Bucket Seat: Toyota Corolla Cross HEV

Toyota's assembly plant in Durban's south basin has been a key economic catalyst for the city since its opening in the 1970's, it saw a number of prominent models roll off the production line, most notably the popular medium sized family sedan, the Corolla. Toyota SA invested millions in upgrading the plant over the past decade to accommodate newer models, and even different drive trains, the big change so the Corolla sedan and hatch end its production here and the new Corolla Cross SUV take over the lines. After a brief setback due to the flooding of the area in 2022 the plant reopened again and continued to push out the Corolla Cross models in great numbers, for local and export purposes. This year saw the much loved model get a significant face-lift and a change in name for its hybrid model, which now is badged as HEV. There is also some new colours offered for the model and I got to spend some time with the HEV in one of the striking new colours, here I my thoughts on the car. 

DESIGN

The overall chassis design remains the same for the Corolla Cross with key changes made to the front grille which now has a solid panel colour coded as the body with perforations in circular shapes for air intake. It makes the car look futuristic and gives off an EV vibe to it. The front headlights also received a design change with an integrated bar which runs along the bonnet line linking the two. The Toyota badge is more pronounced and in the HEV model which I had, the badge has a blue hue to it so you know its a hybrid model. The rest of the outer body remains relatively the same with minor changes to the tail lights. Two new colours are featured in the choices, which are Oxide Bronze and the more striking Desert Gold which was what I had. It really is a striking colour and when the sun hits it at the right angles, it gives off a lovely shimmer. The interior design has subtle changes but nothing that is too eye catching from the previous model. 

PERFORMANCE

The Corolla Cross Hybrid is equipped with a 1.8-litre Atkinson-cycle petrol engine paired with an electric motor, delivering a combined output of 90 kW. Pure petrol engine churns out 72kW with 142Nm of torque. While acceleration is adequate for city driving, the vehicle can feel underpowered during overtaking maneuvers or uphill climbs, where the continuously variable transmission (CVT) may cause the engine to become noticeably noisy. ​The ever annoying grown of a CVT engine would never be one that I would get used to but the Corolla Cross HEV can be forgiven because its main focus isn't power, its fuel economy and that is where this car really shines. In real-world conditions, the Corolla Cross Hybrid demonstrates impressive fuel efficiency, averaging around 5.4 L/100 km. This figure is slightly higher than Toyota's claimed average of 4.3 L/100 km but still represents a significant improvement over the non-hybrid variant. ​Having done quite a bit of mixed driving with the car, I was still able to get an impressive 750km from the 36-litre petrol tank. 

COMFORT

As mentioned earlier in the article, there isn't much changes to the interior Corolla Cross Hybrid, it is designed with practicality in mind. While the dashboard layout is straightforward and user-friendly, it lacks the modern aesthetics found in some competitors. Having the XR model meant a higher trim level which included a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster and premium materials, including real stitching on the instrument panel. ​The 10-inch infotainment screen remains the same along with the same UI as before, this for me remains an annoyance since it feels rather outdated, in saying that it does support wireless Apple Car Play and Android Auto so the screen is projecting this most of the time. Toyota have finally upgraded the USB port to a USB C and it includes a wireless charging tray for mobile phones.  The Corolla Cross Hybrid offers ample cargo space, with a generous boot that can accommodate large and bulky items. However, the rear seats do not fold completely flat, which may limit the loading of certain items. Rear passenger space is adequate, though taller occupants may find headroom slightly restricted. ​

VERDICT

The 2025 Toyota Corolla Cross Hybrid stands out as a reliable and efficient choice in the compact SUV segment. Its combination of fuel economy, practicality, and Toyota's reputation for durability make it a compelling option for urban drivers. While it may not offer the most exhilarating performance or cutting-edge interior design, it delivers where it counts for everyday use. In the South African market, the Corolla Cross Hybrid is priced competitively, with the XS HEV starting at R494,400 and the XR HEV at R545,200. All models come with a 6-services/90,000 km service plan and a 3-year/100,000 km warranty, while hybrid models include an 8-year warranty on the hybrid battery. ​

SPECIFICATIONS

Engine	1.8l Petrol Hybrid
Gear Box	CVT Automatic
Torque	142Nm
Power	72kW
Avg Fuel Economy	4.7L per 100km
Price	R494,400*  base model

