While it was not initially due to come to Europe, the Toyota Corolla Cross compact SUV will finally be imported there, from the fall of 2022, and France will not be forgotten. What is this missing link between C-HR and RAV4 worth? Argus has already been able to get on board to get a first idea.
With its 4.46 m long, the Corolla Cross displays the same format as many European bestsellers, such as the Peugeot 3008 or Volkswagen Tiguan. However, when it was unveiled in Thailand in the summer of 2020, this compact SUV was not to make the trip to the Old Continent. It was therefore with some surprise that we found him in Brussels during the Kenshiki forum, the event organized every year since 2019 by Toyota to present its strategy and its novelties in Europe. His presence here was quickly explained. Finally, this new offspring of the great Corolla family will be imported to our regions in the fall of 2022. Made in Japan and revised for the occasion, it will even have the honor to launch the fifth generation of the in-house hybrid system. Its date of marketing in France is more uncertain, but the model will be offered in France. Argus did not fail to settle on board to find out what this newcomer could well bring to an already very crowded segment.
Dimensions: the missing link?
The Corolla Cross fixes a gap in the lineup. It is intended to be more family-friendly than its little brother C-HR, but less bulky than the RAV4. It is therefore 7 cm longer than the first, while remaining 14 cm shorter than the second. Its height of 1.62 m also places it halfway between the two, as does its width. On paper, this latest addition therefore adopts the ideal dimensions to establish itself in our market. On the other hand, it keeps the same wheelbase of 2.64 m as the C-HR or the Corolla 5-door, while the Tiguan or 3008 have 4 cm more between the two axles. We will see later if this has an impact on its rear habitability.
| Dimensions | Toyota Corolla Cross |
| L x W x H | 4.46 x 1.83 x 1.62 m |
| Wheelbase | 2.64 m |
Style: the wise child of the family
Appeared in 2016, the C-HR had bet on originality, with false airs of coupe. The Corolla sedan and station wagon are already more conventional, but their thin boomerang optics and their large mouth placed low enough still make them stand out. In comparison, the Corolla Cross thus appears much wiser. Even if they adopt a more modern light signature in Europe, its headlights and taillights remain very impressive and quite classic. In the spirit, this SUV is ultimately closer to the RAV4, As evidenced by its very square wheel arches, vertical tailgate or split rear pillar. But he opts for a much less angular stylistic language, which may reassure some … or be judged too timid by others, despite its huge trapezoidal grille.
Interior: efforts for Europe
Belonging to the Corolla family is ultimately above all in the interior that it shines through. Most of the dashboard is in fact shared with the sedan and the station wagon. A piece of furniture which we have unfortunately already noticed, during a recent match with the Opel Astra, that it was starting to age. The storage between the seats is thus revealed to be quite small, in particular because of the “old-fashioned” gear lever. There are also some dated style buttons, for the heated seats for example, and a rather dark general atmosphere. As for the build quality, we will still have to wait to decide. The specimen we approached was indeed a pre-series; unflattering materials were therefore not necessarily final.
Toyota has all the same made some efforts, specific to the European market, to bring a touch of modernity to the whole. This is the first time that the brand has opted for 100% digital instrumentation, with a large screen of 12.3 inches. Many meter designs will be available, among other customization possibilities. However, we may regret that it is impossible to display the GPS map in full size and that the head-up display, which projects information on the windshield, is no longer available, even as an option. The central touch screen is also growing, going from 8 inches maximum on the sedan to 10.5 inches. Above all, it goes straight from the start with the new in-house multimedia system, which has just landed on the rest of the range. In addition to more modern graphics, we appreciate the enormous gain in responsiveness when it comes to navigating the menus. It was time ! Only the replacement of the volume control knobs with buttons may look like a regression for some. Toyota has nevertheless retained enough direct access functions to avoid distracting too much from the road.
