TopGear just got out of the new Toyota Corolla Cross. You can read the full test report in our November issue (in stores at the end of October); now the highlights.
Test object: Toyota Corolla Cross
Performance: 2.0 High Power Hybrid Launch Edition
Location: Barcelona area
Weather conditions: cloudburst
This isn’t a Corolla is it?
Toyota says yes, so yes. Okay, it’s not a hatchback or wagon, it’s a mid-sized crossover – but it’s on the same platform. It is slightly larger than the C-HR, a little smaller than the RAV4, and therefore a nice size for people with small families and/or a dog that is not too clumsy.
Hybrid sure?
Of course. In the Netherlands only with front-wheel drive, in Belgium optionally also with AWD. It has 197 hp, 0 to 100 in 7.7 seconds and still has an average consumption of 5.1 l/100 km. We got 5.5 l/100 km on our test route, but that was in the Catalan hills and with the windshield wipers on hyper. Yes, that also costs energy.
Can you sit properly in it?
Secure. In the front anyway – the seats are excellent – and in the back there is plenty of legroom and plenty of headroom. The luggage space also falls neatly between that of the C-HR and RAV4 with 555 liters. The interior looks neat – not very frivolous – with a high placed infotainment screen and separate air conditioning controls (+ a lot). Okay, there are some quirks here and there in terms of digital store operation, but nothing insurmountable.
How does the Toyota Corolla Cross drive?
Pretty fine. The steering is sprightly and the chassis strikes the balance you want in a car like this: not too flubbery, but suitably solid. It doesn’t feel heavy, regularly drives fully electric and we usually find ourselves in the interaction between regeneration and physical braking – leave that to hybrid specialist Toyota.
Speaking of which: it is a pity that the Toyota Corolla Cross does not get the same sportier operation of the powertrain as, for example, the Corolla hatchback. Its transmission has a sort of ‘pedal’ that feels like gears, and flippers to ‘shift’ between them. The Cross doesn’t get any of that, so it still whines the old-fashioned way when you want to pick up speed and the engine is bogged down in the revs. Drive more slowly then – you were already planning as a prospective Corolla Cross buyer.
When can I buy the Toyota Corolla Cross?
In a week, to be precise – from 15 October it will be available at the Dutch dealers. The prices start at 37,995 euros and go up to 44,995 euros for the full Launch Edition that we drove. In Belgium you can enter from 35,410 euros.
Read the full Toyota Corolla Cross driving test in TopGear Magazine 209, in stores from October 27!
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