It was truly one of those days that didn’t matter just how high fuel increases got because we recently had this here Toyota Corolla Cross in the mid spec XR Hybrid version.
Finished in this vibrant Desert Gold color, the Corolla surely has a presence. This particular model features the updated LED daytime running headlights and honeycomb grille to signify its recent refresh for the 2025 year. Besides the addition of Hybrid badging, the car remains quite familiar and eye-catching, after all, it is one of the highest-selling vehicles in South Africa.
Step inside the interior, and you are afforded more premium soft-touch materials on the dash, among other places, and leather seats. However, there is a shade of brown in the cabin that looks a bit out of place, especially since the car is finished in gold. The seating position was a bit awkward for me, as I never really found the sweet spot, nonetheless, the cabin is a great place to be.
Connecting your phone can be a bit of a hassle, as the infotainment system sometimes decides it’s just not going to connect. However, when connectivity is established, the rest of the controls are pretty easy and simple to operate, as there are ample physical buttons and even a volume knob, which is super.
There were more than enough chargers in the cabin, and I am especially fond of how well the air conditioning responds. Thankfully, it is operated with physical buttons. The 12.3-inch multi-inf infotainment screen is user-friendly, but it is starting to show its age, judging by the graphics used, especially when engaging the reversing camera.
You remember that you’re in a HEV once you notice that the instrument cluster doesn’t have a rev counter. The gear selector has a ‘B’, which is your regenerative setting, and an EV mode that lets you drive in electric-only mode, provided you are in heavy traffic. In most cases, the car will revert to ICE once it reaches a certain pressure point on the accelerator pedal.
Speaking of which, I think it is important to note that this particular HEV acts as a joint system at best to help each other use the least amount of fuel possible on a day-to-day trip. This means that driving solely on EV range is mostly impossible, as the EV range is only 2.5 km, which is not realistically a distance. The downside of the Corolla Cross has to be the dreaded CVT gearbox that absolutely screams when engine power is engaged, offsetting the serenity that the hybrid offers while driving.
Toyota claims a fuel consumption figure of 6.8 L per 100 km, which I’m glad to report is attainable or close to possible, as I even received a reading of 7.0 L after attempting to drive economically. The ride was so soft, and I guess it’s thanks to the McPherson struts located in the front suspension. The 440 L of boot space had just enough room to load items for a big family feast.
Whenever you come to a halt, say in traffic, the camera engages on the screen to show you the distance between yourself and the car in front and behind you, which is a neat touch. However, it does pop up even when a car is miles away from you, which can get on your nerves sometimes. Driving this car for the first time was strange because, by default, it starts up in EV mode and then engages the engine when you’re in motion. The way this happens is in sync, and it never once starts abruptly, which is a nice touch; well done, Toyota.
How much does it cost? Well, this specific model costs R 501,500 and includes a 3-year / 100,000 km service plan covering 6 services / 90,000 km and a 12-month / 15,000 km plan. When using the Toyota Future Drive buying option on their website, you could buy one and still get good value back when it’s time to sell, and it is : https://www.toyota.co.za/vehicles/corolla-cross/offers