Toyota Corolla Cross GR Sport adds excitement to hybrid driving
I
F there’s one vehicle that made hybrid electric vehicles more popular in the Philippines, that would be the Toyota Corolla Cross.
What we have here though is the Corolla Cross GR Sport (GR-S) — a sportier version of the electrified subcompact crossover SUV that we’ve come to know and love. But with more than P100,000 separating the GR Sport and the standard hybrid model, is the extra cash worth it?
Just from the way it looks, I think it’s more than worth it. Okay, so styling is always subjective, but with the GR Sport treatment, the Corolla Cross suddenly looks rather handsome instead of simply looking like every other crossover SUV out there. The sporty 18-inch wheels, black hexagonal grille, bespoke front bumpers, satin faux skid plates, clear LED tail lights, and black contrasting roof all make the Corolla Cross look sporty without looking too ostentatious. Not only does it look better, but it also has better functionality through a powered tailgate. The Corolla Cross, therefore, is one of the only few subcompact crossovers to have such a feature.
However, while the exterior looks significantly better to our eyes than the standard model, the interior changes are much more modest. The overall dash design is similar to the Corolla Altis (they share the same basic architecture after all), which means that the interior looks far less interesting than its exterior. It is functional, sure, but there’s no sense of style that breaks the monotony of its black interior. While this isn’t a deal breaker, it’s just worth noting that the Corolla Cross oddly doesn’t come with an electronic parking brake. Instead, it uses an old-school foot-type parking brake.
In a sea of automakers who are in relentless pursuit of removing all interior buttons and switches, the Corolla Cross is a breath of fresh air. There are dedicated hard buttons for the climate and even the 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system. You also get Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The infotainment works in conjunction with the 7-inch partly-digital instrument cluster, which is configurable to some degree.
As mentioned, the Corolla Cross variant we drove is the GR-S, which has a 1.8-liter hybrid powertrain that has a total system output of 121 hp and 207 Nm. This is mated to an eCVT (electronically controlled continuously variable transmission) that drives the front wheels.
The engine is shared with the Corolla Altis, and with that, acceleration behind the wheel feels practically similar. This means that the hybrid powertrain is smooth and refined. While the horsepower figure sounds underwhelming, the electric motors provide readily-available torque that non-electrified vehicles are simply not capable of. It’s not a fast car, however. Instead, the hybrid powertrain is very responsive to your throttle inputs — especially when overtaking.