Bucket Seat: Toyota Corolla Cross Xs Hybrid

It's probably the most important car that Toyota SA has produced in a long time at it's plant in Prospecton, Durban. If you're a local to the city you would know that the area is basically now a mini Toyota City with the motor manufacturing giant occupying majority of the industrial area in Durban's famous south basin. While the plant was famous for producing the Corolla and Hilux over the decades, it's now got a new golden child coming off the production line and that is the all-new Corolla Cross. Toyota, very clever with their thinking opted to make a cross-over version of the much loved Corolla making it the 3rd variant in the offering from the Corolla badge, with the Hatch and Sedan being the other two. What makes the Cross so special is that it also comes with a Hybrid engine option and it's produced locally as well, making it the first model to be locally produced with a Hybrid engine. Exciting times for the plant as they will gain major brownie points in terms of produced low emission vehicles and could pave the way for other Hybrid or EV cars to be produced in South Africa. I recently got to spend some time with the entry level Corolla Cross Hybrid, the Xs and here are my thoughts on the car. 

DESIGN

I'm a massive fan of what Toyota have done with the new Corolla, the sharp edges, sweeping design, futuristic head lights and well rounded off rear end is very attractive, so when I heard about the Cross, I thought it would be much of the same but I was wrong. The design of the Cross seems to be very conservative when compared to the corolla. No sweeping lines, not sharp edges just a no thrills, no fuss design and while it might not jump at you in the pictures, in the metal is does look a big better. I can understand the thinking behind this decision by the design team seeing that it is a brand new model and one they expect to get a lot of sales from, but personally I would have liked a bit more flair to it, I wasn't that wrong in my thinking because shortly after its introduction, Toyota released a list of styling enhancements for the Corolla Cross, to give it that certain something extra to make it stand out. The interior remains exactly the same as the rest of the Corolla range and for me that is perfect because the interior is one of the best on the market given the pricing, its stylish and form functional which is most important in a car like this. 

PERFORMANCE

So the first question I got when people saw me driving this car was, "how's the fuel economy"? And it's quite a valid question in the greater scheme of Hybrid engines. Given the ever rising fuel price, the cost of fully electric vehicles, these Hybrid vehicles are the best option for many to counter the high prices at the pump. When it came to the Corolla Cross Hybrid, from the time I got the car, the average was sitting at 5.0L per 100km, the highest it went up to was 5.5L per 100km, which for my style of driving is unheard off, I tend to be a bit heavy on the foot and even though the car was fitted with that infamous CVT gearbox that groans more than an angry mother-in-law, the car seemed composed at every opportunity and delivered the right amount of power the wheels when needed. The great thing about the Hybrid engine is the silence on start-up, you'd have to check your instrument cluster to realise the car is running, the car uses electric power until it feels that the electric motor can't deliver adequate power required and then the petrol engine kicks in. While many say it can do a max of 50km/h before the engine starts, at times I managed to get up to 80km/h on electric power. A great feature is also the coasting mode where you'd be doing a constant speed on the high-way, like 120km/h and the combustion engine switches off and the pace is maintained by the electric motor. This all aids that great average economy and saves you on your pocket without having you at the pump as you would with a normal car. 

COMFORT

Another thing people asked if the batteries had any negative impact on the car, given that they weigh a lot, people might think this would hamper the balance and even take up space. The answer to both those questions are no, you don't even know the batteries are there thanks to a great design from Toyota. Remember they've been producing Hybrid cars longer than any other manufacturer so they know all the tricks to this technology, in fact they're the brand I trust the most when it comes to Hybrids. Many tried and have failed with the power re-generation, hence they had to swap over to plug-in hybrid models but with Toyota and Lexus, this has never been the case. Coming back to the comfort factor of the Corolla Cross, it rides just as well as the hatch and sedan, its honestly one of the best in its class, being a cross-over you'd expect the ride height to be increased, I mean I did but it remains the same as the others, it might be slightly higher but its definitely not noticeable when you're behind the wheel. In saying that, you'd not going to be venturing up Sani Pass in this thing but rather around town and picking up the kids from school, and for that its perfect. There's no compromise on creature comforts in the cabin with you still getting dual-zone climate control, a big fancy touch screen infotainment center that has built in mobile applications for ease of use. A full multi-control steering wheel and premium feel leather seats, loads of safety stuff including an array of airbags. The cabin space is more than adequate for a family of five, the luggage capacity is huge as well. 

