Presentation of the Toyota Corolla Cross: Hybrid SUV gets fine-tuned in detail
After three years, Toyota is giving the Corolla Cross hybrid SUV a facelift that only changes the car in detail.
(Image: Toyota)
Hardly any other model name has been as persistent as Corolla: it has been around since 1966, with a long interruption in Europe. Since 2022, an SUV has also been offered under this name, and in the test at the time, my colleague attested to the car's pleasantly unagitated nature and high level of comfort, combined with comparatively low fuel consumption. A little attention to detail should keep buyers interested and give the SUV a slightly sporty touch if desired.
New: Matrix light
Externally, Toyota has not made any major changes to the design. A new honeycomb-shaped radiator grille improves the air supply for the engine, according to the leaflet for the press. A new feature in the Corolla Cross and only available for the most expensive trim level is adaptive high beam. This probably refers to matrix light, which can create a dynamic shadow cone around other road users. Up to now, a high beam assistant, i.e. automatic dimming, was the maximum.
Toyota Corolla Cross 2025 außen (9 Bilder)
Toyota
)Selective progress
Much of the interior remains the same as before. If you change directly, you will probably notice that the lower part of the center console is now somewhat more elegant. Unfortunately, the stock of coarse buttons for the steering wheel and seat heating has still not been completely used up. I have included pictures of the previous and current model in the photo gallery. New features include an inductive charging cradle for smartphones and a sliding center armrest. Only customers who invest in one of the expensive equipment lines will benefit from some details. These include somehow improved ambient lighting and three-layer sound insulation in the dashboard. All Corolla Cross models should be quieter than before with additional insulation materials in the rear and roof.
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"More responsive driving experience"
The GR Sport equipment line has been available in the Corolla saloon for a few years, but is new in the SUV. Toyota promises a "more responsive driving experience" and "faster acceleration in Sport mode thanks to an increased idle speed". The next step in this escalation will hopefully not be the simulation of a rough idle due to a sharp camshaft. There are already some refinements that should really change the driving experience. The suspension moves the car a centimeter closer to the road, the power steering has been tuned differently. In Sport mode, there is more recuperation, which Toyota hopes will make braking feel sportier.
Toyota Corolla Cross 2025 Innenraum (7 Bilder)
Toyota
)No prices yet
The revised Corolla Cross will go on sale in Germany in the fall. Toyota is not yet commenting on possible price changes. In the April 2025 price list, the base model officially costs 36,550 euros. New cars and one-day registrations of the Corolla Cross are currently available on the major car exchanges from around 31,000 euros. This puts the SUV roughly on a par with a VW Tiguan and well above a Ford Kuga (test).
Apart from the new features described above, the Corolla Cross SUV remains in the highly sought-after mid-size class. With a length of 4.46 m, it is about as long as a Mercedes GLA or an Opel Frontera. Toyota offers two hybrid drives with 103 and 145 kW. The more powerful one can also be ordered with all-wheel drive. The comparatively low fuel consumption, which is between 5.1 and 5.4 liters in the WLTP, is unusual.
(mfz)