2023 Toyota Corolla Cross

Corolla Cross GX highlights:

• LED headlights
• Halogen daytime running lights
• 17-inch alloy wheels
• Space-saver spare wheel
• Power folding, heated side mirrors
• Embossed fabric seats
• Manual front seat adjustment
• Rear seats with tilt function
• Urethane steering wheel
• Electric park brake
• 2 x front, 2 x rear cupholders
• Retractable luggage cover
• 60:40-split rear seats
• Automatic climate control
• 7.0-inch driver’s instrument display
• Smart entry and start
• 12V power socket, front
• USB-C port in centre console
• Power windows
• Door pockets with bottle holders
• 8.0-inch touchscreen
• 6-speaker audio
• AM/FM/DAB+ radio
• Bluetooth
• Wireless Apple CarPlay
• Wired Android Auto
• Toyota Connected Services (12mth subscription)

Corolla Cross GXL adds:

• ‘High-grade’ LED headlights
• LED daytime running lights
• LED sequential turn signals, front
• Front fog lights
• Rear privacy glass
• Roof rails
• Electrochromatic rear-view mirror
• Leather-accented/fabric upholstery
• Leather-accented shifter
• Leather-accented steering wheel
• Dual-zone automatic climate control
• 2 x USB-C ports, rear (removes centre console port)
• 10.5-inch touchscreen
• Satellite navigation

Corolla Cross Atmos adds:

• 18-inch alloy wheels
• Panoramic moonroof (fixed)
• Power tailgate with kick sensor
• Illuminated entry system
• Leather-accented seats
• 8-way power-adjustable driver’s seat
• 2 x extra rear cupholders
• Fold-down rear armrest
• 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster
• Rain-sensing wipers
• Heated front seats
• Heated steering wheel
• Wireless phone charger

The Corolla Cross features a cabin obviously inspired by its hatchback and sedan stablemates, with a few differences to set it apart.

Build and material quality is typically solid, with a mix of soft-touch and harder wearing materials, as well as licks of piano black trim. The switchgear below the display is just like the Corolla’s and works well, and adds a pop of silver to break up all the black.

Comfort up front is pretty good, with supportive seats offering a range of adjustment for the driver – the passenger misses height adjustment, even in the Atmos. The steering wheel is a good size and uncluttered in terms of multifunction switchgear, and likewise offers a good range of adjustment.

The second row isn’t quite RAV4-spacious but even a larger adult like myself (6’1) can fit behind my their own driving position in relative comfort – I will note the Atmos’s fixed panoramic roof does eat into headroom if, like me, you’re on the taller side.

Amenities include rear air vents, a map pocket behind the front passenger, ISOFIX and top-tether points, and a pair of USB-C ports behind the rear console if you get the GXL and Atmos.

With its boxy, more conservative looks, the Toyota Corolla Cross has an undoubtedly wide appeal that will stand the test of time and serve it well it comes to resale as well.

• Glacier White
• Frosted White*
• Stunning Silver*
• Eclipse Black*
• Atomic Rush*
• Lunar Blue*
• Moondust Grey*
• Jungle Khaki

*Premium paint costs $575

The Corolla Cross offers two powertrains; a 2.0-litre ‘Dynamic Force’ naturally-aspirated petrol engine, as well as a 2.0-litre petrol-electric hybrid – the former is front-drive (2WD) only, the latter offers 2WD and AWD options.

Toyota says the base 2.0-litre petrol develops 126kW at 6600rpm, and 202Nm between 4400 and 4900rpm. Drive is sent exclusively to the front wheels via a continuously variable transmission (CVT) which features 10 virtual ‘speeds’ in its Manual mode, as well as a launch gear – a similar unit is offered in the Corolla Hatch and Sedan.

The hybrid, meanwhile, teams an Atkinson cycle 112kW/190Nm 2.0-litre atmo four with an 83kW/206Nm electric drive motor and 4.08Ah lithium-ion battery pack – making for a 146kW system power output. Toyota doesn’t quote combined torque figures for its hybrid systems.

