The Toyota Corolla Cross is likely one of 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 type. This was our first likelihood to have a go within the GX Hybrid, which we’d beforehand urged can be the choose of the entry-level variations.
Is it? You wager – with supreme real-world effectivity and value, the hybrid powertrain makes the Corolla Cross transfer from a automotive that it is best to think about, to at least one that it is best to in all probability 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 when you hold studying…
How a lot does the Toyota Corolla Cross GX 2WD Hybrid value?
The Corolla Cross GX 2WD Hybrid is the costlier of the entry-grade variations, attracting a $2500 premium over the petrol equal at $35,500 plus on-road prices.
At that kind of cash, you may additionally be a Nissan Qashqai ST ($33,890), though it’s not hybrid. Or maybe a Mazda CX-30 G20e Evolve mild-hybrid, which wears a listing value of $36,660.
However when you’re after a “correct” hybrid rival at this value, the one different small SUV you possibly can actually think about is the GWM Haval Jolion Lux HEV ($36,990 drive-away). That mentioned, 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, however it does do primary very effectively.
I don’t love the truth that it’s received a darkish headliner. It makes it really feel slightly bit hemmed in. That, together with the dense array of greyscale plastics all through the cabin, do make it really feel slightly bit darkish.
The storage on supply 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 if in case you have an Android cellphone) bottle holders within the doorways with further sleeves for further objects.
What isn’t pretty is the entry-level polyurethane steering wheel and shifter – not essentially the most satisfying materials to hold onto for lengthy durations of time.
No less than it has single-zone climate-control air-conditioning, a good 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 all the controls are very very simple to get used to.
It’s undoubtedly a ‘built-to-a-cost’ model inside, identical 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. In order for you 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 except for 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 is no such thing as a centre armrest with cup holders.
Dad and mom will likely be proud of the truth that there are ISOFIX anchors and three-tether factors, and it’s potential to suit a rearward-facing child capsule in with sufficient house forward for a front-seat passenger.
The annoying factor for folks is that loading in a baby or a baby seat could be a little bit of a tedious course of, as a result of the doorways don’t open very vast. In order for you a extremely vast opening backdoor SUV, take a look at a Nissan Qashqai.
Boot house is exceptionally good, simply massive sufficient to suit a pram and a few baggage.
Toyota has – imagine it or not – 5 completely different claimed boot capability figures. However the one for the GX 2WD Hybrid is 425 litres, which is massive for the category.
Simply notice, when you’re planning a visit to IKEA or Bunnings and also you do have to fold down the seats to retailer a bigger merchandise, there is no such thing as a flat load via house – it has an enormous hump in the way in which.
See the photographs for a greater indication of the imposition of mentioned bump.
What’s below the bonnet?
The hybrid model of the Toyota Corolla Cross runs a 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol engine operating on the extra environment friendly Atkinson cycle, and the engine itself provides 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 isn’t any all-wheel drive model accessible 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 identical, at 146kW. There’s no mixed torque output printed.
The 0-100km/h time, for these , is 7.5 seconds. But it surely 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 identical to a Corolla Hatch, solely larger.
That’s to say that it has very satisfying dynamics – the experience is snug, and but, it nonetheless has a pleasant stage of dealing with functionality.
The steering is mild however correct, simple to level the automotive wherever you must go – whether or not you’re pushing it a bit via a twisty nook, or parking on the retailers. The reversing digital camera is primary however tremendous, however if you would like a surround-view digital camera, you must step as much as the GXL.
The one challenge actually with the dealing with facet of issues is that the tyres aren’t improbable, however that’s a simple 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 way in which it dips between EV energy and petrol energy, or a mixture of the 2, could be very spectacular.
Nevertheless, my accomplice additionally drove this automotive and he or she mentioned she thought that the transmission was a bit wacky – in that it “appears to at all times make the automotive rev actually onerous”. 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 tremendous.
The noisiest aspect of the drive expertise is when that petrol engine is revving onerous, however fortunately, there’s not an excessive amount of highway or when noise to deal with. All informed, this can be a very spectacular small SUV to drive.
What do you get?
Corolla Cross GX highlights:
- LED headlights
- Halogen daytime operating lights
- 17-inch alloy wheels
- House-saver spare wheel
- Energy folding, heated facet mirrors
- Embossed cloth seats
- Handbook entrance seat adjustment
- Rear seats with tilt operate
- 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 Companies (12mth subscription)
- Verify lock/unlock standing
- Verify automobile location
- Log latest journeys
- Begin the engine and local weather management
- Set controls on visitor drivers
The issues that give it away that this can be a base grade are the polyurethane steering wheel and equipment selector, which actually cheaper the texture.
And on the surface, these uninteresting halogen daytime operating 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 can be extra necessary, to Toyota.
So, simply to be 100 per cent clear, you get a bit of additional stuff when you 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 satisfying Corolla Cross to take a seat inside, and also you’ll in all probability see a profit come resale time, too.
Is the Toyota Corolla Cross GX 2WD Hybrid protected?
The Toyota Corolla Cross vary was awarded the utmost five-star ANCAP security ranking 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 baby 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 doubtlessly life-saving security know-how – Backover AEB, which might auto-brake for pedestrians detected once you’re reversing.
This tech is obtainable in GXL and Atmos, and it actually needs to be customary range-wide.
In any other case, the tech providing is fairly democratic, together with eight airbags (twin entrance, driver’s knee, front-centre, entrance facet and full-length curtain), and a number of different help options.
Normal security options embrace:
- Toyota Security Sense
- AEB with Pedestrian, Bike owner detection
- Adaptive cruise management incl. curve pace discount
- Auto high-beam
- Lane departure warning
- Lane hold help
- Lane Hint Help (centring)
- Lane change help (NEW)
- Pace signal help
- Blind-spot monitoring incl. protected exit help
- Rear cross-traffic alert
- Reversing digital camera
- 8 airbags incl. front-centre airbag
GXL provides:
- Parking assist 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 assist brake incl. pedestrian detection
How a lot does the Toyota Corolla Cross GX 2WD Hybrid value to run?
There’s a five-year, limitless kilometre guarantee, and when you service your automotive on time in opposition to the logbook necessities that extends to seven years for the powertrain.
Additional to that, when you preserve your automotive with Toyota yearly, and have a hybrid system checkup performed on schedule, the battery guarantee is 10 years/limitless kilometres. That’s a superb long-term possession prospect.
The gas prices are going to be low on this factor, as a result of it has severe real-world effectivity on its facet.
Official mixed cycle gas consumption for the GX Hybrid is simply 4.3 litres per 100 kilometres, and over a number of hundred kays of combined driving, my actual world return was only a smidge over that at 4.6L/100km. Very spectacular.
And, it may well run on 91 RON common unleaded. Gas tank capability is small, although, at 36 litres. I suppose that doesn’t matter that a lot when you get the gas use I noticed, however you’re nonetheless over 780km per tank.
As for longer-term prices, the model provides 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
In order for you a no-frills automotive that may prevent on petrol payments, but nonetheless manages to supply some distinctive security gear, in-car know-how, in addition to a suitably sized cabin for the household, this can be a walk-up begin for you.
I used to be completely impressed by a number of issues concerning the Corolla Cross GX Hybrid.
I’d undoubtedly 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 answer.
Click on the pictures for the total gallery
