Exclusive: Toyota Corolla Cross Ute Captured in Brazil

Innovative Toyota Ute Set to Fill Gap in South American Lineup

Toyota, known for competing in almost every automotive niche to sell 11 million vehicles per year, is set to introduce a new model in South America that will cater to the region’s demands. This new addition will address a gap in the Japanese brand’s lineup in the South American market.

The prototype of this new dual-cab vehicle was spotted in São Paulo, Brazil, by the Brazilian site BlogAuto. It is speculated to be a unibody pickup truck based on the locally manufactured Corolla Cross small SUV.

Typical of car-based pickups, the upcoming ute is expected to be larger than its donor vehicle, featuring a longer wheelbase and unique rear doors. With the Corolla Cross measuring at 4.46m in length, the new ute is anticipated to be at least 4.7m long.

According to sources in Brazil, the new ute will offer two drivetrains. Lower-tier models are likely to be equipped with a 2.0-litre flex-fuel engine producing around 129kW of power, paired with a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT) with 10 simulated gears, a setup borrowed from the Corolla Cross.

Additionally, there are reports of an E-Four hybrid drivetrain featuring a petrol engine and electric motor at the front, along with an independent electric motor on the rear axle. The hybrid system is expected to mirror the setup found in the Brazil-made Corolla Cross hybrids.

Production of the unnamed ute is slated to commence in the first quarter of 2027 at Toyota’s Sorocaba plant in São Paulo, sharing production space with the Corolla Cross.

When unveiled, this new Toyota model will mark the first global debut for the brand in Brazil. While details on its availability outside of Latin America remain unclear, being manufactured in Brazil will allow the ute to avoid steep import tariffs and gain duty-free access to the Mercosur trading bloc.

The South American market has a strong affinity for utes, dating back to the 1980s and 1990s with models like the Volkswagen Saveiro, Fiat Strada, and Chevrolet Montana. The trend has evolved towards larger platforms and four-door layouts in recent years.

Toyota’s foray into the unibody pickup segment may not stop with the Corolla Cross-based ute. The company is reportedly exploring the development of a RAV4-based ute to fill a gap below the Tacoma in North America. This model could potentially compete with the Ford Maverick based on the Escape platform.

As Toyota continues to expand its lineup to cater to diverse markets, the introduction of the new ute showcases the brand’s commitment to meeting the evolving demands of customers in South America and beyond.

Explore the Toyota Corolla Cross showroom for more information on Toyota’s latest offerings.