2023 Toyota Corolla Cross review: Full range detailed

The Toyota Corolla Cross should have been one of the simplest decisions for Toyota's product team.

Yet, it took the Japanese giant until October 2022 to bring this lifted and restyled Corolla to Australia’s SUV-hungry shores.

And the wait has been worth it. The Corolla Cross may not be the most exciting new launch for enthusiasts, but it’s a small SUV that has repeatedly shown its dominance in regular group tests and against its rivals at Wheels Car of the Year 2023.

Of course, the quirky C-HR hung around as Toyota’s small SUV of choice, but that is a vehicle focused more on coupe-like style than practicality, so it doesn’t offer comparable cabin space to the new Corolla Cross.

The Corolla hatch has likewise become less practical in its current generation, making the Corolla Cross the obvious choice for those needing more room, with nearly as much interior space as the medium-sized RAV4 on a footprint not far from the Corolla sedan. It’s built on the same TNGA platform and has a similar engine range to the familiar non-lifted Corolla.

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JUMP AHEAD

• Pricing
• What body styles are available for the Corolla Cross?
• What features are standard in every Corolla Cross?
• What key features do I get if I spend more?
• How safe is the Corolla Cross?
• How comfortable & practical is the Corolla Cross?
• How much boot space does the Corolla Cross offer?
• I like driving, will I enjoy this car?
• Which Corolla Cross engine uses the least fuel?
• What is the Corolla Cross’s towing capacity?
• How long is the warranty & what are the Corolla Cross's servicing costs?
• Which version of the Corolla Cross does Wheels recommend?
• What are the Corolla Cross’s key rivals?
• What might annoy me?
• What might I miss that similar cars have?
• What’s the infotainment system like?
• Where does Toyota make the Corolla Cross?
• Are there plans to update the Corolla Cross soon?

Pricing

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What body styles are available for the Toyota Corolla Cross?

The Toyota Corolla Cross is a five-door, five-seat small SUV.

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What features are standard in every Toyota Corolla Cross?

The features listed below are standard in the entry-level model and will appear in higher-grade models unless replaced by more premium equivalent features.

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What key features do I get if I spend more?

Walking up through the range brings higher-class upholstery, more connectivity features, and larger touchscreens.

It’s also worth noting the significant differences between the powertrains – the AWD GXL and Atmos, for example, are the only variants fitted with independent rear suspension.

The mid-spec GXL adds:

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As a luxurious range-topper, the sunroof-equipped Atmos also gets:

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How safe is the Toyota Corolla Cross?

The Toyota Corolla Cross has been rated five stars by ANCAP under the 2022 testing protocol.

Expected safety features such as eight airbags, ABS and ESC are supplemented by a raft of relatively modern driver assistance aids.

If there’s one nail in the Corolla Cross hybrid, it’s an ABS tune that triggers too soon and impedes confidence on wet and bumpy surfaces.

The GXL and Atmos are both equipped with 360-degree camera systems, and the Atmos has the ability to show a higher-quality picture and predict objects beneath the vehicle.

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How comfortable and practical is the Toyota Corolla Cross?

The Corolla Cross’s cabin is a dreary affair; montaged grey and black plastics leave it bereft of any colour.

You’ll find a more premium vibe in rivals such as the Mazda CX-30 and Honda HR-V but, that said, it is very functional and the plastics are hardwearing.

As with design, there isn’t much in the way of clever storage solutions in the Corolla Cross, though the basics are covered: cup holders, console bin with 12-volt socket, smartphone tray (that lacks wireless charging capability until you get to Atmos), decently sized glovebox and door pockets with sizeable bottle holders.

The GX leans into the unadorned Corolla Cross aesthetic with switch blanks and a polyurethane steering wheel that you could forgive the base model until you look at the $30K price tag – the Kia Seltos has a nicer cabin at this price.

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Impeccable assembly must be noted, as should the very comfortable manual-adjust chairs appointed in black cloth.

Although there’s no height adjustment for the passenger, even the base car gets welcome power in-out lumbar support.

