The 2023 Toyota Corolla Cross has been officially launched in Australia, and it's about to send customers looking for one in a bit of a spin – there's eight different variants, a choice of two-wheel drive or all-wheel drive, and a selection between pure-petrol and hybrid powertrains.

No matter the variants, the base car itself is already pretty nicely equipped. All variants are powered by a 2.0-litre, naturally-aspirated Dynamic Force engine. The M20A-FKS in the pure-petrol variants make 169 PS / 201 Nm, while the hybrid's M20A-FXS has a combined system output of 196 PS / 190 Nm.

Also read: Review: New 2022 Toyota Camry – how the Dynamic Force and 8AT combo changes the car?

Claimed fuel consumption is 6 litres/100 km for the petrol variants, while the hybrid slashes that to 4.3 litres/100 km. Regardless of trim levels – GX, GXL, range-topping Atmos – customers can choose between front-wheel drive (FWD) and all-wheel drive (AWD) drivetrains.

Basic specs across the board includes an electric parking brake (EPB) with auto brake hold, 17-inch wheels (really cool 18-inch units on pricier variants though), as well as LED head- and tail lights with different light signatures compared to ours.

Also read: Honda HR-V e:HEV RS is a better buy? Toyota Corolla Cross Hybrid asks buyers to compare warranty coverage

Dual-zone automatic air-conditioning is available on all but the base variant, while the top trims also benefit from 8-way power-adjustable seats with heating function, as well as a rear arm rest. Toyota Australia throws in a panoramic moonroof as well, though that's exclusive to the Atmos trim.

Fabric upholstery makes up the GX's interior trims, while buyers of the GXL and Atmos will get leather accents in their cabin. A 7-inch semi-digital instrument cluster is standard; higher end variants score a 12-inch full-digital speedo.

Also read: Review: Toyota Corolla Cross Hybrid - Come on HR-V, give it your best shot

Infotainment is handled by a 6-speaker setup on the GX and GXL grades, while the Atmos gains a JBL 9-speaker system. The basic infotainment touchscreen in 8-inch wide, and the 10.5-inch unit is reserved for the mid-grade cars and above.

Shouldn't matter too much anyway, as wireless Apple CarPlay and wired Android Auto is bundled for all.

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

Standard Toyota Safety Sense (TSS) equipment atop the 8 airbags include:

• All-speed Active Cruise Control with curve speed reduction
• Lane Departure Alert with steering assist
• Lane Change Assist
• Autonomous emergency braking with pedestrian and daytime cyclist detection
• Road Sign Assist
• Automatic High Beam
• Blind spot assist with rear-cross traffic alert

Active parking assist and a surround-view camera are further add-ons to the GXL and Atmos variants.

Prices for the Corolla Cross range in Australia range from AUD 33,000 (~RM 97,000) to AUD 49,050 (~ RM 144,176), fully imported from Japan (CBU).