Toyota Corolla Cross: Old vs. new

The introduction of the updated Toyota Corolla Cross means that the crossover will no longer be offered with a pure internal combustion engine (ICE) as the nameplate is now strictly running on a hybrid powertrain.

On top of that, there are other upgrades applied to the model that give it character — befitting its new-energy nature. Interested to see what differences between the old and new Toyota Corolla Cross? Join us to find out.

Looks

At a glance, one will immediately notice which crossover is which — especially with the non GR-S variants.

The front end of the old Toyota Corolla Cross wore an aggressive grille-over-grille setup. The top portion packed a latticework with a honeycomb design while the lower part had simple, straightforward horizontal lines.

A pair of sleek headlights complemented its frowning facade.

To its side were sport utility vehicle (SUV)-like features like blacked-out B- and C-pillars, wheel arches, and door claddings. Its door handles were body-colored while the side mirrors were two-toned — sharing both the body paint and black appliques.

Its rear had lights that echoed the design of the ones found at its fore. It also packed a discreet spoiler as well as a solid-looking rear bumper.

On the other hand, the updated Toyota Corolla Cross gets a modern fascia with a mesh-like grille and hexagonal outlines that blend into its smooth, seamless front end. That said, the thick lines that once acted as a border to the top lattice are now gone. It also now gets faux vents inserted into its cheeks.

The same horizontal grille that covers the lower part of the radiator is retained. So are most of the SUV-inspired features that adorn the side profile of the crossover.

Not much has changed on the rear as the latest iteration of the Toyota Corolla Cross still packs an inconspicuous spoiler, thin and stylish taillamps, as well as chunky bumpers with reflectors on each side.

Cabin

Depending on the variant, the old Toyota Corolla Cross could be had with a polyurethane or leather steering wheel, analog and digital gauges, as well as a seven- or eight-inch infotainment system.

The new Toyota Corolla Cross now gets a leather steering wheel across the board, better-looking instrument panels, and a larger 10-inch infotainment system now with wireless Apple Carplay and wireless Android Auto.

Also included in the newest version of the crossover is a wireless charger.

The foot-operated parking brake is now gone and has been replaced by an electronic one found on the center console.

Powertrain

Arguably the major upgrade Toyota gave the Corolla Cross is an all-hybrid powertrain setup.

Like we briefly covered earlier, the nameplate no longer has pure ICE powertrains which were once available in the outgoing models.

The old Toyota Corolla Cross had a non-hybrid version that packed a 1.8-liter gasoline powerplant that made 138 horsepower with 172 Newton-meters (Nm) of torque.

And while the recently launched iteration of the Toyota Corolla Cross has a similarly-sized gasoline mill, it now gets a boost from an electric motor that can make drivers more fuel efficient.

The new Toyota Corolla Cross makes a combined power output of 120 horses with 142 Nm of pulling power.

Conclusion

The new Toyota Corolla Cross enjoyed major updates spanning the crossover’s exterior, interior, and powertrain. The carmaker’s decision to drop the ICE-only setup in exchange for a hybrid-exclusive powertrain is a step in the right direction as many car buyers now consider their vehicle’s fuel economy as well as its effect on the environment.

With our country’s automotive scene slowly being crowded by Chinese electric car brands, the all-hybrid Toyota Corolla Cross could help the local wing of the Japanese brand maintain its foothold in the evolving Philippine auto industry.

The new Toyota Corolla Cross is available in three variants and is priced from P1.498 million to 1.917 million.

Photos from Toyota Motor Philippines and Jirehl Kent Flores

Also read:

Toyota Motor PH updates Corolla Cross to an all-hybrid lineup

Here are the new Toyota Corolla Cross variants