Review: Toyota Corolla Cross 1.8 V - HR-V contender brings value to the masses, but the cabin...

Take a peek at its spec sheet and you already know that power, speed, and athleticism are definitely not things the 2022 Toyota Corolla Cross stands for. But like the Filet-O-Fish – a burger nobody buys for its size – Malaysia’s nouveau fast-favourite SUV’s talents lie elsewhere, if only marred by a few oversights.

Please note however that our test car is from the early batch of fully-imported (CBU Thailand) cars. Aside from roof rails, there are no major differences between these and the subsequent, currently-sold locally-assembled variants.

Exterior – Looks great, not cheap

Well it's still a Corolla, so a largely non-divisive styling is what it inherts from its sedan and hatchback brethren. It's not cut out to be memorable, but the slight RAV4 cues combined with its own neat little touches here and there add a little zest to the Corolla Cross' visual appeal.

Hints of its pricier stablemate appear in the Corolla Cross' sharp, squat stance, but it differentiates itself with smoother lines and slimmer LED (standard on all variants) headlights.

Also read: Review: 2020 Toyota RAV4 2.5 – The perfect car for humble rich people

You've got four colours to choose from, and I think this Red Mica Metallic works well enough to highlight the exterior.

Interior – Designed by accountants

Put simply, this isn't the cabin you're looking for if you want something evocative. Everything here looks to be penned by the accountants instead of the actual designers, but that can be a plus point depending on how you look at it.

Toyota still appreciates that simple, physical controls are easier to move than featureless glass, so all of the air-cond controls are alterable by two rotating knobs and clicky buttons. They're well-executed and easy to remember, which is always a plus point for safe driving.

There’s also no monkeying around needed to work the adaptive cruise control, nothing hidden behind funny design choices, and whatever you need is clearly, cleanly legible.

Also read: There should be a Steering Wheel Appreciation Day, and here's why

That much is classic Toyota, and so is the great build quality and materials used; standard-issue leather steering wheel, gear knob, and seats are very nice to have. Pressing on the different parts of the interior doesn’t elicit weird squeaks or rattles, a good sign that the Corolla Cross can withstand curious little hands.

For a car that's larger than a sedan though, it does lack storage spaces. More cubby spaces - larger spaces on the door cards, and small nooks by the window controls and dashboard - would've been welcomed so loose items wouldn't eat too much into the already small spaces throughout.

And only one seatback pocket? Come on...

Meanwhile, the 9-inch media/navigation display up top is still rather off the pace. The glassy screen can be slow to react, and it often loads slow when asked to multitask. Clarity is subpar, but there's a bigger issue...

Also read: Malaysia vs Japan – See how the Toyota Corolla Cross stacks up against one another

By far the biggest annoyance is the self-activating turning cameras. At speeds below 20 km/h it engages the camera on whichever side the indicators are on (a bit like Honda's LaneWatch), but this isn't helpful because activation of the camera overrides navigation via Android Auto or Apple CarPlay.

At least with LaneWatch, you can turn it off by pressing a button by the indicator stalk, and the headunit is quick to respond.

Cabin space – Adequate, not large

Slipping into the Corolla Cross is effortless, thanks to a hip point that's just nice for easy entry and exit. Front seats are the best you can get for the money; plush, ergonomic, and provides comfort that punches above its segment.

Also read: Pros and Cons: Almost perfect, the Toyota Corolla Cross Hybrid is why good is good enough

The back seats offer plenty of headroom but it's not huge in terms of legroom – adequate rather than large. Three will easily seat across the bench, and though the two-stage reclining rear seats are a nice touch, the back never feels quite as comfortable as the plush front.

Our handy-dandy performance tennis balls say there's just about space for 2 each for headroom and legroom.

Its 440-litre bootspace is one of the largest-in-class, but numbers are only one half of the story. The power-operated tailgate opens wide and low enough, which is very practical.

Also read: Half the Harrier's price, is the Toyota Corolla Cross only half as good, or better?

