The Toyota Corolla is the Japanese carmaker’s highest-selling badge. Introduced in 1966, the Corolla was the best-selling car worldwide by 1974 and has been one of the best-selling cars in the world since then. In 1997, the Corolla became the best-selling nameplate in the world, surpassing the Volkswagen Beetle. Toyota reached the milestone of 44 million Corollas sold over twelve generations in 2016. The Corolla has established itself as a benchmark sedan over the years and the series has undergone several major redesigns. And now as the world moves yet again into another decade, the Corolla badge has undergone yet another change.

Toyota has pulled a page right out of the books of Mitsubishi, just as how the Eclipse turned into an SUV…. Enter the Corolla Cross, an SUV based on the company’s most trusted name. And today we drive it around the city and tell you what we think about it.

Exterior

Toyota has hit the ball way out of the park in terms of the design of the Corolla Cross. The Corolla Cross rides on the same Toyota New Global Architecture C (TGNA-C) platform that underpins the Corolla and C-HR. Size-wise, the Corolla Cross is slotted in between the C-HR and the RAV4, complementing the former as the more functional crossover. It measures 4,460mm long, 1,825mm wide, and 1,620mm high. The C-HR and Corolla Cross share the same 2,640mm wheelbase length.

Styling-wise, with “Corolla Meets SUV” being the key phrase for the development of the Corolla Cross, the model was designed as a new type of SUV that combines dignified sturdiness in the exterior. It has a more subdued design when compared to the C-HR, on the front is a pronounced black grille as well as sharp headlights and LED daytime running lights.

Along the sides, the Corolla Cross has smoother lines with notable cues being the prominent haunches near the shoulder line, black cladding over the wheels, and an extension of the window line towards the roof-mounted spoiler. Moving to the rear, we find wraparound, two-piece taillights, and a simple tailgate design that sees the Toyota and model badge arranged vertically above the arched number plate recess. Just like the front, the lower apron here gets a skid plate to reinforce the model’s rugged nature. The Corolla Cross sits right up there in the list of some of the best looking SUVs produced by the brand.

Interior

Inside, you get an all-black interior that adds a bit of class, with the black pillars and headliner giving the Corolla Cross a more upscale look. The driver seat is properly bolstered and adequately foamed and comes with loads of electrical adjustment so finding the perfect driving spot shouldn’t be tricky. Once you take a look around the dash you will find that the Corolla Cross hasn’t cut corners into the elements used and how they are finished.

While the dash uses a lot of hard plastic, the fit and finish is spot on, there are no squeaks and rattles. The center of the dash has an 8- inch touchscreen infotainment system that comes with all the modern bells and whistles including Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The display is of a higher resolution and the screen is bright which makes it easy to use even under direct sunlight. Right below the screen are the A/C controls, it is a dual-zone climate control unit that is neatly placed and flanked by large and rather snazzy looking vents on each side of the dash that looks like something out of a sports car.

Move on down onto the center console and you’ll get center storage for your phone, two cupholders, a large glovebox, and an equally large storage box inside the front armrest. Over on the rear seats, the rear doors get their individual cup holders and you can pop out an armrest from the middle seat.

Seating in the rear of the Corolla Cross is highly comfortable. You will not hear any complaints from your passengers even on a long drive, the large windows let a lot of light into the cabin and you also get an electric sunroof to further add in some light and some good vibes to your road trip.

Performance

Okay let’s drive this thing, keys in the pocket, seatbelts on, push the start button, shift the car into Drive, and release the parking….. Where is the parking brake?!?

That is what happened to us when we first set out to drive the Corolla Cross. This car doesn’t have a handbrake or an electronic parking brake, instead, you get a foot-operated parking brake located next to your brake pedal right above the dead pedal footrest. All you have to do is push it with your foot to hold or to release. While it feels weird, it will only take you a couple of drives to get used to it.

Onto the drive then. Driving the Corolla Cross feels effortless, it is powered by a 1.8- liter petrol engine that makes 140 horsepowers and 175 Nm of torque, and the only transmission on offer is a CVT. The Corolla Cross generates power in a smooth and silent manner, the car sounds almost electric when driving inside the city where speeds rarely go over 50 km/h while only groaning if you mash the gas pedal.

The speed picks up quickly and the visibility outside is open and wide thanks to the large windshield and slim A-pillars. The steering is well-weighted and precise, therefore the ride is on the firmer side, you will be able to feel potholes and bumps but it will not make you feel uncomfortable in any way. The firm ride does give you accurate handling in the corners and flying through the bends makes it a worthy trade-off. All this gives you a strong sense of confidence when on and off the highway. Given the SUV body, the Corolla Cross is also susceptible to body roll but the car does a good job of containing it.

In terms of safety, the Corolla Cross gets all the latest safety kits including a set of airbags, ABS and EBD, Vehicle stability control, and many others. You also get Toyota Safety Sense that includes the Pre-Collision System, Lane Departure Alert with Steering Assist, Dynamic Radar Cruise Control with Lane Tracing Assist, Automatic High Beam, Blind Spot Monitor, an around-view monitor, and Rear Cross Traffic Alert to ensure you are your passengers are safe at all times.

Verdict

The Toyota Corolla Cross comes in two variants that carry a price tag of Rs 1.12 cr and Rs 1.33 cr. For that price, you are getting an amazing all-rounder car that looks great, feels plush to get into, and provides great ease and fun while driving. Not to mention you are also getting Toyota’s undying durability and reliability which promises to keep the Corolla Cross in its optimum condition even after years of use. And for all that, we think that the Toyota Corolla Cross is one of the best cars in its class.