2023 Toyota Corolla Cross review

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2023 Toyota Corolla Cross

The 2023 Toyota Corolla Cross has joined the booming small-SUV class to challenge the likes of the Subaru XV and Mazda CX-30.

While the concept of a high-riding hatchback was pioneered 10 years ago by the Subaru XV – effectively a Subaru Impreza in hiking books and a puffy jacket – other brands have come out of the woodwork with their own take on the theme.

Although it shares the Corolla name – and underpinnings – the Corolla Cross has a completely new body that delivers a much roomier cabin, a bigger cargo hold, and better visibility thanks to the large glass area in an era of sleek designs.

There are three model grades – GX, GXL and the new flagship badge Atmos – all of which are available with a 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol engine, or an ‘Atkinson Cycle’ 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol engine paired to a hybrid battery pack and electric motor (or in the case of all-wheel drive, ‘motors’ plural).

The first showroom arrivals are due in the coming weeks, but as with the rest of the Toyota line-up, supply is limited.

Many Toyota RAV4 Hybrid customers who have been waiting up to – and more than – a year are likely to jump the queue and switch their order to a Corolla Cross.

The expectation is that delivery delays on this and other Toyota models are expected to continue for another year or so, the company predicts.

How much does the 2023 Toyota Corolla Cross cost in Australia?

There are eight models in the Toyota Corolla Cross range: three petrol, five hybrid (with a choice of front-drive or all-wheel drive).

They are listed as follows (excluding metallic paint and on-road costs such as registration, stamp duty and dealer delivery fees):

• Toyota Corolla Cross GX Petrol: $33,000
• Toyota Corolla Cross GX Hybrid 2WD: $35,500
• Toyota Corolla Cross GXL Petrol: $36,750
• Toyota Corolla Cross GXL Hybrid 2WD: $39,250
• Toyota Corolla Cross GXL Hybrid AWD: $42,250
• Toyota Corolla Cross Atmos Petrol: $43,550
• Toyota Corolla Cross Atmos Hybrid 2WD: $46,050
• Toyota Corolla Cross Atmos Hybrid AWD: $49,050

These prices position the Toyota Corolla Cross between the Toyota Yaris Cross and Toyota RAV4.

All Toyota Corolla Cross variants come equipped with a full suite of advanced safety technology (see safety), LED headlights, sensor key with push-button start, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, a digital instrument cluster and heated side mirrors.

The infotainment screen is larger (10.5-inch rather than 8.0-inch) on GXL and Atmos – and the Atmos has a full-width 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster (rather than a 7.0-inch display on GX and GXL).

GXL and Atmos models also gain premium LED headlights and scrolling indicators on the rear.

The base-model GX grade is distinguished by standard LED headlights and 17-inch alloy wheels – and lacks the front and rear parking sensors, front fog lights, rear tinted glass, roof rails, and premium LED headlights that are standard on GXL and Atmos variants.

The GXL gains a 10.5-inch infotainment screen (though the same 7.0-inch digital instrument cluster as the GX), embedded navigation, dual-zone air-conditioning, front and rear parking sensors, a 360-degree camera, and an auto-dimming rear-view mirror.

The Atmos is equipped with 18-inch alloys (instead of 17-inch rims on GX and GXL), a panoramic sunroof, a power-operated tailgate with kick sensor, a wireless phone charger, heated front seats and steering wheel, premium audio, and rain-sensing wipers.

For those who place a high importance on full-size spare tyres, take note. A full-size spare tyre is not available on the Toyota Corolla Cross, even though it is available on certain variants of the regular Toyota Corolla hatch.

All petrol and hybrid front-wheel-drive variants of the Toyota Corolla Cross come with a space-saver spare tyre under the boot floor; the hybrid all-wheel-drive GXL and Atmos variants come with an inflator kit.

In our experience, an inflator kit means you’re calling a tow truck if you split a tyre on a large pot hole – because the goop won’t plug the gap.

If you get a nail in the tread and want to have the tyre repaired properly with a plug – you can limp the car to a workshop with the punctured tyre filled with goop.

