The Toyota Corolla Cross is among the model’s most hotly-anticipated new arrivals for individuals who desire a neatly sized, decently priced and family-friendly small SUV.
With an expansive vary of fashions and variants, we’ve sampled the top-spec Atmos and the bottom model GX in petrol kind. This was our first likelihood to have a go within the GX Hybrid, which we’d beforehand recommended could be the decide of the entry-level variations.
Is it? You wager – with supreme real-world effectivity and usefulness, the hybrid powertrain makes the Corolla Cross transfer from a automobile that it’s best to take into account, to at least one that it’s best to most likely simply go forward and order.
However the GX trim? Hmmm. Possibly fork out a bit extra and get the GXL. You’ll discover out why for those who maintain studying…
How a lot does the Toyota Corolla Cross GX 2WD Hybrid price?
The Corolla Cross GX 2WD Hybrid is the dearer of the entry-grade variations, attracting a $2500 premium over the petrol equal at $35,500 plus on-road prices.
At that form of cash, you may also be a Nissan Qashqai ST ($33,890), though it’s not hybrid. Or maybe a Mazda CX-30 G20e Evolve mild-hybrid, which wears an inventory value of $36,660.
However for those who’re after a “correct” hybrid rival at this value, the one different small SUV you can actually take into account is the GWM Haval Jolion Lux HEV ($36,990 drive-away). That stated, I’d have the Corolla Cross Hybrid in a heartbeat.
2023 Toyota Corolla Cross pricing:
- Toyota Corolla Cross GX 2WD Petrol: $33,000
- Toyota Corolla Cross GX 2WD Hybrid: $35,500
- Toyota Corolla Cross GXL 2WD Petrol: $36,750
- Toyota Corolla Cross GXL 2WD Hybrid: $39,250
- Toyota Corolla Cross GXL AWD Hybrid: $42,250
- Toyota Corolla Cross Atmos 2WD Petrol: $43,550
- Toyota Corolla Cross Atmos 2WD Hybrid: $46,050
- Toyota Corolla Cross Atmos AWD Hybrid: $49,050
Costs exclude on-road prices
What’s the Toyota Corolla Cross GX 2WD Hybrid like on the within?
It doesn’t really feel like a particular expertise within the cabin, but it surely does do primary very properly.
I don’t love the truth that it’s acquired a darkish headliner. It makes it really feel just a little bit hemmed in. That, together with the dense array of greyscale plastics all through the cabin, do make it really feel just a little bit darkish.
The storage on provide is fairly good – cupholders between the seats, a coated centre console bin with a 12-volt plug and USB-C port, a storage part in entrance of the shifter (with a USB-A close-by for connecting to the media system, which you will want to make use of when you’ve got an Android telephone) bottle holders within the doorways with extra sleeves for further gadgets.
What isn’t beautiful is the entry-level polyurethane steering wheel and shifter – not essentially the most pleasurable materials to hold onto for lengthy durations of time.
No less than it has single-zone climate-control air-conditioning, an honest 8.0-inch touchscreen media system with wi-fi Apple CarPlay and sat-nav, and different handy issues like push-button begin, keyless entry, a 7.0-inch digital instrument show, and the entire controls are very very simple to get used to.
It’s positively a ‘built-to-a-cost’ model inside, similar to it’s in an entry-level Corolla hatch or sedan.
Within the again seat, with the driving force’s seat set to my place (I’m 182cm/6’0), I had sufficient knee room, toe room, head room and shoulder room to be snug.
It’s a spacious again row, however not essentially the most spacious. If you need extra back-seat room, a Haval Jolion or Nissan Qashqai will likely be extra appropriate. Or an S-Class…
A plus is that there are directional occasions (you don’t get these within the Corolla Sedan), however there aren’t any door pockets other than a bottle holder on every door.
There’s just one map pocket (on the again of the entrance passenger seat), and within the GX there isn’t any centre armrest with cup holders.
Mother and father will likely be proud of the truth that there are ISOFIX anchors and three-tether factors, and it’s doable to suit a rearward-facing child capsule in with sufficient area forward for a front-seat passenger.
The annoying factor for folks is that loading in a toddler or a toddler seat could be a little bit of a tedious course of, as a result of the doorways don’t open very large. If you need a extremely large opening backdoor SUV, have a look at a Nissan Qashqai.
