A Corolla SUV? Is it possible for Toyota to spawn an SUV version of the world's best-selling vehicle in history? Unfortunately yes they did because the history of the Toyota Corolla has been radically rewritten with the arrival of the first-ever SUV in the Corolla range, the Corolla Cross. Slotted above the Yaris Cross, the Corolla Cross expanded Toyota's overcrowded SUV lineup, and how this new model will cannibalize the typical Corolla lineup remains to be seen. Anyway, let's investigate this treason to the Corolla heritage.
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| 2022 Toyota Corolla Cross |
Priced at 1,999,000 Japanese Yen, the Corolla Cross is cheaper to own than its main target, the Honda Vezel, and unlike the Vezel, the Corolla Cross is a strikingly sharp-looking compact crossover that prefers to have a laidback personality rather than being a jumpy car that makes things interesting for those behind the wheel.
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| 2022 Toyota Corolla Cross |
Let's observe the design first, ladies and gentlemen. On the front, the Corolla Cross can be easily mistaken for a Ford Mustang Mach-e, the crossover that is known to be treason to the Mustang heritage, just like this crossover. Even when donned with the current-generation Corolla emblem on the front, there's no hiding the fact that it's treason to the Corolla heritage. Apart from the front, the Corolla Cross bears a resemblance to its big brother, the RAV4. Whichever way you look at it, the Corolla Cross is surprisingly a sharp-looking crossover that loves to blend through the Tokyo traffic like it truly belongs.
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| 2022 Toyota Corolla Cross interior |
The interior works just like the normal Corolla. From the sat-nav, the climate control, the five-seater configuration, and other conveniences, the Corolla Cross feels just like its equivalents, and when you talk about spacing, it slightly packs more room than its hatchback equivalent, the Corolla Sport, because the Cross is longer and wider than the Sport.
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| 2022 Toyota Corolla Cross |
The Corolla Cross is powered by a 2ZR-FAE 1.8L petrol engine mated to a Super CVT-i and a hybrid powertrain with the 2ZR-FXE 1.8L petrol engine connected to an electric motor and the choice of a Li-ion battery for front-wheel-drive variants and a NiMH battery for the E-Four variants.
The one with the 2ZR-FAE engine on it produces 140PS of power, 170NM of torque, and a fuel economy of 14.4kmpl. The hybrid, meanwhile, has a total power output of 122PS while the fuel economy is an impressive 26.2kmpl. They're all calculated by WLTP standards.
In terms of dynamics, the Corolla Cross behaves just like its equivalents thanks to the TNGA platform it dons and when you talk about suspension setup, they vary by variants. For front-wheel-drive variants, they don front MacPherson struts and rear torsion beams with coil springs. Less sophisticated than the Europeans but it behaves like a regular Joe. In the E-Four variants, the rear suspension setup is a double-wishbone, making it almost breathable to drive and capable of all kinds of road conditions, even in the snow. Thank you, four-wheel-drive.
Because we live in the new normal, the Corolla Cross features Toyota Safety Sense as standard and with a wide array of safety features, it's hard to say if drivers will trust this Corolla SUV for all the reasons.
So, the first-ever Toyota Corolla Cross? Do you love it or hate it? Is it a welcoming addition or treason to the Corolla heritage? Is it a must-have or must-ignore? Either way, the Corolla Cross is proof that there's no stopping the crossover craze carmakers are making a fortune these days. Whatever the reason, it did make an impression.
Available colors: Platinum White Pearl Mica, Cement Grey Metallic, Silver Metallic, Attitude Black Mica, Sparkling Black Pearl Crystal Shine, Sensual Red Mica, Avantgarde Bronze Metallic, and Dark Blue Mica Metallic.
Photo: Toyota Motor Corporation
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