The
Toyota Corolla has been a staple brand in the
South African motoring sphere for decades, raking up total sales of over 1 million during that period. That the nameplate is still going strong is something to behold. Now the local chapter of the company has introduced the next chapter, called the
Corolla Cross, which is a compact
SUV type that is being produced right here at the Prospecton Plant in Durban. Over 20 000 units are planned for annual domestic sales by the brand from next year, which will give the car a top 5 position in overall monthly sales.
Very confident numbers indeed. However, with the recent growth of the
SUV sector in every segment,
Toyota is happy to put its money where its mouth is regarding the
Corolla Cross. The other big part of this already big news is that the
Corolla Cross is the first Toyota that Prospecton is producing with a
Hybrid powerplant, using the new company TNGA platform. This global platform is the basis for many other upcoming cars, is solid, stable, strong and sustainable. It is also flexible.
So the
Corolla Cross itself. What is it like? Large front grille with a new design that is bold and attractive, features something that looks like a split grille. Headlights wrap around the bonnet in thin strips and some foglights at the bottom give the front end a strong stance. Toyota has thinned out the A-pillar on the side profile, giving the driver a better 180-degree view of the outside, thus improving safety.
At 4.4 metres the car is pretty long for its segment, with a matching long front overhang, a pretty flat roofline that helps with rear headroom, bumper cladding on the sides, and a choice of between 17 and 18-inch wheels, depending on the trim chosen. The two powertrains available share three trims by the way, namely
Xi (only for the full ICE model),
Xs and the
range-topping XR.
Toyota says the car also has the biggest boot space among its competitors, at 440 litres.
Whilst inside it is worth noting that interior space is quite large, with plenty of storage spaces not just for cups and bottles, but also for other loose items. If you are familiar with the current
Corolla sedan and
hatch you will be at home in the
Corolla Cross. Features include a CD player and Bluetooth connectivity for the
Xi, and touch screen infotainment for the
Xs and
Xr models. Others include air conditioning, leather upholstery, cruise control, keyless entry and others.
Powering the Corolla Cross is a choice of two powertrains that use differently set up naturally aspirated 1.8-litre petrol engine. In the normal ICE setting the engine produces 103kW at 6 000rpm, and 173Nm of torque at 4 400rpm. It is paired with a CVT transmission and Toyota claims an average fuel consumption of 6.8 litres per 100km for this powertrain.
The
Hybrid’s version of the engine produces 72kW and 142Nm on its own, while the electric motor and battery pack make 53kW and 163Nm. Together system output is quoted at 90kW and average fuel consumption at 4.3 litres per 100km. This is not a plug-in
Hybrid, meaning it does not need any stationary charging. Instead it charges itself as it drives and brakes using regenerative energy recuperation systems.
Toyota has put in a massive investment into the production of the
Corolla Cross, not only technically speaking, but also into the people responsible for it. It is a good drive by first impressions and will sell in strong numbers.
