The Toyota Corolla Cross that I drove last week was probably not as attractive as some of the recent new cars that I have tested, but like any good work-horse the new 1.8-litre version of the Cross proved to be very dependable SUV.
Toyota has been producing their popular Corolla since 1966. Since then, over 45 million units have been sold worldwide, making it the best-selling car in the world.
At the end of 2018 Toyota promised a ‘hybrid invasion’ and the Japanese company has kept their word. Every new car from Toyota is a self-charging hybrid.
The Corolla Cross is built on Toyota’s fifth generation hybrid technology, meaning even better efficiency and lower emissions. It’s is the final piece of Toyota’s SUV jigsaw, slotting in between the C-HR and the RAV4.
The Cross measures 4,460mm long and 1,825mm wide and it’s roughly between the Corolla hatchback and Touring Sports in terms of length, but is marginally wider to improve passenger space.
Toyota say that the Corolla Cross offers more than everyday practicality with plenty of room for five well-built adults and I certainly had no complaints from people I needed to give a lift to Dublin airport. A family bereavement meant a few extra trips on the M50 last week.
The car features the latest Toyota Smart Connect multimedia system, with high-definition graphics. It’s equipped with T-Mate, which combines the latest generation Toyota Safety Sense package.
My test car was a white Luna Sport version; last week it was sunny and the car glistened in the bright sunshine. Like most cars I have driven recently the dash is dominated by a huge infotainment screen, this time the size was 10.5-inch. There seems to be an unofficial race among car manufacturers to see who can provide the largest infotainment screen.
A fairly slim centre console enhances space for the front-seat occupants. Two deep cupholders are located behind the shift lever, while there is a large flat section ahead of that to accommodate a phone.
Under the central armrest is a cubby hole that is not very deep, but it has a 12-volt power socket which is useful as it has the annoying new USB charge points. The door pockets are slim, but they can hold water bottles and the glovebox is a decent size.
The Corolla Cross is only offered with hybrid powertrains on the Irish market, a 2.0-litre and a 1.8-litre which I drove last week. The latter is expected to be the most popular in the Irish market.
The last car I had it gave me a ‘beep’ if I exceeded the speed limit. This time round I got an aural warning if there was stationery traffic ahead. That meant a queue, which happens a lot in our capital city.
It’s a modern car with modern technology but with a nice few retro touches also. You get chunky buttons to adjust the air conditioning without taking your eye off the road. I used the slave controls on the steering wheel to adjust radio volume.
The Cross uses a relatively small drive battery, so the quoted all-electric range of approximately 60km is irrelevant. Instead the system dips in and out of electric power as it deems fit. A green icon lights up on the dashboard when it does this. Toyota says its hybrids can operate in EV mode for more than 60% of the time in slow traffic.
The boot is a decent size and it was re-assuring to have a proper spare wheel. A real luxury nowadays.
Prices start at €37,050 or €266 per month on PCP. The 2.0-litre version starts at €38,910. It was a joy to drive and travel in. Road tax is €190.
Every week I get comments from family and people that I meet in supermarket car parks asking about the cars I am driving. Last week it was pleasure to be able to say to people, this Corolla is the best-selling car in the world.
