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Basic information of my car:

2021 Toyota Corolla Cross 1.8V (CBU)

Reasons why I bought this car

My family owned a Honda CR-V 1.5 TC-P. The Honda is really powerful and enjoyable to drive. However, it's ride is not comfortable and handling was mediocre. Another thing that turns me off was the flimsy buttons inside the cabin. One night while I tried to reverse, the gear knob button fell off and I couldn't operate the car. I was panicked and immediately posted an urgent post in Honda CR-V group in social media site. Fortunately, someone taught me how to switch the gear with the broken gear knob or else I might end up with calling a tow car in the middle of the night. So, I told myself that the next car I want is a reliable car.

Car selection process  

• I had a budget of: RM150,000
• Models that I have considered include: CX5
• Reasons why I chose this car:

I chose the Toyota Corolla Cross because of positive reviews regarding vehicle’s handling on TNGA platform. Also, the name Toyota is synonymous to reliability. Other criteria were the availability of Adaptive Cruise Control, as I used the feature a lot on highways.

User experience

• I have already done 8500 km.My average fuel consumption is 0.08L/km.

As expected, Toyota Corolla Cross (TCC) 's handling does not disappoint! The car is stable even at high speeds, and I am able to go through corners confidently which I was not able to do so with the more expensive Honda CR-V. What surprised me was how the rear suspension behaves while going over bumps. The supple damping is comparable to D segment cars which I have test drove before.

Going to the interior, the first thing that caught my attention was the black-colored roof lining, which I like it so much as it felt sporty and is something different than the usual white or beige color which I owned so far. The buttons on the steering wheel and center console feels solid with feel of texture on the buttons. In addition, there is blue ambient lighting around the front section, which makes the car feels like some other premium car. What surprised me though, was that the interior room light lights up gradually when the person holding the car key gets near, as if the car is welcoming it’s owner. It really gives me the feeling of warm welcome every time I approach the car in the night, which I think similar to Japan's "Omotenashi" culture.

As for the engine, the 1.8 NA engine feels responsive, though if I need more power, I have to rev it hard. Unlike turbo engines, the power could be felt once the rev is over 3500 RPM, and it can be very fast. The gear is a CVT unit and there is a simulated seven-speed manual mode. I felt that TCC's manual mode has a better simulation of conventional automatic compared to the Honda CR-V. In normal mode, the CVT and the engine feels smooth and refined. It is really pleasant to drive in a calm manner. Despite this, one thing which I found out with regard to the CVT was that even under normal mode, it will automatically simulate conventional automatic gear switch if the engine is revved over 3,500 RPM. This gives a little excitement to the drive.

NVH wise, the TCC is fitted with Michelin Primacy 4 tires and therefore road noise is acceptable in this price range. Driving the car in a calm manner, it is a serene place to be in if the speed is below 100km/h. Any speed higher than that, wind noise could be heard clearly from the B-pillars. Having said that, opting for a car with Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) really helps during highway cruising, though the ACC range of CBU units only work from 30KM/H and above. Therefore, driving under traffic jam could be tedious compared to cars with low-speed follow ACC.

Lane Keep Assist function is also present in TCC, where the system will direct the steering in the middle of the lane. However, I feel that Honda Sensing is executed more naturally in this case as the Lane Keep Assist function in the TCC would steer right and left indefinitely in order to maintain the car in the middle of the lane.

Nothing is perfect though, as the fuel-cap did not open fully after the lever is pulled and there was metal rattling noise in the dashboard since the first-day I collected the car. It was rectified by Toyota Service Center after leaving the car there for a week. So far, the rattling sound did not reoccur. In addition, despite equipped with Android Auto and Apple Carplay, the after-market-ish head unit's plastic is thin and makes unpleasant plastic rattling noise when there's vibration. I am yet to send it to Toyota SC to rectify the problem.

The biggest weakness though, from my personal point of view, is the tight interior space. I'm 183cm tall and the rear passenger space behind the driver seat will become cramped if the driver seat is adjusted to my height. Adding a child-seat would further compromise space available behind the seat. Hence, I think TCC may not be suitable for those who are looking for interior space.

Pros of my car:

• Great handling

• Responsive engine

• Comfortable seats and supple ride

• High level of engine and gear-box refinement

• Equipped with a host of driver assistant technologies

• Good value for money

Cons 

• Tight interior space.

• Head unit with flimsy plastic cover.

• Built quality was a bit lower than expected even it's CBU from Thailand.

• Foot-operated parking brake which feels old school. Even hand-brake is better from my personal opinion.

• The kick-sensor for boot opening feels like a gimmick as the successful rate is on the low side.

Ratings: 

Total Score: 3

Performance: 3

Quality & Features: 3

Space: 2

Ride Comfort: 4

Fuel Economy: 3

Price & Cost: 4

Summary :

I wanted a car which offers good reliability with latest driving assistance technology. The Toyota Corolla Cross fits my requirements and budget. The TNGA platform really lives-up to its name, offering both good handling and comfort at the same time. While there are some unexpected weaknesses, overall it is a good value for money car.

Interesting event:

On one very heavy rain day, my pants and shoes got wet. It felt freezing cold due to the wetness and I tried to increase the aircond temperature. To my surprised, heater function was activated beyond 28 degree celsius. It really helped me to survive the long and wet journey.

And finally, Graphite Metallic color became limited addition as it was discontinued in CKD.

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