2020 Toyota Corolla Cross debuts, coming to Malaysia – 1.8L Hybrid, full ADAS

The first-ever Toyota Corolla Cross has made its global debut in Thailand. All preliminary speculations of Toyota’s latest C-segment SUV have all turned out to be correct, except for its price. More on that later.

Toyota has confirmed that the Corolla Cross is built on the Toyota Corolla Altis’ (and C-HR’s) TNGA-C platform, but with a different rear suspension. While the Corolla Altis/C-HR uses a more complex double wishbone setup for superior ride and handling, the Corolla Cross uses a simpler, more space efficient torsion beam setup.

The result? The Corolla Cross has a 487-litre boot (with tyre repair kit, 440 litres when equipped with space-saver spare wheel) – either way, it’s the biggest in its class. For comparison, the Honda HR-V (regular petrol variants) has 437-litre boot (with space saver spare wheel).

Two engine options are available, both 1.8-litre. The range topping Hybrid variants (THB 1,019,000 - THB 1,199,000) uses a 1.8-litre 2ZR-FXE THS II that’s shared with the Corolla Hybrid, C-HR Hybrid and Prius.

It has a combined output of 122 PS.  The 98 PS/142 Nm engine is aided by a 72 PS/163 Nm electric motor, but since both power sources peak at different rotational speeds, the combined output is slightly less than the arithmetic sum. Power is transferred to the front wheels via an E-CVT.

Claimed fuel consumption for the hybrid model is 23.3 km/litre (4.3-litre/100 km).

The regular variant 1.8-litre petrol (THB 989,000) uses a Dual VVT-i 2ZR-FBE shared with the Corolla Altis and C-HR. It makes 140 PS at 6,000 rpm and 177 Nm at 4,000 rpm. Drive is transferred to the front wheels via the familiar Super CVT-i.

Claimed fuel consumption is 15.4 km/litre (6.5-litre/100 km).

Like the Corolla Altis, the list of features on the Corolla Cross is quite high. Higher range variants come with the full suite of ADAS (Toyota Safety Sense) – blind spot monitor, rear cross traffic alert, pre-collision safety system, lane departure alert with steering assist, adaptive cruise control with lane tracing assist, automatic high beam.

There’s also a 360-degree parking camera, plus the usual 7 airbags and electronic stability control.

The 9-inch touch screen infotainment supports both Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. In Thailand, it also comes with the T-Connect vehicle telematics function. For Thailand, the car also comes with a sunroof (OK moonroof, if you insist).

The contactless power-operated boot opens and closes with a kicking gesture under the rear bumper (with Smart Key in the user’s pockets).  

Inside, there’s a dual-zone air-conditioning system, power adjusting front seats and rear air-conditioning vents. The 60:40 split folding rear seats can recline by up to 6 degrees. There are USB ports in the rear too.

Turning radius is a very tight 5.2-metre (all variants, 17-inch and 18-inch tyres), which Toyota says is class-leading. For comparison, the Honda HR-V, which uses similar size tyres, has a much wider turning radius - 5.7-metre for 17-inch wheels and 5.8-metre for 18-inch wheels.

Curiously, the Corolla Cross isn’t any cheaper than the controversially-styled C-HR. In Thailand, the Toyota C-HR is priced from THB 979,000 to THB 1,159,000. The more traditional looking Corolla Cross is priced from THB 989,000 to THB 1,199,000.    

The Toyota Corolla Cross will certainly be coming to Malaysia, probably by the end of this year. Prices and specifications however, has yet to be confirmed but UMW Toyota Motor have hinted that the model will locally-assembled, which also means that it will be cheaper than the imported from Thailand RM 150,000 Toyota C-HR.

At the moment, Toyota Motor Thailand's Gateway plant in the Chachoengsao province of Thailand is the world's only source for the Corolla Cross.