Walking through to the GXL may bring more pleasant upholstery but the bargain basement headliner and switch blanks remain, making it hard to justify the $3750 upcharge, even if the 10.5-inch screen and dual-zone climate control are appreciated.

Although the Atmos gets ‘premium’ leather-accented upholstery (that certainly feels like vinyl), a power-adjustable driver’s seat and front seat heating to fill up the switch blanks, it falls short of the Nissan Qashqai in material quality.

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Adults will find more legroom than in a C-HR or Corolla hatch, though the Cross’s rear quarters are, as expected, short of a RAV4.

The Atmos adds a wireless phone charging pad, which isn’t rubberised so phones tend to slide off under brisk acceleration but at least helps bolster the sole USB-A port for front occupants and make wireless Apple CarPlay (Android Auto is wired) a neater experience.

Neat bottle holders are integrated into the rear doors, but with only one map pocket pouch and no centre armrest (even in the flagship Atmos), the Corolla Cross isn’t the most well-thought-out in the segment.

Oddly, contemporary USB-C ports are located in the rear cabin along with two rear air vents. Adults will find more legroom than in a C-HR or Corolla hatch, though the Cross’s rear quarters are, as expected, short of a RAV4.

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How much boot space does the Toyota Corolla Cross offer?

Cargo capacity ranges from 380L in the hybrid AWD Atmos model fitted with a tyre mobility kit, up to a generous 436L in petrol GX and GXL trims.

Clever features are minimal, with no net or shopping bag hooks, and only a little extra storage beneath the floor. The Corolla Cross may not have the most excellent boot, but it’s a hell of a lot better than the tiny Corolla hatchback.

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I like driving, will I enjoy this car?

Inspiring might not be the right word, but the Corolla Cross exhibits a level of polish and chassis fluidity (especially the AWD variants) rarely seen in this class.

This all starts with Toyota’s much-lauded global architecture, which has transformed the Japanese giant’s products across the board, and the Corolla Cross benefits from the underlying excellence.

Up front are MacPherson struts, and – unlike the Corolla hatch and sedan – out back is either a torsion beam in FWD models (that you can tell Toyota has worked hard to refine) or a multi-link independent set-up in the AWD hybrid.

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The result is a smooth and compliant ride around town and confidence in the country.

Handling may not be the defining yardstick of a small SUV, but a vehicle that balances great roadholding with comfort deserves praise.

Its steering system (2.7 turns lock-lock) aids enjoyment being light and easy around town but accurate enough in the country. The Corolla Cross is a cohesive drive, and almost surprisingly so given the mushy, granular brake feel seems to do everything it can to erode confidence.

As for engines, Toyota expects the base GX fitted with the 126kW/202Nm 2.0-litre petrol four-cylinder (revised with a new timing chain case, valve covers and slicker oil specified) to be the volume-seller. It’s an advanced four-cylinder but lags behind downsized turbo rivals in mid-range punch. The automatic continuously variable transmission (CVT) also holds the engine's RPMs high under heavy acceleration.

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It is worth spending an extra $2500 on the front-drive hybrid if you can.

The extra punch of the electric motor raises output to 146kW (Toyota doesn’t list combined torque), equalling a 2.0-litre turbo Volkswagen T-Roc 140TSI.

The latest hybrid tech packs a lithium-ion battery and promises a sportier, more responsive drive. There are three drive modes: Eco, Normal and Power, with the latter sharpening throttle response and subtly increasing steering weight for a more athletic feel.

Another $3000 for the AWD, though, is harder to justify. In Atmos trim, the multi-link rear end helps polish the bump-thump introduced by its 18-inch alloys, but the GX and GXL’s squishy Bridgestones don’t need the extra sophistication. There’s no extra power on paper, either, despite the 30kW electric motor on board.

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Which Toyota Corolla Cross engine uses the least fuel?

The front-wheel drive Corolla Cross hybrid uses the least fuel on the ADR 81/02 combined cycle, averaging 4.3L/100km.

While we haven’t managed to match this exactly in testing, the Corolla Cross FWD hybrid got closer to its official figures than most cars do, returning repeatable stints in the 4-5L/100km range.