Provided the puncture is not unsafe (such as on the edge of the tyre, or a badly worn section), tyre fitters can clean out the inflator fudge, plug the hole properly with a rubber slug, and get you going again.

Key details	2023 Toyota Corolla Cross
Price	From $33,000 to $49,050 plus on-road costs
Rivals	Mazda CX-30 | Subaru XV | Volkswagen T-Roc

How much space does the 2023 Toyota Corolla Cross have inside?

The Toyota Corolla Cross is larger in every dimension than the regular Corolla hatch on which it is based.

Bumper-to-bumper, the Toyota Corolla Cross fits between the Mazda CX-30 and Subaru XV in length by a few millimetres, but the body is taller and wider than these peers.

This delivers the Toyota Corolla Cross a roomier cabin and cargo hold than the Mazda CX-30 and Subaru XV. The window area is also larger for better visibility around the car when parking or negotiating traffic.

The driver’s seat is height-adjustable; knee room is also more generous in the back seat of the Toyota Corolla Cross.

The back seat split-folds 60:40 (40 per cent on the passenger side) and there are two ISOFIX child seat mounts in the outboard positions, and three top-tether points so an old-school child seat can fitted in the middle position.

The are air vents for the rear seat on all three model grades, but the GX lacks a power source in the back row, while the GXL and Atmos come with two USB-C ports. All models come with one USB-A, USB-C and a 12V socket in the front cabin (the latter two in the centre console).

A welcome inclusion, all four power windows have the convenience of one-touch auto-up functionality.

One minor complaint: because there is so much hi-tech hardware around the rear-view mirror, the sun visors are quite short, which means they don’t extend far enough to block side glare when swung around to the side windows.

Boot space varies depending on the model:

• Toyota Corolla Cross GX and GXL 2WD petrol: 436L (maximum to shoulder of upright rear seats)
• Toyota Corolla Cross Atmos 2WD petrol, GX and GXL 2WD Hybrid: 425L (premium sound system occupies space in the petrol Atmos; hybrid battery pack occupies space on GX and GXL 2WD Hybrid models)
• Toyota Corolla Cross Atmos 2WD Hybrid: 414L (Atmos premium sound system and hybrid battery pack occupy space)
• Toyota Corolla Cross GXL AWD Hybrid: 390L (hybrid battery pack and rear electric motor occupy space)
• Toyota Corolla Cross Atmos AWD Hybrid: 380L (premium sound system, hybrid battery pack, and rear electric motor occupy space)

	2023 Toyota Corolla Cross
Seats	Five
Boot volume	GX and GXL 2WD petrol: 436L Atmos 2WD petrol, GX and GXL 2WD Hybrid: 425L Atmos 2WD Hybrid: 414L GXL AWD Hybrid: 390L Atmos AWD Hybrid: 380L
Length	4460mm
Width	1825mm
Height	1620mm
Wheelbase	2640mm

Does the 2023 Toyota Corolla Cross have Apple CarPlay?

Wireless and wired Apple Car Play – and wired Android Auto – are standard on all models of the Corolla Cross, as are AM/FM and digital radio.

The base Toyota Corolla GX comes with an 8.0-inch infotainment screen with a volume dial; the GXL and Atmos have 12.3-inch displays with volume buttons instead of a dial.

Both screens have high-resolution displays – and the rear-view camera (with guiding lines that turn with the steering) is especially clear at night, whereas low-quality cameras on certain rivals tend to struggle.

The GXL and Atmos model grades come with a 360-degree camera.

Separate to the infotainment system, the Toyota Corolla Cross debuts the company’s latest version of the myToyota Connect app, which enables owners to remotely check the status of the vehicle (fuel, location, 10 most recent trips), start the car remotely for up to 10 minutes to cool or heat the cabin, and sound beeps or activate the horn to pinpoint the vehicle in a car park.

The subscription is free for the first 12 months before packs that cost either $9.95 or $12.50 per month – or $22.45 per month when both packs are chosen. At these prices, we reckon few customers will continue remote smartphone access to their vehicles once they are required to pay for it.

