CROSS-EXAMINATION |
It is said that South Africa was built on the back of a Hilux bakkie, that the Quantum keeps the country moving, and that every family has a Corolla memory to share. Toyotas have kept the wheels of South Africa turning for decades, and the new Corolla Cross is undoubtedly the next chapter in the good book of Toyota.
Near 60 years from the famed introduction of the first Toyotas in South Africa, the company is still innovating, leading, and making memories for millions.
From the introduction of the third-generation Corolla in the 1960s through its decades-long evolution, the Corolla has been a cornerstone of Toyota’s success here. While the sedan version still has a role to play in the market, the introduction of the Corolla Cross signals a whole new era for everyone’s favourite car.
Also, the fact that Toyota now places significant emphasis on introducing New Energy Vehicles (NEV) is an important milestone for the brand. We had the privilege of experiencing the range-topping hybrid Corolla Cross for six weeks over the festive season period.
The Cross occupies a gap in-between the Urban Cruiser and RAV4 and is surprisingly large for a compact crossover. Naturally, there is a risk for Toyota that the Cross may nibble away at sales of either of its siblings and with an offering as good as the Cross, that certainly wouldn’t surprise us.
Our long-term tester was the Xr Hybrid – a 1.8-litre petrol engine teamed with a hybrid system – that so seamlessly matches the attitude and feel of any of Toyota’s SUV offerings that it is hard to imagine anyone would even consider another model in the line-up. In terms of balancing efficiency and power, style and substance, the range-topping hybrid is a steal at the recommended R448,300.
WHAT’S IT GOT?
The Cross’ TNGA platform (shared with the C-HR, Prius, and new Corolla) means the car handles predictably well, and the cabin is as quiet and composed as any new-generation Toyota. It feels nimbler than its size predicates, while the interior is a study in practical luxury.
Like its siblings, the instrument cluster with a built-in infotainment screen feels modern and returns every conceivable metric required to best pilot your Cross on holiday, as we did to the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands during the December holiday.
There is a lot of tech onboard – for a mid-sized crossover under R450,000. From the expected Apple CarPlay and Android Auto to the adaptive cruise control and blind-spot detection, the Cross Xr Hybrid can hardly be bettered. One-touch electric windows all-around is a rarity at this price point nowadays, as is ample headroom, legroom for rear passengers, and 440-litres of luggage space with the 60:40-split rear bench seat in use. There is also backseat temperature control for passengers sitting here and a USB charging port to keep devices charged during an extended journey.
For safety, all models come standard with an anti-theft system; keyless entry and start; auto door-locking; ISOFIX anchor points; driver, passenger and side airbags; stability control; ABS and EBD, and Hill Assist Control. In Xr trim, additional features include Toyota Safety Sense – with adaptive cruise control and blind-spot monitoring, Lane Trace Assist, and Pre-Collision System.
ON YOUR JOURNEY
Our hybrid tester surprised us in many ways, but the fact that it so effortlessly handled the variety of terrain we crossed during our time with the car was most unexpected. Too many crossovers are that in name only, with only cosmetics separating them from their more mundane siblings.
Not so with the Corolla Cross.
With just the right amount of ground clearance for proper gravel travel (you’ll find enough of this in the Midlands), the Cross lives up to its name and then some. Given the heavy rains in these parts, we regularly had to traverse tricky terrain, and with its power advantage over its non-hybrid siblings, this was almost no challenge at all.
Despite being detuned to produce 72 kW and 142 Nm when in pure ICE (internal combustion engine) mode, the Xr Hybrid seamlessly switches between modes depending on conditions and power demand. The hybrid system aids the engine by way of an electric battery pack that produces 53 kW and 163 Nm of torque when at full capacity. Altogether, the system output tops out at 90 kW. The electric motor provides the car with an instant torque boost to aid acceleration similarly to forced induction.
Besides having enough power on-tap for most applications, the overall result is remarkable fuel consumption for this size of vehicle. On the journey to the Midlands from the Highveld, we managed 6.8 l/100 km, hamstrung somewhat using adaptive cruise control over much of the journey. Returning to Pretoria, the Cross delivered 6.4 l/100 km without breaking a sweat.
The Cross can also be driven in pure EV mode for a quiet and refined experience. However, this is mainly reserved for parking lots and short, low-speed (under 40 km/h) trips as the system disengages when excessive acceleration is detected, or the hybrid battery is running low.
LAST WORD
Increasingly so, extended driving experiences in Toyota vehicles leave me wanting more. The brand has truly outgrown its ‘boring but reliable’ moniker in the last decade or so. That a Corolla could be satisfying, even exciting, to drive would not have been one of its key selling points in the past. Despite its slightly stodgy design at the rear (we’re hoping to see slimline LEDs when it receives a mid-life upgrade in a couple of years), the Corolla Cross will prove to be a desired travel companion for a new generation of families in the years to come.
Report & Images © BERNIE HELLBERG