Boot area is exceptionally good, simply giant sufficient to suit a pram and a few baggage.
Toyota has – imagine it or not – 5 totally different claimed boot capability figures. However the one for the GX 2WD Hybrid is 425 litres, which is giant for the category.
Simply notice, for those who’re planning a visit to IKEA or Bunnings and also you do have to fold down the seats to retailer a bigger merchandise, there isn’t any flat load by area – it has an enormous hump in the way in which.
See the photographs for a greater indication of the imposition of stated bump.
What’s below the bonnet?
The hybrid model of the Toyota Corolla Cross runs a 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol engine working on the extra environment friendly Atkinson cycle, and the engine itself presents 112kW and 190Nm.
There’s an e-CVT transmission, and an electrical motor on the entrance axle producing 83kW and 206Nm. Juicing up the electrical motor is a 4.06Ah lithium-ion battery pack.
There is no such thing as a all-wheel drive model out there in GX trim, however the GXL and Atmos fashions with hybrid all-wheel drive add a 30kW rear axle motor.
No biggie, although, as a result of Toyota says the mixed energy output for the 2WD and AWD fashions is similar, at 146kW. There’s no mixed torque output revealed.
The 0-100km/h time, for these , is 7.5 seconds. Nevertheless it feels faster than that.
How does the Toyota Corolla Cross GX 2WD Hybrid drive?
I actually loved the drive expertise of the Corolla Cross – it’s similar to a Corolla Hatch, solely larger.
That’s to say that it has very pleasurable dynamics – the trip is snug, and but, it nonetheless has a pleasant degree of dealing with functionality.
The steering is gentle however correct, simple to level the automobile wherever it’s essential go – whether or not you might be pushing it a bit by a twisty nook, or parking on the retailers. The reversing digital camera is primary however high-quality, however if you need a surround-view digital camera, it’s essential step as much as the GXL.
The one difficulty actually with the dealing with aspect of issues is that the tyres aren’t improbable, however that’s a straightforward repair.
The hybrid powertrain – as anticipated – is a spotlight, with ample pulling energy and simple acceleration from a standstill.
I reckon this might out-sprint a couple of of its contemporaries from 0-50km/h. That’s the good thing about a battery backing the petrol engine up.
It’s additionally tremendous duper environment friendly, as you’ll see within the possession part under.
The best way it dips between EV energy and petrol energy, or a mixture of the 2, could be very spectacular.
Nonetheless, my associate additionally drove this automobile and he or she stated she thought that the transmission was a bit wacky – in that it “appears to at all times make the automobile rev actually exhausting”. She’s bang on, it does take some getting used to.
However when you get used to it (I’m, having pushed a bunch of hybrid Toyota fashions), it’s high-quality.
The noisiest aspect of the drive expertise is when that petrol engine is revving exhausting, however fortunately, there’s not an excessive amount of highway or when noise to deal with. All instructed, it is a very spectacular small SUV to drive.
What do you get?
Corolla Cross GX highlights:
- LED headlights
- Halogen daytime working lights
- 17-inch alloy wheels
- Area-saver spare wheel
- Energy folding, heated aspect mirrors
- Embossed cloth seats
- Guide entrance seat adjustment
- Rear seats with tilt perform
- Urethane steering wheel
- Electrical park brake
- 2 x entrance, 2 x rear cupholders
- Retractable baggage cowl
- 60:40-split rear seats
- Automated local weather management
- 7.0-inch driver’s instrument show
- Good entry and begin
- 12V energy socket, entrance
- USB-C port in centre console
- Energy home windows
- Door pockets with bottle holders
- 8.0-inch touchscreen
- 6-speaker audio
- AM/FM/DAB+ radio
- Bluetooth
- Wi-fi Apple CarPlay
- Wired Android Auto
- Toyota Linked Providers (12mth subscription)
- Verify lock/unlock standing
- Verify automobile location
- Log current journeys
- Begin the engine and local weather management
- Set controls on visitor drivers
The issues that give it away that it is a base grade are the polyurethane steering wheel and equipment selector, which definitely cheaper the texture.