Is the 2023 Toyota Corolla Cross a safe car?

The safety rating for the Toyota Corolla Cross is in the process of being assessed by the Australasian New Car Assessment Program (ANCAP).

While it is yet to be tested (as this road test was published), the Toyota Corolla Cross has the ingredients to earn a five-star score against the latest criteria.

	2023 Toyota Corolla Cross
ANCAP rating	Untested

What safety technology does the 2023 Toyota Corolla Cross have?

All models come with eight airbags including: frontal airbags for the driver and front-seat passenger, seat-mounted side airbags for the driver and front-seat passenger, curtain airbags that cover front and back rows, a driver’s knee airbag, and a centre airbag between the front seats to prevent head strike in a severe side impact.

Autonomous emergency braking, radar cruise control, speed sign recognition, lane-keeping assistance, blind-zone warning, rear cross-traffic alert, door exit warning, and a rear-view camera (GX) or 360-degree camera (GXL and Atmos grades) are standard.

Conspicuous by their absence: tyre pressure monitors are not yet available, even though they are standard on key rivals such as the Mazda CX-30 and Subaru XV.

Another glaring omission: the base-model Toyota Corolla Cross GX lacks front and rear parking sensors, which are increasingly standard on new cars – including on a number of direct rivals such as the Mazda CX-30 and Volkswagen T-Roc.

How much does the 2023 Toyota Corolla Cross cost to maintain?

The warranty is five years/unlimited kilometres, and service intervals are 12 months/15,000km (whichever comes first).

Capped-price servicing for routine maintenance is listed at $230 per visit, or $690 for the first three years/45,000km or $1150 for the first five years/75,000km. These prices are significantly cheaper than its closest rivals.

NRMA Insurance quotes an annual premium of $1614 based on a comparative quote for a 35-year-old male driver living in Chatswood, NSW. Insurance estimates may vary based on your location, driving history, and personal circumstances.

At a glance	2023 Toyota Corolla Cross
Warranty	Five years, unlimited km
Service intervals	12 months or 15,000km
Servicing costs	$690 (3 years) $1150 (5 years)

Is the 2023 Toyota Corolla Cross fuel-efficient?

Although we had a brief preview drive of a petrol version of the Toyota Corolla Cross (and not enough to clock up real-world consumption estimates), we drove away from the media launch in the base-model GX Hybrid so we could live with it for a week and test it on familiar roads.

Toyota says it expects the Corolla Cross GX Hybrid will be the biggest-selling variant in the line-up, accounting for about 40 per cent of demand, so we focused on this model. We will review other variants of the Toyota Corolla Cross range as they come through the Drive garage.

Having clocked up more than 500km of mostly urban driving, the Toyota Corolla Cross GX Hybrid proved itself to be remarkably efficient, sipping just 4.1L/100km on average (having at times dipped to 3.9 or climbed to 4.3).

Able to run on regular 91-octane unleaded petrol, the Toyota Corolla Cross consumes roughly half as much fuel as an equivalent petrol car.

What is the 2023 Toyota Corolla Cross like to drive?

If you’ve not driven a hybrid before, be prepared for the silent treatment.

The electric motor moves the Toyota Corolla Cross from rest silently up to about 35 or 40km/h before the petrol engine kicks in.

Moving a car from rest in stop-start traffic is the thirstiest part of commuter driving, and this is where the hybrid system is able to make such massive savings when it comes to fuel consumption.

The hybrid battery pack – under the rear seat – automatically charges when the car is coasting or braking. The approximately 1kWh battery pack delivers up to 1km of petrol-free driving in ideal conditions.

However, in practice, it stores its energy reserves and meters it out modestly to enable as many electric-car take-offs as possible.

At some point, if the battery hasn’t had a chance to recoup energy, the petrol engine will run for longer. But once the battery starts to recover energy, it will give it straight back to you.

The eerily quiet driving experience requires some caution around pedestrians in car parks because the vehicle is much quieter than an approaching petrol vehicle.

You tend to find yourself driving more slowly so you don’t startle people – plus the system encourages you to eke out as much battery power as possible in such scenarios, so you quickly learn to be gentle with the throttle.

