2022 Toyota Corolla Cross arrives next month

After over a R2-billion investment in the Toyota South Africa Motors (TSAM) assembly plant in KZN, the automaker has started producing its new crossover vehicle, the 2022 Corolla Cross. Sitting between the Urban Cruiser and RAV4, the family car will hit the roads here in November before being exported to more than 43 countries in Africa. It competes against Volkswagen T-Cross, Hyundai Creta, Kia Seltos, Mazda CX-30, and Nissan Qashqai.

Built on Corolla’s new TNGA (GA-C) platform, the Cross design is a combination of Corolla Sedan and Hatch models. We can see big, extended headlamps bordering a prominent trapezoidal grille and an upswept lower bumper on the front. The side profile features prominent fender flares, full of black cladding, combing with the side skirts and bumper trim. At the back, we have big elliptical taillamps with trapezoidal detailing and crease lines.

The 2022 Toyota Corolla Cross carries a 1.8-litre 4-cylinder petrol engine, also found in the Corolla Quest and the Corolla 1.8 XS sedan. The mill churns out 103 kW at 6,000 rpm and 173 Nm of torque at 4,400 rpm and pairs with a 7-speed continuously variable automatic transmission. The automaker says it will consume around 6.8 litres to cover 100 km.

The second option for buyers is a petrol-electric hybrid powertrain, which could be the most inexpensive hybrid here in South Africa. Because it’s locally produced, it would not carry the premium tax imposed on imported hybrids.

Coming back to the hybrid powertrain, it’s the same we find in the Prius and the forthcoming Corolla Hybrid, consisting of an Atkinson-cycle 1.8-litre petrol engine generating 72 kW/142 Nm, an electric motor, and a battery.

Toyota confirms that they have improved the thermal efficiency by 40% (for the petrol mill) by tweaking the motor’s gas flow, combustion, cooling, knock control and exhaust gas recirculation/heat recovery system. It means the Cross can be more fuel-efficient by deactivating the engine earlier and more often.

Besides, Toyota has made enhancements in the electric system, which is now more compact, lighter in weight, and lower in cost. Even though the size is smaller than the previous, it possesses higher energy density and absorbs 28% more energy in a similar amount of time as the earlier system did.

The smaller-than-before electric motor comes with a better power-to-weight ratio and delivers an additional 53 kW and 163 Nm of torque (at maximum capacity) to increase the overall system output to 90 kW (it is not a total of the two power sources, owing to transmission reduction shortfalls).

The hybrid powertrain also uses the continuously variable transmission and delivers an average of 4.3 L/100 km (in-town and high conditions) with a CO2 rating of below 100 g/km.  

Toyota offers the 2022 Cross in conventional trim levels: Xi, XS and XR. The base Xi starts at R349,900, presenting colour-coded bodywork, keyless entry, power-adjustable and auto-retractable exterior mirrors, LED taillamps, and automatic light control.

The mid-level XS costs R390,100 and adds better facilities such as fog lamps, LED headlamps, Park Distance Control (PDC), rain-sensing wipers, a reverse camera, Apple CarPlay/Android Auto connectivity etc.

The Hybrid Xs and Xr start at R413,000 and R448,300, respectively.

(All prices correct at time of publication.)

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Please note the imagery supplied in this blog was taken off www.caranddriver.com