Toyota RAV4 v Toyota Corolla Cross 2024 Comparison

The Toyota RAV4 is Australia’s most popular SUV and has been number-one since 2020, when it also replaced the Mazda CX-5 as the nation’s top-selling mid-size SUV.

In fact, hybrid versions of the fifth-generation Toyota RAV4, which was released Down Under in 2018, continue to attract waiting lists of more than 12 months.

The smaller but newer Toyota Corolla Cross, meantime, was released in Japan for the first time in July 2020, before arriving in Australia in October 2022, bringing to eight the number of SUVs now offered by Toyota Australia.

In its first full year on sale (2023), the Corolla Cross attracted about 8000 buyers – much less than the RAV4 at almost 30,000, despite being cheaper – making it less popular than other small SUVs like the MG ZS, Mazda CX-30, Hyundai Kona, Haval Jolion, Kia Seltos, Mitsubishi ASX, Volkswagen T-Roc and Subaru Crosstrek, but more popular than the Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross, Nissan QASHQAI and Toyota’s own C-HR.

Our experts have driven a number of RAV4 and Corolla Cross variants and here’s their verdict on how they compare.

Both of these five-seat SUVs are based on variations of the Japanese brand’s latest Toyota New Global Architecture, which debuted under the Mk4 Prius in late 2015. But while the Toyota Corolla Cross shares its TNGA-C platform with the Corolla, C-HR and Lexus UX, the RAV4 rides on the same TNGA-K chassis as the Camry, Kluger and Lexus NX.

As such, the small Corolla Cross has a 2640mm wheelbase and measures 4460mm long, 1825mm wide and 1620mm high, while the RAV4 has a 50mm-longer (2690mm) wheelbase and is at least 140mm longer overall (4600mm) as well as 30mm wider (1855mm) and 60mm taller (1685mm).

It might have a smaller footprint but the Toyota Corolla Cross is better packaged than the RAV4, with shorter overhangs and a longer wheelbase relative to its body.

But the answer is yes, because the bigger RAV4 offers more legroom, headroom and shoulder-room – both front and rear – plus a bigger 580-litre cargo area, compared to just 436L for GX and GXL petrol versions of the Corolla Cross, shrinking to just 380L for top-spec Atmos Hybrid all-wheel drive versions.

So there’s not only less room for shopping and prams, but the Corolla Cross won’t accommodate three child seats in the rear. However, while all versions of both models come with ISOFIX child restraint anchor points for the outboard rear seats and seatbelt reminders for all five seats, the Corolla Cross goes one up by offering a rear seat occupant reminder to warn that you’ve left a young one back there.

Not necessarily, because although the Toyota RAV4 is a bigger, smoother and more refined ride, it’s a lot heavier than the Corolla Cross and doesn’t offer much more power – despite its bigger engine in mid-range and hybrid variants.

Entry-level front-wheel drive GX and GXL versions of both models come with a 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol engine delivering a claimed 126kW/202Nm in the Corolla Cross and 127kW/203Nm in the RAV4.

And while the small SUV makes 146kW/190Nm from its 2.0-litre petrol-electric hybrid powertrain, the mid-size SUV produces 152kW/243Nm with its bigger 2.5-litre engine, and as much as 163kW in top-shelf hybrid AWD form.

However, the RAV4 line-up has a weight range of 1550-1760kg, while the Corolla Cross spans just 1380-1550kg (yes, the heaviest Corolla Cross has the same kerb weight as the lightest RAV4), so it doesn’t feel as quick because it has a lot more mass to haul around with only a little more performance.

Yes. Neither model here is capable of a Simpson Desert crossing in standard form, with their road tyres and ground clearance that’s only slightly better than the equivalent Corolla and Camry. And neither the Toyota RAV4 nor the Corolla Cross comes with a full-size spare wheel (instead there’s a space-saver), except as an option for the RAV4 GX Hybrid.

