Review - Toyota Corolla Cross GX

The Corolla Cross sits above the Yaris Cross and C-HR and below Toyota’s midsize SUV, the RAV4, offering buyers a fun and funky SUV package with a heap of character without upgrading to a larger SUV platform.

Today we’re going to take a closer look at Toyota’s most affordable Corolla Cross, the GX, and see how it stacks up against its rivals in the ever-competitive compact SUV segment.

Starting Price: $33,000

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Toyota Corolla Cross (GX 2WD) Specifications

For more details and other variants, check Toyota Corolla Cross car page.

How Much Does It Cost?

The entry-level Corolla Cross GX is priced at $33,000, while stepping up to the GX Hybrid brings the price to $35,000.

For reference, prices for the Corolla Cross GXL jump to $36,750 and up to $42,250 for the Hybrid AWD, while the range-topping Corolla Cross Atmos AWD Hybrid is priced at $49,050.

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What Features Does the Corolla Cross GX Have?

Toyota’s entry-level Corolla Cross GX comes riding on a set of 17-inch alloys, and receives LED headlights and daytime running lamps, cloth upholstery, keyless entry & start, adaptive cruise control, a reversing camera, 8.0-inch infotainment system with DAB+, wireless Apple CarPlay and wired Android Auto and a subscription to Toyota’s Connected Services.

This is in addition to a 12-month subscription to Toyota’s Connected Services and a generous list of active safety equipment that we’ll cover in the safety section of this review.

Range Features:

• 17-inch alloys

• LED headlights with LED daytime running lamps

• Adaptive cruise control

• 8.0-inch infotainment system

• Wireless Apple CarPlay & wired Android Auto

• Six-speaker sound system

• Rear-view camera with parking sensors

• Cloth upholstery

• Keyless entry & start

• 12-month Toyota Connected Services subscription

Corolla Cross GX Colours

The Toyota Corolla Cross is available in your choice of eight colours, with Glacier White and Jungle Khaki listed as no-cost colour options. Opting for Eclipse Black, Lunar Blue, Moondust Grey, Atomic Rush, Stunning Silver and Frosted White adds $575 to the price tag.

Is it Comfortable to Drive?

A user-friendly and fun-loving nature are a must-have for compact SUVs like the Corolla Cross, which we can confirm in both regards for Toyota’s latest creation, with the added bonus of a clever hybrid engine, even in the base model.

In base form, the Corolla Cross GX comes powered by a 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine producing 126kW of power and 202Nm of torque, which is paired with a CVT automatic that transfers power to the front wheels.

Performance in the base petrol engine is impressive for the segment, offering healthy power and torque figures and receiving a smooth CVT that performs well, particularly around town.

Without doubt, though, the best engine option for the Corolla Cross GX comes in the form of the 2.0-litre petrol-electric hybrid that produces 146kW of power and an unconfirmed torque figure, and is paired with the same CVT automatic.

The hybrid engine option not only offers an instant torque boost from its electric motor, Toyota’s clever designs switches power between the petrol and electric units seamlessly in the background, without you really noticing a thing.

One downside of opting for the entry-level Corolla Cross GX Hybrid is that it’s available with a front-wheel drive platform only, rather than the AWD system that higher-spec variants pick up, but in reality, there’s little need for an AWD system in a vehicle like this.

Around town, the Corolla Cross is effortless to drive thanks to its lightweight steering rack and comfortable suspension hardware that offers some nimble handling in the corners and adds to the sense of fun.

All up, the Toyota Corolla Cross GX feels familiar to other members of the family, but remains impressive and charming in its own right, and makes for a wonderful companion for quick hops around town and long-distance road trips.

Is it Practical and Spacious?

While it might be limited by its compact proportions, the Corolla Cross’ cabin is still rooted in Toyota’s clever packaging designs that offer a healthy amount of practicality for buyers.

The entry-level Corolla Cross GX offers a very familiar cabin layout to other vehicles from the range, and while it might lack some excitement in terms of its design, it remains a very ergonomic and comfortable affair inside.

Up front, the driver and front passenger have a heap of headroom inside the cabin, with an adjustable driving position that can accommodate a range of different drivers without a problem.

The base Corolla Cross GX comes fitted with an 8.0-inch infotainment system sitting atop the dashboard, which expands to a 10.5-inch unit in the GXL, so if cutting-edge tech is a key priority, consider stepping up higher into the range which also adds a surround-view camera and some leather interior upgrades.

Practicality isn’t the Corolla Cross’ strongest selling point, although there is a very usable storage tray for smartphones behind the gear lever at the base of the dash, a pair of cupholders, a compact folding armrest with storage inside and a pair of door bins on either side of the cabin.

Move to the second row of the Corolla Cross’ cabin and there’s a comfortable bench seat on offer for passengers, while the amount of legroom on offer is somewhat cramped for tall adults.

This won’t prove an issue for any young children or growing teenagers in the rear of the cabin, but is something to keep in mind.

The second row picks up a pair of ISOFIX anchors and three top tether mounts for rear and forward-facing child seats, a pair of USB C ports, air vents and a centre armrest with in-built cupholders.

Interestingly, the base model Corolla Cross is also the most practical offering of the range, sporting the largest boot space figures of the bunch thanks to its 436L boot.

Is it Safe?

The Corolla Cross GX has received a five-star ANCAP safety rating, scoring 85% for adult protection, 88% for child protection, 87% for pedestrian protection and 83% for safety assist.

As standard, the Corolla Cross GX is fitted with autonomous emergency braking with pedestrian and cyclist detection, adaptive cruise control, a rear-view camera, rear cross-traffic alerts, blind-spot monitoring and traffic sign detection.

The GX misses out on safety features like a surround-view camera and parking assistant that are reserved for the range-topping Atmos Hybrid.

Is it Fuel Efficient?

The Toyota Corolla Cross powered by a 2.0-litre petrol engine returns fuel economy figures of 6.0L/100km on a combined cycle, which is pretty much on par for the compact SUV segment.

Where things get impressive, though, is the fuel economy figures for Toyota’s Corolla Cross GX Hybrid, which is rated at just 4.3L/100km on a combined cycle, making it one of the most fuel-efficient compact SUVs on the road.

Our Verdict: Is the Corolla Cross GX Worth it?

Toyota’s entry-point into the Corolla Cross range is also one of the most enticing variants within the line-up, offering buyers a heap of value with its most affordable vehicle that will keep the majority of buyers more than satisfied.

Far from a simple stepping-stone to higher-spec variants, the Corolla Cross GX is diamond within the lineup that comes well-equipped and powered by one of the most clever and fuel-efficient hybrid engines you’ll find in the compact SUV segment.

As a result, we highly recommend adding Toyota’s most affordable member of the Corolla Cross family, the GX to your compact SUV shortlist.

On that note, if you’re in the market for a new car, you can get a free quote and see how much OnlineAuto can save you on your next car, or call us on 1300 719 925.

Five Specs You Need to Know

1. Five-year, unlimited kilometre warranty can be extended to seven years

2. GX available in front-wheel-drive platform only

3. Offers largest boot space figures of the range at 436L

4. 4.3L/100km fuel economy for GX Hybrid; 6.0L/100km for petrol

5. Five star ANCAP safety rating

Pros

• Great entry-level vehicle that offers no major sacrifices

• Fuel-efficient hybrid engine

• User-friendly and comfortable driving nature

Cons

• GX misses out on AWD system

• Uninspiring cabin design and materials for base model GX

• Limited 12-month Connected Services membership

OnlineAuto Rating: 9/10

Toyota Corolla Cross Competition