Toyota Corolla Cross: Living with it

Toyota’s new Corolla Cross is already popular and, with its hybrid derivatives priced close to their petrol-only siblings, the model ushers in an era of affordable hybrid ownership. We spent a month with the 1.8 Hybrid XR to get to grips with it and find out what it does well… and less well. Ciro De Siena shares his findings.

As motoring journalists, we are privileged to drive, test and review many vehicles. However, we are rarely afforded the opportunity to “live” with a car. A longer test period can often reveal the quirks or inadequacies of a vehicle, or more positively, confirm that the model is one that we can confidently recommend. I recently spent 4 weeks with the much anticipated Toyota Corolla Cross 1.8 Hybrid XR.

If social media can be used as a measure of interest in a vehicle, the Toyota Corolla Cross was certainly a stand out addition to the market in 2021. With extremely attractive pricing, the offering is certainly attractive (at least at face value) – I have been inundated with requests to review this car.

I was fortunate to be supplied with the top-of-the-range 1.8 Hybrid XR derivative during the end-of-year break. And I think let’s begin by building an understanding of the drivetrain itself.

How does the Toyota Corolla Cross Hybrid work?

The hybrid Corolla Cross produces less power than its petrol-only equivalent, but it’s configured for optimal consumption.

The word “hybrid” refers to the fact that there are two power sources driving the vehicle’s wheels. In this case, one is a 72-kW naturally aspirated internal combustion 1.8-litre engine (ICE), and the other is a 40-kW electric motor, which is about the size of a medium watermelon and sits between the engine and the automatic transmission, which, in this case, is of the continuously variable variety (CVT).

Coupled to the electric motor is a generator, which is spun up during braking and coasting, as well as by the engine itself (when the battery is low). This capturing of energy that would have otherwise been lost is key to the hybrid’s modus operandi. It stores “free energy” and then deploys it to assist the electric motor, reducing the workload of the ICE and, therefore, reducing emissions.

When you hit the start button, there is no sound from under the bonnet. There is a sign that reads “READY” on the instrument panel that signals to the driver that the car is ready to set off. If you engage reverse or drive, the car will manoeuvre using electric power alone. It is quite fun to stalk around parking lots in complete silence, and I suspect you’ll come to enjoy this part of the hybrid experience.

At above 40 kph, the petrol motor will always kick in, however, that’s not strictly true. If, at under 40 kph, more power and torque are needed than the electric motor alone can supply (when pulling away on or ascending a steep hill with a lot of cargo on board, for example), the ICE will kick in.

At highway speeds, when very little throttle is being applied to keep the car at a constant speed, the ICE will switch off and you’ll cruise along in electric mode.

It’s important to note that the system is very intelligent and manages itself very well. As a driver, you do not have to get involved at all. This is also a “closed-loop” hybrid, in that the car charges the battery itself; the driver never needs to plug the car in.

Toyota Corolla Cross Hybrid – fuel consumption

Our average consumption over the month’s use was 5.5 L/100 km, but we did see it dip as low as 3.8 L/100 km.

Over the four weeks that I tested the 1.8 Hybrid XR, I saw indicated average fuel consumption figures of between 5.4 and 5.6 L/100 km. Paradoxically, the higher average was due to stints of highway driving… after some more suburban driving, the average dropped again. On one trip, which consisted mostly of stop-start city driving, the car averaged 3.8 L/100 km, which I found remarkable.

This highlights the fact that hybrid drivetrains perform better in an urban environment. The 1.8-litre Atkinson-cycle engine is optimised to work with electric assistance and sometimes it felt (and sounded) as if it was straining (or droning, thanks to the CVT).

I am concerned that in the thinner air of the Reef, the drivetrain, which doesn’t have the punchiness of a forced-induction (turbo) powerplant, may not have sufficient torque for some driving situations, such as when towing or when the need arises to overtake vehicles when there’s a full complement of passengers and their cargo on board. It’s something to look out for on your test drive if you live in Gauteng.

At 5.4 L/100 km, the car is travelling nearly 20 km on every litre of fuel, which, in this day and age of R20 per litre of petrol, is impressive. Toyota claims an average figure of 4.3 L/100 km, which might be achievable in city driving. For the equivalent XR petrol-only model, Toyota claims 6.5 L/100 km, but, based on my experience of smaller, naturally aspirated motors, I would say this is optimistic by 20-30%.

Therefore, in real-world conditions, the hybrid averages about 5.4 L/100 km, while its ICE counterpart is likely to average around 8 L/100 km… That difference could amount to a significant saving over the course of several years of ownership. Indeed, the hybrid genuinely has the potential to slash your fuel bill.

Toyota Hybrid Corolla Cross – practicality

While the rear seatback does fold down, it does not free up a perfectly flat load area, but the bay is quite capacious.

The Corolla Cross is a well-sized vehicle. It is very practical, but not so large that it is, say, difficult to park. With the rear seatback folded down, you’ll be able to fit a mountain bike in there (if you take its front wheel off). With all seats in place, the load bay offers generous height and width for luggage, plus there’s a skinny spare fitted under the boot floor.

It is worth noting that although the rear seats fold in a 60/40 split, they do not fold completely flat, creating quite a large step in the load area. This is likely because of the placement of the lithium-ion battery.

The rear seats offer decent legroom, but headroom is restricted; rear passengers that are more than 1.85 metres tall will almost certainly have their heads touching the roof lining.

Toyota Corolla Cross – infotainment and features

Toyota now offers Android Auto and Apple Carplay as standard on the XS and XR derivatives.