VERDICT

At the beginning of this review I said this car was going to be very important for the brand and its already proving to be, with sales hitting new highs for the brand in this segment. It's over-took the Corolla sedan sales which was a tough act to beat but with such an attractive price tag versus what you getting, its a no brainer for many to opt for this. As mentioned, with the various styling packs available now, it gives customers a chance to individualize there Corolla Cross,  I played around quite a bit on the online configurator and think I've settled on my ideal styling for it, now I got to make some money to buy one. This particular entry level model will set you back about R413,000 and truth be told its perfect for your everyday needs but then you look and see the top of the range Xr model is R440,000 so if its in your budget, it might be worthwhile paying that little extra to get the car fully loaded with everything on offer. 

SPECIFICATIONS

Engine	1.8L  Hybrid Electric
Gear Box	Automatic CVT
Torque	142Nm
Power	72kW
Top Speed	170km
Price	R413,000

 

Bucket Seat: Toyota Hybrid - Corolla & RAV4

Toyota have always been the leaders in Hybrid technology, ever since they launched their first generation Prius back in 1997. This weird looking Corolla type sedan boasted both a petrol combustion engine which was assisted by an electric motor, the world was confused but excited at this new dual powertrain system that would echo the start of the electrical revolution and evolution in motoring. While the Prius was never everyone's cup of tea, it really did the most in raising awareness of Hybrid technology. World leaders and celebs opted for this car as it did have a lower emissions rating and saved fuel. There was a problem though, it was extremely costly and as a result, Toyota never expanded this technology to any other of their models but opted to introduce it to their luxury division, Lexus. This would mean that they could fit Hybrid powertrains in regular models and justify the price tag as such. As time went on, and the Hybrid got more popular, Toyota in Japan and the US started introducing Hybrid models in larger variants of their cars such as certain SUVs and the Camry, this proved to be even more popular with buyers as they could get their favourite models with the environmentally friendly drive technology. Unfortunately for us in South Africa, we could only sit and watch as the first world got to experience this in Toyota models but that was until now. 

Yes, Toyota have just announced that they are introducing two new Hybrid models to the market, in the RAV4 and the Corolla with a third coming soon in the Corolla Cross guise. Both models have unique Hybrid power trains with Atkinson cycle technology that provide power to the car with respective power outputs based on the size of the models. 

The RAV4 Hybrid features a 2.5L Hybrid powertrain which can be found in Lexus models such as the ES and NX300h. It features a large four cylinder motor with direct injection that generates 131kW and 221Nm in "ICE" state. The electric motor punches out 88kW and 202Nm at a maximum state of charge to deliver a total system output of 160kW. Power is pushed to the front wheels via a CVT transmission which seamlessly integrates the two drive sources. This translates to a fuel consumption index of just 4.7L/100km with CO2 emissions registering 107g/km. Quite remarkable for a 5-seater SUV!

The Corolla on the other hand features a smaller 1.8L, four-cylinder engine with the electric motor churning out 53kW and 163Nm at full capacity, which boosts the overall system output to 90kW. While the two systems have higher power outputs, Toyota says that due to transmission reduction losses, this does affect the total output. This still isn't bad when looking at the overall power-to-weight ratio. The Corolla also features a CVT gearbox to assist with the dual powertrain feeding power to the front wheels. Claimed fuel consumption on the Corolla is just 3.5L/100km which theoretically gives the Corolla Hybrid a range of over 1200km on a single tank!

Both models come equipped with everything you'd find in your standard RAV4 and Corolla models with the added details to make it known you're in a Hybrid. The Corolla Hybrid is maxed at the Xs spec level, which is the mid-tier grade which combines all the key comfort and convenience features while keeping the Hybrids more pragmatic bias. The RAV4 Hybrid comes in a tweaked GX trim which strikes a balance between core convenience, value for money and luxury. Both cars come with a six-service or 90 000km service plan as standard with service intervals pegged at 15 000km/ 12 moths. Toyotas standard 3-year/100 000k warranty is included as well as an 8-year/ 195 000km Hybrid battery warranty for additional peace of mind, pricing on the models are as follows.

RAV4 GX Hybrid CVT - R555 300

Corolla XS Hybrid CVT - R419,900