A car that fills the space between the Toyota Corolla station wagon and the RAV4. Suitable large family car with good driving characteristics, largely due to the fact that it weighs less than electric cars.
So far this year, the list of the 20 best-selling car models is dominated by electric models. The exception is Toyota's hybrid models with the Corolla in the lead. The range of cars with internal combustion engines disappears as a result of being penalized with taxes. Then you get a smaller car for the money. In terms of price, the Corolla Cross therefore competes with electric cars in the class above, such as the Volkswagen ID.4 GTX. We will return to that later.
The Corolla Cross is a smaller version of the Toyota RAV4. It is equipped with three engines – one 2,0 liter 152 hp petrol engine and two electric motors. The one electric motor is part of the hybrid system and is integrated into the gearbox. The other sits on the rear axle to operate the four-wheel drive system e-Four. Total power for all engines is more than enough. 197 hp means that you can accelerate from 0-100 km/h in between 7 and 8 seconds.
Compared to the RAV4, the Corolla Cross has a cleaner design where the lines flow more harmoniously. Nevertheless, our car undoubtedly comes across as a real SUV – not just a high-built Corolla. Lined up next to each other, you can clearly see the differences. Compared to the Corolla Touring Sports (station wagon), you can see that the SUV has a shorter wheelbase and shorter length. It also has a smaller boot than the station wagon. Nevertheless, the Cross gives the impression of being a larger and more solidly built car.
I don't know if the solid impression is real - that the Corolla Cross really is more solidly built than the standard Corolla. The ground clearance is at least 2,5 cm higher, and the angular front, the thick A-pillars and the large mirrors give a real SUV feel. With the electronically controlled 4-wheel drive, I am sure that you can get safely up the last hill in the winter before the plow has driven off.
Big enough as a family car?
For some, cars can never be big enough. I think you get a lot of space within compact dimensions, and that the car looks bigger than it actually is. With a total length of 4,45 metres, the car belongs to the C segment (the "Golf class"). The biggest limitation for most people will probably be the size of the luggage compartment. It holds 394 liters up to the luggage hider. Here you can also make use of the space in the height by, for example, transporting suitcases standing up. The space conditions in the compartment between the rows of seats can work well for a normal family of 4-5 people. It is also possible to mount a roof rack and trailer, although the maximum trailer weight is only 750 kg – just enough for a villa trailer.
Kongsberg
Some of the photos were taken in Kongsberg. We drove there to go "pole hunting". There are walking routes that take us around on paths and roads we would hardly have found on our own. And after the trip, we are left with good impressions of the city, which turns 400 this year. My wife's ancestors worked in the silver mines and lived in the city. Her grandmother lived here as a girl and had to drive the cows from the courtyard inside the town across the busy square to a field outside - under the supervision and laughter of the town's oldest men.
Inside the car
It is easy to find your way in the Toyota. Most of it seems identical to the standard Corolla. Compared to the electric cars I've driven recently, the dash in the Corolla feels dated. Today's cars have freestanding flat screens, not conventional, padded instrument clusters. I realize it's more about Design than functionality. Likewise the mechanical "PRND" gear lever which other car manufacturers have now replaced with other solutions.
I would characterize the interior of the Corolla as more "trusty" than old-fashioned. The flimsy seat adjustment levers seem cheap. The adjustment is not stepless, but it has electric lumbar support and the chairs are comfortable with good lateral support. The sound level is low. You can practically not hear the engine. But despite the low noise level, we had to raise our voices a lot to talk to each other. The sound from the radio also disappeared in poor acoustics. Acoustics and sound image are characteristics that distinguish premium cars from ordinary cars, - and the Corolla is not a premium car.
On the road
I mentioned at the outset that the Toyota Corolla Cross is sold at the same price as the Volkswagen ID.4 GTX and can therefore be considered competitors. One area in which the Corolla Cross can assert itself is driving pleasure on country roads. Battery cars such as the ID.4 (and more) tend to weigh 500 kg more than the Corolla Cross. That - and built-in economy programs that will increase the range - can help to cut the torque in the engine(s) at unfavorable times. The Corolla Cross is more entertaining to drive on country roads. You notice it in normal roundabouts. Let off the gas, put the car into the turn and accelerate out - then you feel the fine interaction between car and driver - just as driving should be.
If you want to feel all the 197 horsepower, you need to switch to Sport driving mode, although it is not necessary for normal driving. Even in Normal mode, the hybrid drivetrain responds quickly and delivers good traction up the Lierbakken and elsewhere. I have previously complained that the first cars with Toyota's hybrid drive system could increase the revs of the engine for no reason, as if the drive system was not connected to the wheels. This is no longer a problem – something I have also found in the standard Corolla.
consumption
Our consumption on the trip to Kongsberg ended up at 0,63 litres/10km. Stated consumption for combined driving is 0,51 - 0,56 litres/10km. Our trip took place on a hot summer day with an inside temperature of 22 degrees, on good roads between 80 and 100 km/h and partly on cruise control without focusing on consumption. When we previously tested the larger Toyota RAV4, we measured a consumption of just 0,57 litres/10km over a short stretch of motorway. I'm sure that the Corolla Cross can also get down to the same level.
Conclusion
If you live in a city and have to park on the street, an electric car can present practical problems. The Corolla Cross is well suited in an urban environment. It is large enough to be a family car, yet easy to maneuver and park. I would also point out that it is more fun to drive than many popular electric family cars, mainly due to its lighter weight. It is also just as fast from a standstill as electric cars.
An annoying feature of the car is the poor acoustics in the cabin, which makes it difficult to chat while driving. Let me also mention that according to the license plate, the permitted trailer weight is only 750 kg for both braked and unbraked trailers. That's low for a 4-wheel drive with a 2-liter engine.
Facts Toyota Corolla Cross
Weights and Measures
External dimensions - L, W, H: 446 x 182,5 x 162 cm
Wheelbase: 264 cm
Ground clearance: 16 cm
Net weight: 1509 kg (without driver)
Payload: 431 kg
Number of seats: 5
Max trailer weight w/brakes: 750 kg
– without brakes: 750 kg
Roof load: 75 kg (source: Thule)
Drivetrain
Engine 1: 2,0 4-cylinder petrol engine, front mounted. A20A-FXS. 152 hp, torque 190 Nm between 4400-5200 revs.
Engine 2: front electric motor integrated with gearbox, 113 hp.
Motor 3: electric motor, rear, 41 hp.
Total power: 197 hp
Transmission: e-CVT AWD-i (continuously variable automatic)
Four-wheel drive system: e-Four. Main features on the front wheels and rear wheels which are connected electronically from the rear-mounted electric motor.
Performances
Top speed: 180 km/h
0-100: 7,46 – 7,74 seconds
Battery pack
Type: Li-ion
Location: Under the back seat
Total capacity: 0,9 kWh
consumption
Stated consumption (combined): 0,51 – 0,56 litres/10km
Measured consumption: 0,63 litres/10km
Cargo
Non-rechargeable hybrid solution
Luggage compartment
As a five-seater: 394 litres
As a two-seater: 1337 litres
Tires
Dimension: 225/50R18 95 V
Type: Summer tire
Brand: Dunlop SP Sport Maxx 050
Prices
Price: NOK 554 (Executive)
Paint surcharge: NOK (Urban Khaki)
About the car
Place of production: Takaoka plant, Japan
Leased by Rent
Model: 2024
Mileage: New
Km driven: 167
Smiley faces and surfing
🙂 Provides more driving pleasure than similar electric family cars.
🙁 Bad acoustics in the cabin. Low trailer weight.
Sources
Toyota.no, Vegvesen.no
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