Which is the better choice: Toyota Corolla Cross or Yaris Cross?

Toyota Motor Philippines (TMP) recently fortified its electrified offerings with the introduction of the Corolla Cross. Now only available with a hybrid electric power plant, it looks to appeal to car buyers who are looking to switch to a more sustainable means of moving around.

But the Toyota Corolla Cross isn’t the only hybrid crossover in the carmaker’s Philippine stable. The Yaris Cross — which came out sometime last year — is also a solid choice.

Interested to see which of the two nameplates is the better choice? Join us till the end of the article to find out.

Size

When it comes to size, the Toyota Corolla Cross appears to be the bigger crossover. It has an overall length of 4,460 millimeters (mm), an overall width of 1,825 mm, and an overall height of 1,620 mm. It also boasts a wheelbase of 2,640 mm which would translate to a better ride quality given that it can clear potholes and speed bumps quite gracefully.

As for the Toyota Yaris Cross, it is only 4,310 mm long, 1,770 mm wide, and 1,615 mm tall. On that note, its wheelbase is only 2,620 mm. Nevertheless, ride comfort is still acceptable, especially when compared to other crossovers in the segment.

Overall, the Toyota Corolla Cross’ slightly larger size makes it a more appealing choice for car buyers since it offers better road presence and a longer wheelbase.

Exterior

On the outside, the Toyota Yaris Cross looks more modern thanks to the new fascia worn by the crossover after its most recent update. At its front is a mesh-like grille with sleek hexagonal outlines seamlessly blending into its smooth facade. Flanking the latticework are slim headlamps that incorporate sequential turn signals.

Also impressive are its sport utility vehicle-like appointments on the side including blacked-out overfenders, door claddings, and accent on the side mirrors. It also sports chrome window surrounds that give the Toyota Corolla Cross a dash of luxury.

The rear packs a discreet spoiler, two narrow taillamps, and a chunky rear bumper with reflectors on each side.

As for the Toyota Yaris Cross, its front end boasts an aggressive appeal thanks to its powerful-looking grille with a mesh-like design that sits right below its chiseled hood. Just below it is a lower trellis with horizontal bars with larger openings.

Lights that are angular in shape border the said grillework while fog lamps are housed inside the slight indentation on the crossover’s cheeks.

The side profile of the Toyota Yaris Cross is also athletic with the right dose of straight lights and sharp angles. Matte black wheel arches, window borders, and door claddings further accentuate the crossover’s sporty nature.

Its rear end is a little squarish compared to the Toyota Corolla Cross. A roof-mounted spoiler sits at the top of the rear glass while decent-sized angular taillights line the midsection of the crossover’s tail end. It has a black rear bumper with decorative faux spoilers and reflectors on each side.

The bigger Toyota Corolla Cross looks more modern and stylish while the slightly smaller Yaris Cross has a lower profile and sportier looks. With both hybrid crossovers tapping on different styles and designs while still maintaining a classy, clean look, we’re forced to call this round a tie.

Interior

Inside, the Toyota Corolla Cross wows with its modern cabin. Welcoming the driver upon opening the door are leather seats, a leather-wrapped multi-functional steering wheel, a shifter with leather trims, and a dashboard that looks dashingly dapper.

Screen-wise, the mid-range Toyota Corolla Cross gets a seven-inch thin-film transistor (TFT) multi-information display (MID) and a 10-inch touchscreen infotainment unit with wireless Apple Carplay, wireless Android Auto, and Bluetooth connections.

Other notable features of the Toyota Corolla Cross include a wireless charging pad and an automatic dual-zone air conditioning system.

Standing its ground, the Toyota Yaris Cross offers its owners synthetic leather seats, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, a shifter with a leather boot, and a dashboard swathed in a material that’s soft to the touch.

The aggressiveness and driver-centric design can also be seen inside the Toyota Yaris Cross since its cabin is filled with angles that add character to the cockpit of the crossover.

It also has modern amenities like a seven-inch TFT MID, and a slightly larger 10.1-inch touchscreen infotainment display, also with wireless Apple Carplay, wireless Android Auto, and Bluetooth connectivity.

To keep the occupants of the small cabin cool, the Toyota Yaris Cross gets a single-zone automatic A/C. It also gets a wireless charger.

Still neck and neck and leaving very little space for either to take a lead, we will again call this round a tie.

Engine

Under the hood of the Toyota Corolla Cross is a 1.8-liter gasoline engine paired with an electric motor. Producing approximately 120 horsepower and 142 Newton-meters (Nm) combined, the said setup is mated to a continuously variable transmission (CVT).

The Toyota Yaris Cross, on the other hand, packs a 1.5-liter gasoline mill — also with an electric motor. In unison, the said combination dishes out some 109 horses with 121 Nm of pulling power. Like the abovementioned Corolla Cross, the Yaris Cross also uses a CVT.

When it comes to the maximum power produced by the crossovers, the clear winner is the Toyota Corolla Cross. With that being said, we give the newer model this round.

Safety

The Toyota Corolla Cross is equipped with a host of passive and active safety features.

Standard ones like vehicle stability control, electronic brake-force distribution, an anti-lock brake system (ABS), an emergency brake signal, as well as parking sensors are handy features. However, Toyota tops it all off by giving the mid-variant model technologies blind spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and the Toyota Safety Sense (TSS) suite of safety features, which comes with a pre-collision system, automatic high beam, lane tracing assist, lane departure control, and cruise control.

The Toyota Yaris Cross gets some solid safety technologies too like hill start assist, vehicle stability control, ABS, an emergency brake signal, and the abovementioned TSS.

With almost similar safety features, we will call this round a tie.

Variants and pricing

Toyota Corolla Cross

• Corolla Cross G – P1.498 million
• Corolla Cross V – P1.763 million
• Corolla Cross GR-S – P1.917 million

Toyota Yaris Cross

• Yaris Cross G – P1.199 million
• Yaris Cross V – P1.296 million
• Yaris Cross HEV – P1.598 million

Conclusion

The Toyota Corolla Cross slightly edges over the Yaris Cross due to its more powerful setup. The former is also slightly larger than the latter making it a more imposing car to drive.

Nevertheless, the Toyota Yaris Cross is still a good choice as it has a slightly lower price tag than the Corolla Cross.

Photos from Toyota Motor Philippines

Also read:

All-new Toyota Land Cruiser 250 Series launches in Japan, gets limited First Edition models

Toyota-backed Filipino athletes to compete at Olympic, Paralympic Paris 2024

Toyota PH recalls select LC300 units for possible faulty automatic transmission ECU