And on the surface, these uninteresting halogen daytime working lights look amazingly drab – particularly when contrasted in opposition to the usual LED headlights.
Heck, you even get an LED within the boot space – I might have thought pedestrians and different highway customers having the ability to see you coming could be extra necessary, to Toyota.
So, simply to be 100 per cent clear, you get a bit of additional stuff for those who can spend the $3750 further for the GXL.
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GXL Hybrid -
GXL Hybrid
Corolla Cross GXL provides:
- LED (high-grade) headlights
- Entrance fog lights
- Rear privateness glass
- Roof rails
- Leather-based-accented/cloth upholstery
- Leather-based-accented steering wheel, shifter
- Electrochromatic rear-view mirror
- Twin-zone local weather management
- 10.5-inch touchscreen infotainment
- Satellite tv for pc navigation
- 360-degree digital camera system
- USB-C rear cost ports
Truthfully, I believe you’ll get a extra pleasurable Corolla Cross to take a seat within, and also you’ll most likely see a profit come resale time, too.
Is the Toyota Corolla Cross GX 2WD Hybrid secure?
The Toyota Corolla Cross vary was awarded the utmost five-star ANCAP security score in opposition to 2022 standards, with fairly robust scores throughout the board.
It managed 85 per cent for grownup occupant security, 88 per cent for youngster occupants, 87 per cent for weak highway customers, and 83 per cent for security help tech.
One factor to notice, although, is that the GX misses out on a probably life-saving security expertise – Backover AEB, which might auto-brake for pedestrians detected once you’re reversing.
This tech is obtainable in GXL and Atmos, and it actually must be normal range-wide.
In any other case, the tech providing is fairly democratic, together with eight airbags (twin entrance, driver’s knee, front-centre, entrance aspect and full-length curtain), and a bunch of different help options.
Customary security options embody:
- Toyota Security Sense
- AEB with Pedestrian, Bicycle owner detection
- Adaptive cruise management incl. curve pace discount
- Auto high-beam
- Lane departure warning
- Lane maintain help
- Lane Hint Help (centring)
- Lane change help (NEW)
- Pace signal help
- Blind-spot monitoring incl. secure exit help
- Rear cross-traffic alert
- Reversing digital camera
- 8 airbags incl. front-centre airbag
GXL provides:
- Parking help brake incl. automobile, object detection
- ‘Easy’ panoramic view monitor (360 cameras)
Atmos Hybrid provides:
- Enhanced panoramic view monitor (360 cameras with see-through view)
- Superior Park Help
- Parking help brake incl. pedestrian detection
How a lot does the Toyota Corolla Cross GX 2WD Hybrid price to run?
There’s a five-year, limitless kilometre guarantee, and for those who service your automobile on time in opposition to the logbook necessities that extends to seven years for the powertrain.
Additional to that, for those who keep your automobile with Toyota yearly, and have a hybrid system checkup performed on schedule, the battery guarantee is 10 years/limitless kilometres. That’s a wonderful long-term possession prospect.
The gasoline prices are going to be low on this factor, as a result of it has severe real-world effectivity on its aspect.
Official mixed cycle gasoline consumption for the GX Hybrid is simply 4.3 litres per 100 kilometres, and over a number of hundred kays of blended driving, my actual world return was only a smidge over that at 4.6L/100km. Very spectacular.
And, it could actually run on 91 RON common unleaded. Gas tank capability is small, although, at 36 litres. I suppose that doesn’t matter that a lot for those who get the gasoline use I noticed, however you’re nonetheless over 780km per tank.
As for longer-term prices, the model presents a capped-price servicing plan for the Corolla Cross, which is $250 per go to for the primary 5 years/75,000km. Spectacular.
CarExpert’s Tackle the Toyota Corolla Cross GX 2WD Hybrid
If you need a no-frills automobile that may prevent on petrol payments, but nonetheless manages to supply some distinctive security gear, in-car expertise, in addition to a suitably sized cabin for the household, it is a walk-up begin for you.
I used to be totally impressed by plenty of issues concerning the Corolla Cross GX Hybrid.
I’d positively spend the additional for a GXL and get a couple of extra niceties, but when your price range isn’t that pliable, that is going to be a sensible resolution.
Click on the photographs for the complete gallery