New Toyota Corolla Cross details emerge

First details of the upcoming 2022 Toyota Corolla Cross line-up have appeared on the federal government’s new-vehicle homologation database, suggesting that as many as eight variants of the all-new small SUV could be offered in Australia from launch.

No specific nameplates have been published yet – only internal codes – but the Corolla-based SUV range will almost certainly follow a similar naming structure to the smaller Toyota Yaris Cross and bigger Toyota RAV4, with the core variants likely to be the GX and GXL.

What the higher grades end up being called remains to be seen, but eight variants spanning three grades have been listed on the Australian government’s ROVER website.

More importantly, we now have confirmation the Corolla Cross range will be powered by the same 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol engine as the Toyota Corolla, alongside a new-generation 2.0-litre petrol-electric hybrid powertrain, the internal combustion element of which outputs 112kW.

We’ll have to wait and see what the combined power output of the new Toyota Corolla Cross Hybrid ends up being, but overseas versions are good for 146kW in single-motor guise.

Regardless, both powertrains are paired to a continuously variable transmission (CVT) in all grades, however, only the two highest-spec variants are fitted with all-wheel-drive – the rest make do with front-wheel drive as per the Corolla hatch range.

Like the models that sit below and above it (Yaris Cross and RAV4), the majority of the Australian Corolla Cross range will be electrified, with five of the eight variants detailed on ROVER being listed with the hybrid powertrain, yet all sport the same 750kg maximum braked towing capacity.

For anyone that might have missed our previous coverage, the Toyota Corolla Cross measures 4460mm long, 1835mm wide, 1620mm tall and rides on a 2640mm wheelbase with 160mm of ground clearance.

That makes the newcomer 70mm longer and 205mm wider than the Yaris Cros, but 140mm shorter and 20mm narrower than the RAV4 – Australia’s top-selling SUV and hybrid vehicle.

The base model will have a tare weight of 1400kg, according to the ROVER data, while the more lavish and electrified hybrid flagship will top the range at 1525kg on account of its extra gear and petrol/electric hardware (battery, motors etc).

Climate control, power windows, power-adjustable mirrors, central locking, a centre airbag and alloy wheels are the only confirmed standard equipment inclusions across the range so far, but the inclusion of Toyota’s latest infotainment system and Toyota Safety Sense suite of driver aids are also likely to be par for the course.

Alloy wheel sizes will span 17 to 18 inches depending on the variant, behind which will lurk 305x28mm front and 281x12mm rear ventilated brake rotors (naturally backed by ABS).

carsales understands the Corolla Cross is still on track to arrive Down Under later in the year, at which point it will join the existing Toyota C-HR in the sub-$40,000 compact SUV segment.

Prices are expected to start around the $29,000 mark, with the hybrids inevitably commanding a relatively small price premium over internal combustion versions.

That should position the 2022 Toyota Corolla Cross above the smaller Yaris Cross (from $26,990 plus on-road costs), but slightly below the smaller but more style-focused C-HR (from $30,915) and well below the mid-size RAV4 (from $34,400).

All will be revealed in the coming months, so keep an eye on carsales and our social channels for updates.

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