Looks And Chassis Tweaks
  • New Toyota Corolla Active Sport available in sedan and touring bodystyles
  • Changes include a redesigned bumper, new wheels, and piano black accents
  • FWD models get a sportier suspension setup

The 2024 Toyota Corolla went on sale in its home market in Japan, with the addition of the new Active Sport trim. The special edition brings sportier looks, more equipment, and a sharper suspension setup – similar to the GR Sport trim available in other markets.

The Toyota Corolla Active Sport is available in sedan, and estate (Touring Sports) bodystyles, meaning that the hatchback is left out. Both models are distinguished from lesser trims thanks to the redesigned front bumper with faux vents on the sides of the large central intake, mimicking the facelifted GR Yaris. They also feature side skirts with the Active Sport logo, piano black accents all around the bodywork, and ride on a new set of 17-inch alloy wheels finished in black. Finally, the color palette is limited to white, black, and gray shades, which can be combined with a black roof.

Interestingly, the Active Sport badge on the tailgate is optional. Overall, the styling touches make the compact model look sportier than stock, without copying the widebody GR Corolla hot hatch flagship.

Inside, Toyota added a pair of front sport seats, featuring integrated headrests and pronounced bolsters. They are upholstered in synthetic leather and “Blancnove”, with gray stitching and aluminum-style inserts contrasting an all-black interior. The same material has been applied to the dashboard, and there are aluminum pedals and optional branded floor mats.

Despite the sporty styling, the Toyota Corolla Active Sport doesn’t bring any performance gains over the standard models. It retains the 1.8-liter hybrid powertrain in 2WD and AWD (E-Four) versions. The only mechanical upgrade is featured on the front-wheel-drive models, which benefit from a new suspension setup and optimized steering for a more fun driving experience.

The Toyota Corolla Active Sport is already available to order in Japan, priced from ¥3,140,300 ($20,703) for the 2WD sedan up to ¥3,388,300 ($22,343) for the E-Four Touring.