The United Arab Emirates became wealthy on the back of its significant oil reserves. However, in the not-too-distant future, the UAE will run out of this black gold. In the meantime, automakers are producing more fuel-efficient cars that can go much further on each drop of fuel.
Toyota is world-renowned for its expertise in hybrid-electric vehicle (HEV) technology, leading to it making some of the best HEVs in the industry. The company has pioneered the petrol-hybrid system to the point where it is considered the world’s utmost expert on the topic.
The Toyota Corolla Cross Hybrid 2024 not only promises excellent real-world efficiency but also wraps that welcome news into an easily digestible ‘crossover SUV’ package. The Corolla Cross goes up against cars like the Hyundai Kona, Kia Sonet, and Mitsubishi ASX.
A glimpse at what the Toyota Corolla Cross Hybrid 2024 is good at:
- Fantastic fuel economy
- Striking front fascia
- Fairly good boot space
- Decent ride & handling
- Good build quality
Here’s where the Toyota Corolla Cross Hybrid 2024 falls short:
- Frugality is directly proportional to slow pace
- Interior design & materials feel drab
- Infotainment system isn’t up to modern standards
- Rear legroom is not great
- Cabin NVH could have been better
What stands out about the exterior of the Toyota Corolla Cross Hybrid 2024?
While the design of the Toyota Corolla Cross Hybrid is nothing to write home about, the same cannot be said about its front end. The sleek projector headlights with ultra-slim LED DRLs gel well with the sculpted front bumper, broad & aggressive black grille, and heavy plastic cladding.
Other design features of the Corolla Cross Hybrid include the black body cladding, plus faux roof rails & rear diffuser. The two-tone paint also adds to the overall stylistic choices made by Toyota for this compact crossover SUV. That said, the most photogenic angle of the Corolla Cross Hybrid is the front.
What about the interior design of the Toyota Corolla Cross Hybrid 2024?
In traditional Toyota fashion, the Corolla Cross Hybrid’s interior is geared towards simplicity rather than stylishness. Toyota probably realized that this ‘simplicity’ quotient was getting a bit out of hand, so they applied fake leather inserts (with fake stitching) on the dashboard and door pads.
Toyota has also made good use of a two-tone theme to further spruce up the look of this cabin. There is also usage of the dreaded piano black trim on some surfaces. Despite all this effort, the overall look & feel of this interior remains underwhelming.
How does it fair when it comes to passenger comfort?
Those seated in the front seats of the Toyota Corolla Cross Hybrid will find legroom and headroom to be good. However, taller folks will find the under-thigh support to be a bit lacking. Speaking of which, the rear seats of the Corolla Cross Hybrid are not the best place to find yourself if you are over 6 feet.
If you are shorter than that, you will find the rear seats offering an adequate level of recline and comfort. The UAE obviously gets very hot in the summer, so you will be glad to know that the Corolla Cross Hybrid’s air-conditioning works well despite the lack of rear vents, although the system gets noisy under load.
Toyota could have done a better job insulating the cabin of the Corolla Cross Hybrid from road noise. As the speed goes up, so does the cacophony of unpleasant noises seeping into the cabin. While all-around visibility is fine, having tall passengers at the back can impede your vision through the rather narrow rear glass.
Also, don’t go around knocking the interior trim and materials for quality assurance purposes – they feel categorically budgeted. There is enough soft padding to rest your arms up front, but the same cannot be said for those at the back. However, there is no sense of fragility here as everything feels like they have been built to last.
How is the driving experience?
It sure is a hybrid, but you need to keep in mind that this is no McLaren P1. Fire-walling the accelerator in the Corolla Cross Hybrid won’t result in a brain-rattling forward thrust. The Toyota hybrid system here prioritizes fuel economy over enjoyable performance.
Then there’s the CVT gearbox, which doesn’t respond well to hard acceleration requirements at higher speeds. If you want to overtake a vehicle on the Sheikh Zayed Road, for example, you need to think ahead. Smashing your right foot in frustration will only lead to the engine & gearbox sounding strained with little forward progress.
Interestingly enough, the Toyota Corolla Cross Hybrid is quite decent to drive. It takes corners with a blend of composure and comfort, neither making you feel enthralled or scared. Push it hard, however, the car will remind you that it places ride comfort over dynamic handling.
Where’s the powertrain in all of this?
The beating heart of the Toyota Corolla Cross Hybrid includes components like the petrol engine, a nickel–metal hydride battery, and a 53-kW electric motor. The 1.8-liter four-popper is smooth and relatively responsive, with the utmost focus placed on frugal operation.
When combined with the lone electric motor, the overall output of the Corolla Cross Hybrid comes out to 122 horsepower. Considering its 1.8-ton mass and fuel-conscious CVT, this Toyota crossover is capable of a fuel economy of 23.7 km/L! Moreover, the car manages its hybrid system without any noticeable hiccups.
The front-wheel drive Corolla Cross Hybrid isn’t quick by any standards, but given a long enough stretch of tarmac, it can reach 200 km/h. Of course, pushing this car hard feels unnatural and beckons the driver to back off. If you are buying the Toyota Corolla Cross Hybrid, you want fuel economy over everything else.
Is it worth your hard-earned money?
A few things to consider before you take that call. Firstly, the 8.0-inch infotainment system is in no way the most modern unit in the market. While it supports Apple CarPlay & Android Auto, the display is not that crisp and lacks high contrast. Similarly, the audio quality of the 6-speaker sound system leaves much to be desired.
However, the boot of the Toyota Corolla Cross Hybrid is quite spacious – holding up to 425 liters of cargo. The Corolla Cross Hybrid also scores well on ease of driving, long-term reliability, and strong resale value. The price of the Toyota Corolla Cross Hybrid in the UAE is between AED 94,900 and AED 109,900.
