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Pros: Cabin quality, comfort, efficiency.
Cons: Average boot, noisy at times.
Toyota Corolla Cross Design
The Corolla Cross is built on the same platform as the Corolla but sits higher off the ground for a start, with a larger, more purposeful grille up front and plenty of chunky SUV styling cues. The new model slots between the C-HR and the RAV4 in the Toyota range and has been designed as a practical, family-friendly, mid-size SUV to take on the likes of the Nissan Qashqai, Kia Sportage and Hyundai Tucson. The mid-spec Sport model is worth upgrading to for roof rails and stylish 18-inch alloy wheels with a machined finish – though all versions get LED headlights.
Toyota Corolla Cross Interior
The cabin is almost identical to the Corolla and is a high point for the Corolla Cross. It feels very solidly built and has a simple layout. The quality of the materials are top notch. The Corolla Cross gets Toyota’s new digital instrument cluster and 10.5-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto as standard, so it feels very modern inside. Toyota has resisted the temptation to move the ventilation to the touchscreen, keeping their control to handy tactile buttons below. Standard equipment includes a reversing camera and dual zone climate control, as well as lots of advanced safety features.
The Corolla Cross feels brighter and roomier inside than a Corolla hatch thanks to those large windows and high roofline. Two adults or a few children should be comfortable in the back though there’s not a huge amount of legroom to really stretch out. Still, it’s brighter and more family-friendly than a C-HR.
Boot space is average by class standards, with just 390 litres in the 2.0 hybrid with a spare wheel fitted (436 litres without). A different rear suspension design means that the 1.8 hybrid will have about 46 litres more boot volume when it arrives in the next few months.
Toyota Corolla Cross Performance & Drive
The Corolla Cross debuts the Japanese brand’s new generation hybrid technology and is available from launch with the 2.0 hybrid (197hp) and the 1.8 hybrid (140hp) will follow. Toyota’s new fifth generation hybrid uses lighter and more compact parts, including a new battery, to improve performance and efficiency.
It's smooth and responsive to drive, though under hard acceleration the hybrid does get quite noisy. Like most hybrids, it’s a car that favours a more relaxed pace, and then all is quiet and calm in the cabin. While it's not as fun to drive as the Corolla hatch, the Corolla Cross does offer an appealing higher driving position, and feels equally agile in town. The handling is solid and competent, and the Corolla Cross is notably comfortable across all sorts of Irish roads. It’s also easily one of the most efficient SUVs of its type, with fuel consumption as low as 5.1 litres per 100 kilometres and real world economy not too far off that. With the energy stored in the battery the Corolla Cross can frequently dip into EV driving, improving overall fuel economy.
Toyota Corolla Cross Pricing
The Corolla Cross range kicks off at €38,910 for the Luna, from €41,210 for the Sport, and from €44,360 for the Sol. It's worth noting that these prices are for the 2.0-litre hybrid; the soon to arrive 1.8 hybrid will have a lower starting price, which is yet to be confirmed.
Carzone Verdict
The Toyota Corolla Cross adds a bit of SUV charisma to one of Ireland’s favourite cars. The Corolla Cross is a solid and dependable choice of SUV, but it’s the efficiency of the hybrid engine that really sets it apart.