Toyota’s Corolla sedan needs no introduction. Every car buyer looking for an entry segment luxury sedan must have considered it once as an option. But what if I tell you that it has an SUV sibling?
The Japanese automaker has launched its Corolla Cross sub-compact SUV for the US market. The car is already on sale in ASEAN markets for a year and it will make its way to the states as a 2022 model in three trims – L, LE, and XLE. It will also be offered in the European market with a hybrid powertrain.
In terms of design, apart from the Corolla badge, the other similarities it shares with its sedan sibling consists of the frowny-faced grille and the long, thin taillights. But, that’s it. The rest of the body is new and has its own unique stance. On the front, there are re-shaped standard LED headlights. The taller stance of the SUV is complemented by black plastic body cladding. The rest of the elements have also been developed to fit all the requirements to compete in the segment. It got 17-inch steel wheels as standard on the base L trim, while the top-trim XLE comes with 18-inch alloys. Toyota didn’t specify what kind of wheels the mid-spec LE will wear. (No, it won’t get a pair each from its trim twins.)
The SUV body comes with other perks, like the Corolla badge now has an optional all-wheel-drive system. The US-spec model features a 2.0-litre engine, capable of producing 169 bhp and 203 Nm of peak torque. The power source is linked to a CVT gearbox along with either a front-wheel-drive or an all-wheel-drive system.
Inside the Corolla Cross, the spacious cabin of the Corolla Cross shares many similarities with its sedan and hatchback siblings. The dashboard is almost identical except for the readjusted centre console. The all-new model comes with a power moonroof, as well as either single- or dual-zone automatic climate control. There are standard heating and air conditioning vents for rear-seat passengers. The front seats are 10-way power-adjustable and have heated functionality. All trims receive 60/40-split folding rear seats and unlike the sedan, the Cross comes fitted with a power liftgate. Another advantage over its non-SUV variants is that the Corolla Cross is capable of towing up to 1,500 lbs (680 Kg).
On the tech front, the Japanese automaker loaded the Cross with all the standard advanced features one can expect from the segment. There’s a 7-inch Multi-Information Display with a digital instrumentation layout in place of a traditional gauge cluster. The 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system comes with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto as standard. The LE and XLE trims also come with two USB charging ports for the rear seat passengers. The cabin is complemented with a nine-speaker JBL audio system, as well.
For safety, all trims of the SUV are equipped with Toyota Safety Sense suite of advanced active safety systems. This should include forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, adaptive cruise control, lane departure warning, lane-keeping assist and automatic high beams. LE and XLE variants also get blind-spot monitoring, while XLE models get parking sensors, too. There’s also a nine airbags setup inside the cabin.
Toyota has not revealed the pricing details or the sale schedule of the 2022 Toyota Corolla Cross in the US yet. But expect it to be announced in the coming weeks. Talking of an India launch, the automaker is currently playing it safe with a rebadged Maruti Suzuki Vitara Breeza, rechristened as Toyota Urban Cruiser.