Every Corolla Cross will accept 91 RON or E10 unleaded petrol.

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What is the Toyota Corolla Cross’s towing capacity?

None can tow more than 750kg, braked on unbraked.

The 2.0-litre petrol variants can only tow 725kg (GX, GXL) and 735kg (Atmos) unbraked.

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How long is the warranty and what are the Toyota Corolla Cross’s servicing costs?

The Toyota Corolla Cross is backed by a five-year/unlimited-kilometre warranty. Keeping your servicing up to date at a Toyota dealer will see this extended to eight years for the hybrid powertrains.

Servicing is due every 12 months or 15,000km – whichever comes first – and with visits capped at $230 each for the first five years, a scant $1150 is needed to keep your Corolla Cross service book stamped up.

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Which version of the Toyota Corolla Cross does Wheels recommend?

It’s a tricky conundrum, as there are benefits and drawbacks to each model.

If you’ve got money burning a hole in your pocket then an Atmos AWD feels fully-featured owing to its cabin-lifting light headliner, filled-in switches and power-adjustable driver’s seat. But, at more than $50K on the road, it’d be hard to walk past a RAV4 Cruiser and into a Corolla Cross.

The GXL is, truly, all most will need but it’s odd how obvious Toyota made the mid-spec’s omissions. It’s a struggle, and this is probably why Toyota expects the pared-back GX to be its volume seller.

Despite its shortcomings, the GX hybrid FWD is the best value Corolla Cross you can get – it’s a solid runabout and you needn’t spend much more on a Corolla Cross.

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What are the Toyota Corolla Cross’s key rivals?

• Mitsubishi ASX
• Nissan Qashqai
• Hyundai Kona
• Kia Seltos
• Mazda CX-30
• Honda HR-V
• Kia Niro
• Subaru XV
• Skoda Kamiq
• Volkswagen T-Roc
• Chery Omoda 5
• MG ZST

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What might annoy me?

The Corolla Cross is an inoffensive vehicle for most and therefore isn’t likely to cause major dramas during ownership.

We have found some grievances, though.

Its brake pedal feel makes this a tricky car to drive smoothly at low speeds, and the hybrid’s excessive ABS intrusion can be alarming. It also seems cheap of Toyota not to offer the multi-link suspension on the front-drive Cross variants – the Japanese giant does it for the Corolla hatch and sedan, so why not the Cross?

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What might I miss that similar cars have?

Mostly in the boot.

As much of a step up as the Corolla Cross is for practicality over a Yaris Cross or Corolla hatch, next to rivals with such niceties as...

• The Volkswagen T-Roc’s adjustable rear bench
• The Skoda Kamiq’s clever nets and interior solutions
• The Nissan Qashqai’s 'divide-n-hide' boot storage system

...the Corolla Cross lacks packaging punch.

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What’s the infotainment system like?

The Corolla Cross debuted Toyota’s new-look infotainment system in Australia.

The base car gets an 8.0-inch screen with wireless Apple CarPlay and wired Android Auto, while the GXL and Atmos get a 10.5-inch unit with in-built navigation with live traffic.

Its interface presents better than before, but the colours are still washed-out compared to high-contrast rivals. The boot-up time has also been drawn out, the Atmos taking 20-22 seconds to become responsive.

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Along with the new multimedia system comes a 12-month subscription to Toyota Connect – a phone app that offers remote control features as well as telematics that can automatically call emergency services if needed when things go awry.

However, Toyota will charge you $9.95/month after the first year for the basic package, while the more involved telematics service including send-to-car navigation directions and theft tracking is $12.50/month on top of that.

It's worth noting that Kia and Hyundai offer their connected services free for the duration of their warranty periods, but neither has defined a post-warranty pricing plan yet.

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Where does Toyota make the Corolla Cross?

The Toyota Corolla Cross is built in multiple configurations for different countries – including in close-to-home Thailand – but all Australia-bound examples originate in Japan.

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Are there plans to update the Corolla Cross soon?

As the Corolla Cross is new to the market and launched with the brand’s newest telematics features, expect it to hang around for a little while yet. We’d wager two-four years before a significant facelift comes along.

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