That said, the hybrid is perky once on the road. Indeed, it’s a touch quicker than the petrol model.

The Toyota Corolla Cross Hybrid did the 0–100km/h dash in a repeatable 7.8 seconds (measured using a VBox), which is slightly perkier than most small cars.

Braking performance was less impressive, pulling up from 100km/h to zero in an emergency stopping test in 40.6m.

A good result for an everyday car is in the 38m range, while 40m plus is approaching double-cab ute braking performance (41–42m).

While the Toyota Corolla Cross’s braking distance is similar to – or slightly longer than – class rivals, it’s the trade-off for using low-friction fuel-economy tyres. They roll with less resistance, but give away braking performance in the process.

How much power does the Toyota Corolla Cross Hybrid have? There is no straightforward answer.

Toyota does not simply add the power outputs of the petrol and electric motors to come up with a combined figure, because the peaks of each form of propulsion are delivered at parts of the acceleration cycle.

But having driven the hybrid and the petrol variants back-to-back, it’s apparent the hybrid is the pick of the two.

Performance – as well as its fuel-miser credentials – are the likely reasons Toyota estimates more than 70 per cent of demand for the Toyota Corolla Cross will be for hybrid variants.

It’s also nice to drive. We sampled the GX and GXL grades on 17-inch wheels and tyres, and an Atmos on 18-inch wheels and tyres – and both were comfortable over bumps, though the GX and GXL rubber was a touch quieter and slightly better at absorbing irregularities in the road.

The steering is light and precise, whether on the move or getting into or out of tight spots.

And the brake pedal has a reassuring feel.

Visibility all around is excellent thanks to the large windows in an era of sleek designs.

Downsides? The lack of a full-size spare tyre is disappointing given the Toyota Corolla Cross has one of the largest cargo holds among its rivals. The lack of front or rear parking sensors on the GX model is a significant oversight (though they are available as dealer-fit accessories). Its sun visor is too short to block side glare, and tyre pressure monitors are not available on any model grade even though (as with front and rear parking sensors) they are fast becoming the norm on new cars.

The anti-lock brake system made a groaning noise after being tripped up when the brakes were applied over an expansion join or ripple in the road. The brakes worked fine, but the noise and the feeling under the brake pedal will likely have Toyota Corolla Cross customers going back to their dealer to check the car over. Here’s hoping Toyota can come up with a calibration update.

On balance, though, the Toyota Corolla Cross is impressive. It’s the right car at the right time – and in the right price point – and set to become an instant hit.

Just when you thought the SUV market couldn’t get any more crowded, another serious contender has squeezed in.

Key details	2023 Toyota Corolla Cross Petrol	2023 Toyota Corolla Cross Hybrid
Engine	2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol	2.0-litre four-cylinder hybrid
Power	126kW @ 6600rpm	112kW @ 6600rpm petrol 83kW front electric 30kW rear electric 146kW combined
Torque	202Nm @ 4400 to 4900rpm	190kW @ 4400 to 5200rpm petrol 206Nm front electric rear electric and combined torque not listed
Drive type	Front-wheel drive	Front-wheel drive or all-wheel-drive (rear electric motor)
Transmission	CVT automatic	CVT automatic
Power to weight ratio	88 to 91kW/t	94 to 102kW/t
Weight	1380kg to 1430kg	1435kg to 1550kg
Spare tyre type	Space-saver	Space-saver (2WD), tyre repair kit (AWD)
Tow rating	750kg braked 725kg unbraked (GX and GXL) 735kg unbraked (Atmos)	750kg braked 745kg unbraked (GX) 750kg unbraked (GXL and Atmos)
Turning circle	11.2m	11.2m

Should I buy a 2023 Toyota Corolla Cross?

The Toyota Corolla Cross is a compelling proposition for anyone interested in a hatchback-sized SUV.

If you’re considering a Mazda CX-30 or Subaru XV, be sure to take a Toyota Corolla Cross for a test drive before you sign on the dotted line.

The post 2023 Toyota Corolla Cross review appeared first on Drive.

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