Two USB ports are available for rear passengers, as are rear air vents. Only 1 USB port is available for front passengers, but a wireless charging pad is available as an optional extra. The touchscreen infotainment system does not offer satnav but wired Android Auto and Apple Carplay compatibility is standard on the XS and XR derivatives. A reverse-view camera is a stock fitment across the range.

The range-topping 1.8 Hybrid XR, which costs R35 000 more than its 1.8 Hybrid XS sibling, additionally features radar-guided (adaptive) cruise control, curtain airbags (bringing the total from 4 to 6), lane-departure warning, electric adjustment for the driver’s seat, front and rear parking sensors, a different colour treatment for the front grille, 18-inch alloy wheels (instead of 17-inch items) and oddly, more cupholders. Try as I might I cannot find out whether the Corolla Cross can be fitted with a sunroof, but it is not a standard option on any of the trim levels.

Toyota Corolla Cross Hybrid – the downsides

The Corolla Cross generates a little bit too much road noise for our liking at highway speeds.

You’ll be glad to know there aren’t too many negatives to list here. My biggest gripe was perhaps the excessive road noise that permeated the cabin at highway speeds. It does seem as if Toyota has skimped a bit on the sound-deadening materials and the result is a touch more noise than you’d like on the open road (we perceived that much of the din was caused by tyre roar).

Wind noise is negligible, however, and overall I would say these downsides wouldn’t be deal-breakers for me.

The petrol engine does sometimes sound a bit strained, even when it’s being assisted by the electric motor. However, I live in a hilly area – in fact, the road to my house resembles a ski slope – so perhaps this was more noticeable for me than it would be for average motorists. And although the powertrain would work hard (and drone) for short bursts, that never seemed to affect the average fuel consumption too adversely, so while your ears may be displeased, your wallet won’t be.

Hybrid versus diesel – which is better?

In terms of emissions, a petrol hybrid will undoubtedly emit fewer unwanted particles into the air than a diesel. 

A petrol-hybrid vehicle such as the Corolla Cross returns similar consumption figures to comparative turbodiesel-powered cars. However, a petrol-burning hybrid is simply much better for the environment than a diesel-burner that achieves comparable consumption figures… Diesel emissions contain nasty particles not found in petrol emissions, which have been proven to be detrimental to human health.

Compared with a purely petrol-powered car, I would argue that the hybrid is about 30% more efficient and will thus reduce the car’s emissions by the same percentage.

In cities like Paris, many older diesel vehicles are already banned and there are calls to ban them entirely. In London, diesel cars pay vastly more in congestion charges to travel through certain zones, to discourage users from even bringing such vehicles into the city at all. If South Africa eventually goes the same way, a hybrid vehicle may be your ticket into our inner cities.

South African motorists have, to date, not shown much interest in this issue. But as mindsets and – crucially – legislation evolve, we may have to in the future.

Toyota Corolla Cross Hybrid – resale value

Arguably the greatest concern for motorists who are considering a hybrid Corolla Cross, or any hybrid for that matter, is the question of future resale value (when they eventually trade-in or sell their cars).

The concern is that while the hybrid will undoubtedly reduce your fuel costs, do you stand to lose all those gains (and possibly more) when you sell the vehicle? Demand plays a huge role in determining the value of a used car and, if many South Africans are of the opinion that a second-hand hybrid is not a good buy, then its value will be driven down compared to the traditionally powered variants in the range.

Unfortunately, my crystal ball hasn’t arrived from Takealot yet, so it’s difficult to predict this with great accuracy. I feel Toyota’s 8-year warranty on the battery will go some way to assuaging the trepidation that some shoppers in the used market may feel. However, arguably more key to this issue is whether the hybrid derivatives of the Corolla Cross range will prove as reliable as their ICE counterparts.

If the perception in the marketplace is that there is little to no difference, then I think the hybrid’s future value will be no worse than those of its exclusively ICE-powered peers.

Summary

The Corolla Cross Hybrid is an easy car to recommend to friends and family.

The Corolla Cross hybrid is arguably one of the most important cars to be launched in South Africa – ever. This car marks the first time that an alternative energy drivetrain is a realistic proposition for many motorists. Not only is the asking prices (R413 000 for the ​1.8 Hybrid XS and R448 300 for this, the 1.8 Hybrid XR) within reach of many South African motorists, but, for the first time, an alternative drivetrain option is available at a lower price point than the equivalent, traditionally powered variant (the 1.8 Hybrid XS is R12 400 cheaper than the second-from-top 1.8 XR).

Toyota has invested heavily in its South African production facility in Prospecton, KwaZulu-Natal, to help make a hybrid a realistic option for a greater number of South African consumers. They are betting that the technology will be the perfect stop-gap between where the market is now, and where it is going; that being a future market in which electric vehicles dominate.

There is no doubt in my mind that the hybrid will bring down your monthly motoring expenses. And, in one increasingly important aspect, the hybrid will bring down your personal carbon footprint.

Given South Africa’s fledgling (but growing) electric-vehicle charging infrastructure – and electricity supply issues – I’d say hybrids are a realistic, but perhaps temporary, solution to moving away from fossil fuels and saving motorists money at the pumps. Just how temporary remains to be seen. If, for example, a brand manages to bring a quality electric vehicle to the market at a competitive price, we may see interest in hybrid technology waning, but, with most electric vehicles priced around the R2-million mark, that is unlikely to happen any time soon. I’d be very happy to be proved wrong, however.