The Toyota Corolla Cross Hybrid is the car of our dreams

Saffer know and love Toyota’s Corolla, there’s no doubt about that. But the all-new Toyota Corolla Cross is on a whole other level and we love love love it! Here’s everything you need to know and love about the Corolla Cross Hybrid.

1/ The exterior is striking

The Corolla Cross combines the distinctive styling of the Corolla Sedan and Hatch models with an SUV shape. It’s super slim and has big, elongated headlights and flared fenders that create a sense of width. She really is the main character.

2/ The interior is luxurious

The interior is reminiscent of its siblings, the Corolla Hatch and Sedan. Here the designers opted for an elegant design with excellent ergonomics and space for the occupants. The Corolla Cross has a premium feel with soft-touch touches and stylish metallic trim (depending on trim).

There’s a large centrally mounted infotainment system and excellent visibility. And from a functional point of view, you can’t ask for much more. There are large doorways to enhance utility, making it easy for children, dogs, shopping bags, luggage or whatever you need to get in. Spaciousness and occupant comfort have also been prioritized so your passengers won’t have to complain.

And as for the boot? There’s a class-leading luggage capacity of 440 litres. This makes it ideal for everyday use and the perfect travel companion. (If you’re looking for travel inspiration, check out these Airbnbs across SA that have hot tubs)

3/ The Corolla Cross is truly groundbreaking

While the Corolla Cross features the conventional petrol powertrain, it’s the hybrid petrol-electric powertrain that really stands out. In addition, this is also Toyota’s first hybrid powertrain production on local turf.

These are the deets of the hybrid model:

• 1.8 liter 2ZR-FXE Atkinson petrol engine
• Petrol engine power of 72kW & 142Nm (pure ICE mode)
• Latest generation hybrid powertrain with a more compact yet more efficient battery pack
• Smooth, instantaneous acceleration response
• The electric motor provides an instant torque boost that aids acceleration (similar to a turbo/supercharger)
• Ultra-refined and quiet operation
• Dedicated EV mode, in which operation is limited to near-silent, all-electric propulsion
• Automatically charges the battery with either regenerative braking or the petrol engine
• Closed-loop system means no “plug-in” required to charge the battery
• Electric motor power of 53kW and 163Nm (at full load)
• Total system power of 90kW
• 4.3 liters of petrol consumption per 100 km & 98 g/km CO2 emissions
• Improved performance and fuel efficiency over traditional petrol models

4/ It’s #ProudlySouthAfrican

The Corolla Cross is produced locally at Toyota’s long-standing Prospecton plant in Durban. The Cross continues the legacy of producing Corollas in Mzansi and making it #ProudlySouthAfrican.

Securing the manufacturing contract for this model is of significant importance – with direct implications for job creation, industry viability and economic support not only for South Africa but for Africa as a whole. To reinforce this, President Cyril Ramaphosa officially opened and approved the Corolla Cross production line on October 26, 2021.

5/ It has great security features

All Corolla Cross models offer buyers a comprehensive safety package that includes:

• anti-theft device
• Automatic door lock
• ISOFIX anchor points
• Driver + front passenger + side airbags across the board
• Vehicle Stability Control (VSC)
• ABS + EBD + Hill Start Assist

6/ It comes with a great service plan and warranty

Because there’s nothing worse than incurring an unexpected expense, Toyota has you covered with:

• A six service/90,000km service schedule is standard on all Corolla Cross models
• Service intervals of 12 months/15,000 km
• A 3 year/100,000km warranty is included
• The hybrid model has an 8-year warranty on the hybrid battery
• Additional service and warranty upgrades can be purchased from the nearest Toyota dealer (220 sales outlets nationwide).

The Corolla Cross 1.8 Hybrid Xs is R413,000 and the Corolla Cross 1.8 Hybrid XR is R448,300