Both models also have an 11.4m turning circle (11.8m for 2.5L petrol RAV4s), but while the shorter wheelbase and overhangs of the Corolla Cross technically make it better off-road, all RAV4s have trailing wishbone rear suspension (Corolla Cross gets a torsion beam, or trailing arms for AWD hybrids), giving it better rear-end traction – and the top-shelf RAV4 Edge 2.5L AWD also comes with Downhill Assist Control.

The RAV4 also has a better towing capacity, ranging from 750kg in 2WD variants with an unbraked trailer to 1500kg braked for AWDs (but just 480kg for 2WD hybrids), while the Corolla Cross ranges from 725kg to 750kg (braked) for all variants.

This one’s almost a dead heat. Both the Toyota RAV4 and Corolla Cross come competitively equipped in their respective market segment and both get a similar level of standard multimedia equipment, including an 8.0-inch infotainment touch-screen from base level with wireless Apple CarPlay and wired Android Auto connectivity, plus a six-speaker or (JBL) nine-speaker sound system and complimentary Toyota Connected Services for the first 12 months.

And a larger 10.5-inch touch-screen is standard in the RAV4 from mid-range XSE Hybrid level and in the Corolla Cross from GXL level. But the wireless smartphone charger that’s standard in all RAV4s from GXL level is only fitted in the Corolla Cross Atmos flagship. So swings and roundabouts there.

Similarly, both the Toyota RAV4 and Corolla Cross come with the full gamut of safety equipment expected in any new vehicle today, including autonomous emergency braking (AEB) with pedestrian and daytime cyclist detection plus Intersection Turn Assist, lane departure warning (LDW) with Emergency Steering Assist, a reversing camera, traction/stability control, blind spot monitoring, rear cross traffic alert, automatic high beam, speed sign recognition and all-speed active cruise control (ACC).

But while the RAV4 comes with seven airbags and its LDW system comes with Lane Trace Assist, the Corolla Cross gets eight airbags, adds Lane Change Assist and Safe Exit Assist, and its ACC system includes curve speed reduction.

Of course, both these Toyota SUVs come with a maximum five-star ANCAP safety rating, but in November 2022 the Corolla Cross achieved a then-record-breaking vulnerable road user (pedestrians and cyclists) protection score of 87 per cent.

At base level yes, given the Toyota Corolla Cross offers the same powertrain and similar equipment levels (and the same five-year/unlimited-kilometre factory warranty) for almost $5800 less, but that doesn’t account for the RAV4’s larger body and it gets more complicated the further up the range you go (see the full price lists below).

Making direct variant-to-variant comparisons difficult, there’s a wider range of RAV4 variants (13 versus eight for the Corolla Cross) because there are four trim levels and four powertrains available (rather than three) for the larger SUV.

But generally speaking for both model lines, hybrid power adds just $2500 and AWD adds $3000, which makes the top-shelf Corolla Cross Atmos Hybrid AWD, at around $50,000, more than $8000 cheaper and therefore also better value than the equivalent RAV4 Edge Hybrid AWD flagship at $58K-plus.

How much does the 2024 Toyota Corolla Cross cost?
GX (a) – $33,980
GX Hybrid (a) – $36,480
GXL (a) – $37,730
GXL Hybrid (a) – $40,230
GXL Hybrid AWD (a) – $43,230
Atmos (a) – $44,530
Atmos Hybrid (a) – $47,030
Atmos Hybrid AWD (a) – $50,030
*Prices exclude on-road costs

How much does the 2024 Toyota RAV4 cost?
GX (a) – $39,760
GX Hybrid (a) – $42,260
GX Hybrid AWD (a) – $45,260
GXL (a) – $43,310
GXL Hybrid (a) – $45,810
GXL Hybrid AWD (a) – $48,810
Cruiser (a) – $48,910
Cruiser Hybrid (a) – $51,410
Cruiser Hybrid AWD (a) – $54,410
XSE Hybrid (a) – $49,585
XSE Hybrid AWD (a) – $52,585
Edge AWD (a) – $56,230
Edge Hybrid AWD (a) – $58,360
*Prices exclude on-road costs