Toyota unveils new Corolla Cross

With the introduction of the new Toyota Corolla Cross Hybrid Electric Vehicle (HEV) in the Philippines, Toyota Motor Philippines is not only expanding its line of eco-friendly vehicles but also enhancing the driving and ownership experience with the innovative myToyota Connect feature. Since its launch, the Corolla Cross has been an important and popular model for Toyota, and now that all its variants have gone hybrid, it represents the direction that the brand will traverse in the coming years. 

So what has changed? There are still three variants: GR-S, V, and G. The GR-S gets subtle exterior changes such as a new headlamp unit, with the DRL cutting across the middle of the headlamp. The bumpers, grille, and wheels remain the same. The V and G get the more noticeable changes as there is an all-new bumper with hexagonal cutouts up front, a new horizontal line that cuts through the front grill, and an overall fresh and streamlined look that replaces the bulldog-ish front fascia of the old model. The wheels remain the same, and so do the sizes; 18 inches for the V and 17 inches for the G.

The Toyota Corolla Cross HEV, hailed for its stylish exterior, spacious interiors, powerful performance, and superior fuel efficiency, is now further distinguished by the 4th Generation Toyota Hybrid Electric System. This system elevates the vehicle's appeal by offering improved fuel efficiency, handling, stability, durability, quietness, and responsive acceleration.

The Corolla Cross comes with the tried-and-tested 1.8-litre 2ZR-FXE gasoline mill producing 98 PS at 5,200 rpm and 142 Nm of torque paired with an eCVT. This works together with a 6.5-Ah nickel-metal hydride battery and a synchronous electric motor rated at 72 PS to provide a total system output of 122 PS. 

Inside, the changes are more noticeable, with all variants getting a bigger, center-mounted touchscreen infotainment system. Each variant has new gauge clusters, all reflecting the fact that instead of a tachometer, you now get a power, eco, and charge gauge.The G-HEV gets a mostly analog cluster with a small digital display to the right. The V-HEV gets a 7-inch central digital screen with analog gauges on each side. Meanwhile, the GR-S HEV gets a full digital gauge cluster across the whole width of the space. Interior materials remain roughly the same, with a smattering of plastics in both matte and glossy piano black occupying the space. The G-HEV gets fabric seats, the V-HEV gets leather with dark brown inserts, while the GR-S gets black leather with GR-embossed headrests.

A standout feature of the new Corolla Cross HEV is the introduction of myToyota Connect, accessible through the myToyota App. which  includes functionalities such as vehicle information tracking, stolen vehicle tracking, trip records, geofencing, the "Find My Car" feature, insights into driving behavior, and maintenance notifications. 

The pricing strategy for the new Corolla Cross Hybrid reflects the premium that a hybrid drivetrain commands, with prices for each variant jumping up, and in the case of the G-variant, by as much as ₱186,000 from the outgoing ICE version. The GR-S HEV Variant starts at ₱1,917,000, with the option for Emotional Red adding P5,000 to the price. The V HEV and G HEV Variants are priced at ₱1,763,000 and ₱1,498,000 respectively, with an additional P15,000 for the Platinum Pearl White option. Despite this price increase, the G HEV variant gets you the most affordable hybrid in the Toyota stable, coming out at ₱100,000 less than the Yaris Cross hybrid while offering a bigger space.