The 60:40 split-folding rear seats can only fold flat downwards, allowing for longer items to squeeze in. Far from the biggest, nor the best (that always goes to the Honda HR-V's Ultra Seats), but it's better than nothing.

Driving Performance – Comfortably familiar

But here's where the Corolla Cross warm familiarity comes into play: a reliable, smooth powertrain. Like a bite off your favourite comfort food, the gentle characteristics of this 1.8-litre Dual VVTi engine is always a welcome feeling.

The 2ZR-FE has been around long enough for Toyota to iron out most of its kinks by this point (first introduced in 2006, replacing the 1ZZ-FE). Plus, its simple nature appeals to buyers who are still pretty hesitant towards turbocharged or even electrified powertrains, which is a plus point if you swing that way.

Also read: UMWT: Toyota Corolla Cross Hybrid to have strong resale value, 40% buyers expected to pick hybrid

Output figures won’t set your hair alight (139 PS and 172 Nm) nor will the 12.11 second 0-100 km/h sprint time, but that’s not what this car stands for. The experience behind the pedals prioritise smoothness over anything else, aided by a finely-tuned CVT.

At the same time braking is commendable too, taking 42.16 meters to stop from 100 km/h. Pedal feel is easy to modulate and gives you enough confidence even at higher speeds, but some might find it to be a little bit mushy.

Small issues pertain on its adaptive cruise control (DRCC) function. On highway drives it brakes too hard and too late, and when the car in front pulls away or moves over, it takes a long time to accelerate back to its preset speed - a problem hardly found on Honda Sensing-equipped models.

Also read: From foggy roads to congested cities, Honda Civic’s Sensing is one of the best

That, and while Toyota says its DRCC is all-speed (meaning it can be used in traffic jams and brake the car to a halt), this isn't very accurate because it doesn't have an electric parking brake (EPB). It will come to a complete stop, but the lack of EPB means it isn't able to resume moving on its own.

Beyond that, using the Toyota Safety Sense (TSS) advanced driver assistance functions is a relatively fuss-free affair, if only bested by the sharpness of the Honda Sensing array.

Ride comfort – Supple, punches above its class

Underpinned by the Toyota New Global Architecture (TNGA), the Corolla Cross is a pleasantly surprising car in the way it drives. With an organic, dynamic steering feel aided by a supple-yet-supportive suspension, it handles well enough for a family car – there's a certain air of tethered calmness to it that makes it so reassuring.

Also read: Toyota Corolla Altis'TNGA platform, what is it and does it make any difference?

Whichever way its sliced comfort is right up there with the best. Part of it is down to the fantastic front seats; the other through the suspension setup. Yes, it has a torsion beam at the rear, but nobody ever said these can't be comfortable, and the Corolla Cross proves it so.

Sound insulation at 110 km/h is more than acceptable for this price range, reading in at 66 dB. Most of the wind noise is most apparent through the B-pillar, and tyre roar hurts this number a bit.

Conclusion – Malaysia's current SUV king, but...

The Toyota Corolla Cross has one of the broadest repertoires of any SUV on sale now. It's sized just right to fit a growing family yet still not be difficult to park, has the tech it needs to keep up with pricier European rivals, and thankfully doesn't drive like a tepid bowl of porridge.

From RM 129,000 (SST-free until 30-June 2022), the 1.8V variant does us just fine. Its engine and transmission are excellent, and indoors is a pretty nice place to be in, though you will have to tolerate the poor infotainment and lack of cubby spaces.

Also read: Here are the post-SST prices for Toyota Corolla Cross – circa RM 3k – RM 5k increase

So, it's a pretty solid package then. This and the Hybrid variant (worth checking out, you'll get extra toys and better fuel economy for not much more money above the 1.8 V) should be able to hold its own for just a bit more, until a certain contender arrives...

Also read: All-new 2022 Honda HR-V open for booking! Launch set in Q3, 1.5 e:HEV, Honda Sensing