Habitability: no record in sight
Classified as a compact SUV by Toyota, the C-HR is clearly not the most welcoming in its rear-seat segment. It is enough to look at it to suspect it! With its significantly higher height and much straighter roof, the Corolla Cross doesn’t have too much trouble to do better. Already, access to the bench is much easier. Then, the higher glass surfaces give less the impression of being confined, and the headroom is ideal for older children. We will also appreciate the welcoming cellars. But no miracles, unchanged wheelbase requires, the legroom remains simply average. On this point, the Cross does not do much better than the sedan, which is already not a benchmark in its category. Too bad, therefore, that the bench is not sliding: only the inclination of its backrests is adjustable. Quite harsh and narrower than the others, the central plaza is also more intended to help out than to permanently accommodate passengers.
It is therefore especially the trunk which should benefit from the 9 cm gained in length compared to the sedan. Toyota has not yet given any volume and we have not been able to perform quantified measurements, but this cargo hold seemed to us to be at the same time higher, longer and wider than that of the Corolla 5-door. With, as a bonus, a fairly low loading threshold, an electrically opening tailgate and very square shapes. Only a protrusion on the right side attracts attention: it hides the 12 volt battery. Necessary for electrical accessories, the latter no longer encroaches on the loading height. This was one of the major flaws in the rest of the Corolla 2.0 hybrid lineup. An engine that will be the only one available in the European Corolla Cross at launch, but in a configuration unknown until now.
Engine: the hybrid is close to 200 hp
The biggest novelty of this SUV is indeed well hidden. It is he who has the heavy responsibility of inaugurating the fifth generation of the brand’s HSD hybrid system. With, in particular, under the back seat, a new traction lithium-ion battery, both more powerful and 40% lighter than the old one. The power of the electric motor responsible for supporting the 2.0 atmospheric four-cylinder could thus be increased at the same time. In total, the system goes from 184 to 197 hp. Despite the lack of turbo, the 100 hp / l bar is not very far. The planetary gear transmission, characteristic of the manufacturer, benefits for its part from various improvements, including in particular a new lubrication with the use of low viscosity oils. Despite its heavier weight and less favorable aerodynamics, the Corolla Cross would be able to complete a 0 to 100 km / h as fast as the Touring Sports station wagon, in just 8.1 s.
More than performance, however, it is the pleasure that could improve. Toyota indeed claims to offer a more linear response to acceleration in order to erase the effect of runaway engine often criticized in its productions. Only the tests, at the end of October, will be able to tell us if the contract is fulfilled. But in any case, this hybrid engine, which does not impose any recharging constraints, promises to be one of the major assets of the model. Especially since it will be possible, at an additional cost, to order it in the AWD-i version. As on the RAV4 or the new Yaris Cross, a small electric motor, here strong of 30.6 kW (42 hp), will then be added to the rear axle, making it possible to take advantage of four-wheel drive. A proposal unknown to the other Corollas and the C-HR. It remains to know the prices, which will have to be much lower than those of plug-in hybrid competitors on the sector to hope to break through. The 122bhp 1.8 hybrid, already offered in other markets, could have helped lower the rating, but it is not planned in Europe for now.
Toyota Corolla Cross review
Even if it was not initially planned, the arrival of the Corolla Cross in Europe seems implacably logical. By its format as by its silhouette, this SUV responds perfectly to those who found the C-HR either too narrow or too daring. He will thus be able to face more directly the Nissan Qashqai, Peugeot 3008, VW Tiguan or the replacement of Renault Kadjar. But by taking the dashboard of a Corolla over three years old, this newcomer takes the risk of appearing already a little dated from its launch on the Old Continent, at the end of 2022, despite its new screens. Its very wise silhouette will not help it to stand out either, and its rear roominess will not set new benchmarks. Beware, however, not to neglect this new actor too much, which inaugurates a new generation of Toyota’s hybrid system with promising improvements. Almost unparalleled in the category, this engine could prove to be decisive for many buyers, especially since it could even be available in a four-wheel drive version.
