Toyota Corolla Gains New ‘Active Sport’ Variant in Japan

The JDM-spec Toyota Corolla gains a new ‘Active Sport’ variant, offered to both the sedan and wagon versions.

The current twelfth-gen Toyota Corolla recently got a 2024 model year (2024 MY) update in its native Japan market, with the addition of the new Active Sport variant. Similar to the GR Sport variants offered in our market, this new trim level brings some sporty elements and a sharper suspension setup to this beloved C-segment car.

The Active Sport variant adds a slew of piano black trims and parts across the Corolla's exterior.

Offered exclusively to both the sedan and touring wagon versions of the Corolla, the Active Sport variant features a redesigned front bumper with faux vents on the sides of the large central intake, mimicking the facelifted GR Yaris. Also present here are a slew of gloss black accents scattered around the car, the Active Sport emblem, as well as new 17-inch wheels finished in black.

Aside from its black roof and accents, the Corolla Active Sport is only available in three main colourways, namely black, white, and grey.

More changes take place as we get inside the Corolla Active Sport’s cabin, with the new variant coming standard with sportier, bucket-style front seats wrapped in synthetic leather. Said upholstery material is then mated to a slew of grey stitching and aluminium trims around the cabin that go well with its aluminium foot pedals and ACtive Sport-badged floor mats.

Tech amenities, however, remain the same as the other top-spec Corolla variants, as the Active Sport model makes do with the Android Auto/Apple CarPlay-enabled infotainment unit with a digital instrument cluster, to name a few.

Similar to our market's GR Sport model, the JDM-spec Corolla Active Sport also benefits from a re-tuned suspension setup that promises better driving dynamics.

On the mechanical side, the Corolla Active Sport comes with a tweaked suspension and steering setup that promise better driving dynamics. However, this upgrade is only offered to the front-wheel drive (FWD) version of the car, with the E-Four all-wheel drive (AWD) version retaining the same setup as other Corolla models.

Power is still derived from a familiar 1.8-litre 4-cyl nat-asp Atkinson-cycle mill rated at 98 PS and 142 NM, which is mated to a series-parallel hybrid setup (HEV) featuring a 1VM electric motor rated at 95 PS and 185 NM. Meanwhile, the E-Four AWD model gets an extra electric motor rated at 41 PS and 84 Nm at the rear axle.

Priced from JPY 3.140 million (RM98,397) for the FWD sedan and JPY 3.388 million (RM106,168) for the E-Four AWD Touring, the all-new Toyota Corolla Active Sport is now available for purchase in Japan. This new trim will serve as a good alternative to the popular GR Sport trims offered to many Toyota cars outside its domestic market.

Face-lifted Toyota Corolla GR Sport debuted in Malaysia last year.

Closer to home, the Toyota Corolla is offered in a sole sedan version by UMW Toyota Motor (UMWT), with the facelifted model recently debuted last year. Aside from the minor styling update and new equipment, the current-gen Corolla is also offered with the GR Sport trim for the first time in Malaysia, following in the footsteps of other Toyota models like the Corolla Cross and Hilux.