Toyota Corolla Cross: strengths and weaknesses

The Toyota Corolla Cross is one of the more popular crossover nameplates sold by Toyota Motor Philippines. Since its introduction to the market back in 2020, the model has become a common sight on local roads  - a testament to its status as a market-mover for the Japanese marque’s local arm. 

So, the question now is: what are the key strengths of the Corolla Cross that make it so popular? Also, does it have any weaknesses buyers should be aware of? Let’s find out here. 

Pros

Efficient hybrid powertrain

One notable characteristic of the Toyota Corolla Cross is its hybrid powertrain. It is touted to be efficient, which is a huge boon for folks using the Toyota nameplate as a daily driver inside huge urban sprawls like Davao City, Metro Cebu, and Metro Manila. At the same time, it can also do great as a long-legged highway cruiser for out-of-town trips. 

For reference, all three trims of the Philippine-spec Corolla Cross utilize a 1.8-liter inline-4 mill paired with a transaxle electric motor, a battery, and a continuously variable transmission (CVT). At maximum, the said system can produce a total of 120 horsepower and 142 Newton-meters (Nm) of torque. 

The Toyota-made compact crossover ensures ride quality and handling via its front MacPherson strut and rear torsion beam suspension systems. It also depends on front and rear discs for stopping power. 

Here is a table summarizing the engine outputs and other mechanical details of the Toyota Corolla Cross hybrid electric vehicle (HEV): 

Model	Toyota Corolla Cross
Engine	2ZR-FXE inline-4
Displacement	1.8-liters
Fuel type	Gasoline
Drivetrain	Front-wheel-drive
Transmission	CVT
Horsepower	96
Torque	142 Nm
Total system horsepower output	120
Front suspension	MacPherson strut
Rear suspension	Torsion beam
Brakes	Front and rear discs

Loads of creature comforts

As a model designed to make daily driving a breeze, the Toyota Corolla Cross was fitted with plenty of comfort-oriented features. 

For starters, everyone inside the five-seater model is kept cool by a dual-zone automatic climate control system. It also comes with leather upholstery, a decent amount of USB charging ports, a power tailgate, a front center armrest, and a lot of cup/bottle holders. 

Positioned on the dash of the Corolla Cross is a 10-inch infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The said screen is linked to a six-piece speaker system, and users also have access to a wireless smartphone charging pad. 

Additionally, the model provides its drivers with a lot of tools to make driving convenient and easy. It has a push-to-start button, a 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster, an electronic parking brake, an electrochromic rearview mirror, steering-wheel-mounted controls, a power-adjustable driver’s seat, a drive mode selector, and a leather-wrapped steering wheel - among others. 

Exclusive to the top-spec GR-S variant is a panoramic moonroof, which can serve to hype up the mood when going on out-of-town adventures. Plus, the model has a default trunk space of 433 liters, which is more than enough for several travel bags. 

If the default trunk isn’t enough, the vehicle’s rear seats also have a 60:40 split-folding functionality. Plus, the top-spec Corolla Cross GR-S trim comes with a pair of roof rails, which is suitable for a roof rack or a roof cargo box. 

Brimming with safety gear

Would-be adopters will also be glad to know that the Toyota Corolla Cross is well-equipped when it comes to safety. 

For its basic kit, it has anti-lock braking, stability control, a 360-degree view camera, front and rear parking sensors, and seven airbags. 

The aforementioned are also reinforced by an array of advanced driver-assist systems. The suite is collectively known as the Toyota Safety Sense, and it consists of the following: 

• Dynamic radar cruise control
• Lane trace assist
• Lane departure alert
• Automatic high beams
• Pre-collision system
• Blind-spot monitoring

Cons

Not the sportiest crossover in its segment

While the top-spec Toyota Corolla Cross has GR-S exterior bits and GR-S suspension systems, buyers should note that it isn’t the peppiest model in its segment. 

Remember, it only has a peak engine power output of 120 hp. As such, it can be outpaced by the likes of the 134-hp Nissan Kicks e-Power, the 214-hp BYD Sealion 6 DM-i, and the 162-hp Mazda CX-30. 

On the one hand, the Toyota nameplate still has enough oomph for highway cruising and the occasional overtaking maneuver.

Final thoughts

To sum it all up, the Toyota Corolla Cross returns good value for its price, ranging from P1.514 million-P1.943 million. Sure, the model isn’t the peppiest in the segment, but many will like the ride for its abundance of safety equipment and creature comforts. 

Serious folks who are in the market for a crossover, however, should not take our word for it. So, instead, we urge you to give the Corolla Cross and its rivals a test drive first. Doing so, after all, will make for a more informed purchase in the end. 

Also read: 

Cabin check: here’s what’s inside the Toyota Corolla Cross

Toyota Corolla Cross vs. the competition

Here are the PH-market Toyota Corolla Cross' colors