If you opt for AWD, there’s an additional 30kW motor on the rear axle facilitating electrified all-wheel drive. AWD Hybrid models also switch the standard torsion beam rear suspension system for a more sophisticated multi-link setup.

Toyota quotes a 0-100 time of 9.0-9.2 seconds for the petrols and 7.5-7.7 seconds for the hybrids. Top speed for the Corolla Cross 2WD petrol is 198km/h, while the hybrids manage 180km/h.

The Corolla Cross is backed by a five-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty which extends to seven years on powertrain components if the car is serviced using Toyota’s capped-price service program.

Maintenance is required every 12 months or 15,000 kilometres – whichever comes first. Toyota offers affordable capped-price servicing for the Corolla Cross, with the first five services capped at $230 each.

Base GX models get an 8.0-inch touchscreen without satellite navigation, but it still offers DAB+ digital radio and wireless Apple CarPlay – Android Auto is wired. Even the base unit is a marked improvement over the current system, which offers dated, low-res graphics and laggy response times.

Pairing an iPhone wirelessly is a quick and easy process, and all models score a 12-month Toyota Connected Services subscription – meaning there’s app-based remote functions and data available via a smartphone, and inside the cabin you can use the “Hey Toyota” intelligent voice assistance to adjust the temperature, open the windows, or even search for the nearest public toilet.

The lattermost function is only available with the GXL and Atmos, given the GX doesn’t feature embedded satellite navigation. It’s a handy if novel set of functions that currently aren’t widely available in the mainstream segments with the exception of Ford’s FordPass Connect.

GXL and Atmos models get a 10.5-inch display with satellite navigation, which likewise is connected for live traffic updates and is voice assistant-compatible. If the smaller system is a marked improvement, the 10.5-inch display is a revelation compared to existing Toyota systems – though it’s only really in line with rivals rather than being a new segment benchmark.

It’s a shame the subscription period is only 12 months, when most other programs are three years from sale, and the subscriptions get a bit pricey from there. If you want the full suite of connected services, ongoing monthly charges for both the Connect+ and Multimedia packages are priced at $9.95 and $12.50 respectively – more details here.

Atmos models debut a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster understood to be coming to high-grade versions of the Corolla and RAV4 later this year, and will likely filter out across other models. It’s not quite VW slick and sharp, but it’s clean, easy to read, and offers a range of customisation options.

If you go for the GX or GXL, you get a more basic 7.0-inch digital cluster which looks like it’s been pulled straight out of the much more expensive Lexus NX.

Boot capacity ranges depending on variant:

• GX and GXL 2WD petrol: 436L
• Atmos 2WD petrol, GX and GXL 2WD Hybrid: 425L
• Atmos 2WD Hybrid: 414L
• GXL AWD Hybrid: 390L
• Atmos AWD Hybrid: 380L

It may not set the world on fire, but the Corolla Cross has all the makings of a new sales favourite.

Such is the Toyota way, the jacked-up Corolla barely puts a foot wrong without really excelling in any given area. It’s a no-nonsense, no-frills SUV that will no doubt appeal in some way to most, if not all demographics, much like its hatchback and sedan counterparts.

That’s not to say it’s boring, given the funky colour options, as well as the fluid and pleasant drive experience; plus the hybrids are so efficient that the $2500 premium over the standard petrol seems like a no-brainer. Further, it’s pretty much a ‘just right’ size, given the C-HR is a bit too out there and the RAV4 ‘too big’ for some.

Having a hybrid variant count that outnumbers petrols or diesels is another point of difference, and will cater to our market’s increasing demand for electrified products. Props to Toyota for again demonstrating leadership in this space – though I know some vocal commenters here will be lamenting the lack of a plug-in or EV option.

Our pick? GXL 2WD Hybrid for value, Atmos 2WD Hybrid for best feature set.