Pros: Enhanced appearance, comfort, space, reliability
Cons: Conservative design, pragmatic rather than interesting
Toyota Corolla Cross Design
The Toyota Corolla Cross fills the space between the larger RAV4 and the more compact, more daring-looking C-HR. Toyota has clearly realised that not everyone wants the dramatic design of the latter and so the Corolla Cross has always represented a more conservative style, while referencing the tried-and-tested Corolla nameplate.
None of that has changed for the update, so it’s still quite an upright five-door SUV, though closer in appearance to a regular road car than an off-roader. It gets roof rails, black plastic cladding and modest ground clearance to go along with its SUV-like marketing. New for this year is a restyled radiator grille with a honeycomb finish and redesigned (but not dramatically so) lights front and rear. There are new colours, stylish new alloy wheels and, for the first time on the Corolla Cross, the option of the sporty looking GR Sport trim.
Toyota Corolla Cross Interior
If you had difficulty spotting what was new on the outside, you’ll need help with the cabin, too, as the changes are even more subtle. There is a new centre console with a more modern design for the drive selector and more effective use of space, too. This has allowed for room for another phone and larger cupholders, while the wireless charger and the wireless connection for Android Auto have both been improved. Wireless Apple CarPlay is standard as before.
The graphics on the central touchscreen have been sharpened up, but it’s disappointing that buyers have to go for one of the two most expensive grades before the larger (12.3-inch) display is included in the price.
The Corolla Cross, as it has ever been, is far more spacious in the cabin than the Corolla saloon, hatch and estate, and second only to that estate when it comes to boot capacity.
Toyota Corolla Cross Performance & Drive
Unless you go for the top-ranking GR Sport model, the only powertrain available is a 1.8-litre version of Toyota’s venerable hybrid system. It was upgraded relatively recently, however, so it’s plenty powerful enough, with up to 140hp sent to the front wheels via the company’s oft-maligned electronic CVT automatic transmission. The hybrid system’s electric motor helps the car feel responsive at low speeds when accelerating, while taking over driving duty completely much of the time when manoeuvring or in stop-start traffic.
It's great when the engine is off, undoubtedly, and it also allows the Corolla Cross to return diesel-like economy in most circumstances. It can’t quite achieve that at a high sustained motorway speed, however, and if you’re in fast-flowing traffic with lots of changes of pace, you’ll notice the engine revving up and down, out of sync with the road speed. You soon get used to it, but some people don’t like this effect.
Nonetheless, the Corolla Cross is comfortable on the road and it’s stable and surefooted on a country road as well.
The GR Sport version gets a 2.0-litre version of the hybrid system for a little more performance.
Toyota Corolla Cross Pricing
The revised Corolla Cross costs from €39,325 for the entry-level Luna variant featuring heated front seats, a wireless charger and more. The Sport gets a bit more equipment, including a rear-view camera and a new design of 18-inch alloy wheels, plus more colour options in the palette. It costs from €42,605. Next up is the Sol version, from €44,985, which comes with the larger touchscreen and a panoramic glass roof. Topping the range is the GR Sport at a hefty €49,490, though it does get the more powerful hybrid system and unique design bits inside and out.
Carzone Verdict
In updating the Corolla Cross, Toyota has left well alone. Indeed, some might argue it hasn’t gone far enough in distinguishing it from the original, but it’s a highly popular model and that’s not likely to change any time soon.