- Olga Kokorina
- Translated by Olga Apetenok
- Ru Fr
Toyota Corolla Cross. Rather compact than mid-size
The Toyota Corolla Cross is a compact SUV based on the Corolla model that is currently available as the first generation (as of 2021). Designed as a larger and more practical alternative to the C-HR model. The new Corolla Cross was unveiled on July 9, 2020 in Thailand. A year after the start of production, it has already reached Southeast Asia, Africa, South America and some Middle Eastern markets. Moreover, the car will be produced and sold in the USA and Japan (the model will also be supplied to Australia from Japan). Versions for different markets differ by some important details. The geography of the Corolla Cross will probably expand further: in the first six months of its life, over 30 thousand models were sold in Asian countries.
Exterior
The 2020 Toyota Corolla Cross is based on the TNGA-C platform, like the rest of the Corolla range, which includes the sedan, estate and hatchback, and the C-HR. The Corolla SUV has the same 2,640 mm wheelbase as its ‘relatives’. It differs from the C-HR by the longer overhangs, providing more interior space. The cross version has no common body parts with other Corolla models. The vehicle is 4,460 mm long, 1,825 mm wide and 1,620 mm wide. The ground clearance depends on the market. It is 160 mm for Thailand and other countries, 161 mm for Japan, and 206 mm for North America. As befits an SUV, the model is equipped with larger wheels with a diameter of 17 or 18 inches.
Interior
The interior of the 2020/2021 Toyota Corolla Cross is the same as that of a regular Corolla, but with minor design changes. The Cross has the same front panel. The entry-level cars have analogue gauges, a cloth interior and a 9-inch multimedia system. The expensive versions have artificial leather seats, a digital dashboard and panoramic roof, as well as an Activity Box system, which can turn the trunk into a two-story one. The back seats have a backrest angle adjustment within the range of six degrees.
Powertrains
In Asia and Africa, the new Toyota Corolla Cross is sold in both petrol and hybrid variants. The first version uses a 1.8 liter (140 hp) engine paired with a CVT, while the second uses the same 1.8 engine, derated to 98 hp, plus an electric motor with a capacity of 72 hp and an electromechanical variator. The powertrain produces 122 hp. The hybrid versions have a 3.6 Ah lithium-ion battery, front-wheel drive, a MacPherson strut front suspension and a rear semi-independent suspension with a torsion bar.
Those cars that will be made at the Toyota and Mazda plants in the USA are equipped with a 2.0-liter naturally aspirated engine (171 hp) of the Dynamic Force family, coupled with a Direct Shift variator with a mechanical first gear. In 2022, the manufacturer will release a hybrid version. In addition to the increased ground clearance, the version for the North American continent (USA and Canada) is all-wheel drive, featuring a multi-link rear suspension and an interaxle coupling. Four-wheel drive is an option for all three American trim levels. The volume of the trunk, respectively, depends on the drive and the type of rear suspension: 722 liters for cars with mono-drive and 688 liters for all-wheel drive versions.
The Japanese version is the most interesting one. Not only does it look noticeably different with different optics, bumpers, radiator grille, but also the hybrid version received the all-wheel drive E-Four, so beloved in the Land of the Rising Sun. In this case, the rear wheels are rotated by a separate electric motor with a capacity of 7.2 hp and 55 Nm. It helps when starting off and in the first seconds of acceleration, but it turns off at high speed. That’s exactly what you need for starting on slippery surfaces, especially uphill. The four-wheel drive cars, which are more likely to drive in cold climates, are equipped with a less capricious 6.5 Ah Li-Ion NiMH battery. It remains to add that the E-Four is an option, but otherwise the cars are the same as all Asian versions.
Equipment
The 2021 Toyota Corolla Cross comes standard with LED headlights, adaptive cruise control, a media system and a rearview camera, while the top version has dual-zone climate control and an electric fifth door. The car’s safety is ensured by seven airbags and a set of Toyota Safety Sense electronic assistants. It includes adaptive cruise control, automatic braking systems (with the function of detecting pedestrians and cyclists), lane keeping assist, blind spot monitoring, traffic sign recognition system, etc. In Japan, there are two options for a body kit in a sporty style, developed by Modellista. But the changes end with the exterior. Meanwhile, cars made in Thailand and Taiwan have GR Sport versions: in addition to the body kit, there is a new interior decor, a stiffer suspension and additional panel reinforcements.
