If the C-HR is too small for you and the RAV4 is too big, look no further than the Toyota Corolla Cross.
Lengthy names and haphazard embossed badging aside, the Corolla Cross is the oft-forgotten middle child in the Toyota Australia family. Everyone knows what the Corolla and RAV4 are, but what’s this all about?
To simplify things, it’s one of seven Toyota SUVs currently on sale locally. It sits between the C-HR and RAV4 in terms of size, and utilises the same platform as the C-HR and Corolla – you’ll see the similarities with its name-sharing sibling inside.
If that hasn’t cleared anything up, it’s easiest to think of this small SUV as a jacked-up Corolla (they have the same wheelbase, after all) wearing a different body – as with the Yaris and Yaris Cross, instead of being nearly-identical twins like the Subaru Impreza and Crosstrek.
Still, the Corolla Cross’ positioning as a slightly larger small SUV doesn’t seem to be too confusing for buyers, as it’s the fifth-best selling model in Toyota’s broad lineup so far in 2025.
It isn’t taking its market segment by storm though. With 8090 sales in the first eight months of 2025, the Corolla Cross ranks behind the Hyundai Kona, MG ZS, GWM Haval Jolion, Chery Tiggo 4, and Mazda CX-30 in the small SUV segment, which is interesting given its relatively strong position within Toyota.
In a bid to boost sales, Toyota has updated the model for 2025. All models now make noise when travelling at low speed on electric power to alert pedestrians, standard equipment has shifted and trickled down the range, and a flagship GR Sport variant has been introduced.
On test here is the premium 2026 Toyota Corolla Cross Atmos, which sits alongside the GR Sport. It now features ventilated front seats, a redesigned centre console, new LED headlight internals, and, like the rest of the range, a new look front and rear.
That’s a raft of changes, but they haven’t come cheap. Is the Corolla Cross better for it all?
How much does the Toyota Corolla Cross cost?
The entire Corolla Cross range is now $960 more expensive than before, which means our Atmos AWD tester costs $50,990 before on-roads.
| Model | Price before on-road costs |
|---|---|
| 2026 Toyota Corolla Cross GX 2WD | $37,440 |
| 2026 Toyota Corolla Cross GXL 2WD | $41,190 |
| 2026 Toyota Corolla Cross GXL AWD | $44,190 |
| 2026 Toyota Corolla Cross Atmos 2WD | $47,990 |
| 2026 Toyota Corolla Cross Atmos AWD | $50,990 |
| 2026 Toyota Corolla Cross GR Sport AWD | $50,990 |
That’s quite a lot to fork out for a small SUV, especially when you consider that an all-wheel drive RAV4 XSE costs only $920 more and has much of the same kit. It’s also more than $10,000 dearer than a top-spec Yaris Cross Urban.
Small SUV rivals include other top-spec variants like the Hyundai Kona Hybrid Premium N Line ($48,950 before on-roads), MG ZS Essence Hybrid+ ($36,990 drive-away), and GWM Haval Jolion Ultra Hybrid ($38,990 drive-away).
To the end of August 2025, those three models are ahead of the Corolla Cross in sales by at least 4000 units.
To see how the Toyota Corolla Cross stacks up against its rivals, use our comparison tool
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What is the Toyota Corolla Cross like on the inside?
Not all that interesting, which is very much a theme with the Corolla Cross.
It’s clear Toyota has prioritised function over form, and this car is better for it. To start, it’s incredibly easy to get into the Corolla Cross, even by SUV standards.
The large door opening, appropriate seat and floor height, and ample floor space all contribute to this. That should make it more appealing to the elderly or people with poor mobility.
Once you are in, you’ll find the seats very comfortable. They’re finished in a mix of leather and cloth but feel very soft, not to mention well-sculpted, supportive, and a near-perfect fit for my average-size frame – a welcome discovery in this small mainstream SUV.
This contributes to the car’s strong ergonomics, as the range of adjustment in both the seat and leather-wrapped steering wheel makes it easy to find a good driving position.
After you’re settled, you’ll find most interior controls are physical. The quality-feeling steering wheel features a range of hard plastic buttons, while a physical climate control system is fitted in the middle, effectively identical to what is found in the regular Corolla.
It’s not flashy, but it all works. The only thing that will hold you up is the customisation for the 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, as it can be cumbersome to adjust using the buttons on the steering wheel – this is the same in other Toyotas, but at least it’s set-and-forget.
The 10.5-inch infotainment display, meanwhile, is easier to navigate with its vertical shortcut ribbon and clear labels. Its graphics are on par with the rest of Toyota’s range, and beyond the way it juts out of the dashboard it looks fine and works well.
There are also the typical buttons on the steering wheel for adjusting the audio, all of which are easy to reach with your thumbs.
Of course, the interior isn’t all that visually interesting. It’s dominated by large, flat, scratchy surfaces and simple shapes, which means that nothing is hidden out of sight; however, it is possible to get bored with the way it all looks.
The centre console is at least fresh, with less cheap-looking plastic and an overall sleeker design. There’s still a wireless phone charger ahead of the gear selector and a selection of hard plastic buttons, but there’s a fair bit of piano black plastic now, in a very scratchable spot too.
Otherwise, there’s enough space in that central cubby for a phone when not charging, as well as a pair of cupholders and bottle holders in the doors. These are below the door armrests, which aren’t particularly friendly to bony elbows.
The central armrest is at least nice and soft, and you can slide it forward or back to find what’s comfortable. Underneath is a small storage cubby, which houses a 12V outlet – there’s only one USB-C port up front, next to the gear selector.
The second row is a similarly bland affair. Its seats are surprisingly soft and supportive, but while it’s a fine atmosphere and I like a black headliner, there isn’t much here to keep your eyes satisfied.
The black upholstery is one thing, but you’ll also find black plastic used exclusively on the door cards and centre console. There’s at least a decent amount of amenities, like dual rear-facing air vents, dual USB-C ports, deep cupholders in the doors, and a fold-down armrest with two cupholders to boot.
It’s also fairly tight, and at 173cm I had just enough leg and head room. With the central armrest down and doors closed, I actually found it to be quite cosy in the back – I couldn’t speak for anyone taller, though.
Additionally, the panoramic sunroof fitted to the Atmos makes the second row feel a little more open.
Powered assistance makes the tailgate easy to open, revealing a usable space. The main load floor is flat and it’s easy enough to lift things into, even if sliding anything is difficult because of the ‘carpeted’ floor that isn’t secured down.
There are also narrow slits on each side for storing anything small, along with a tray on the driver’s side for loose items. That’s about all you get in the boot, and it’s unfortunate that because this is an all-wheel drive variant you only get a tyre repair kit.
Boot space is also reduced to 380 litres in AWD models, down from 414L in front-wheel drives. Toyota doesn’t quote a seats-down figure, but for context the Kona offers 407L with the seats up, while a ZS offers 443L.
This is a result of the Corolla Cross’ all-wheel drive arrangement with a rear-mounted electric motor, where the other two models are front-wheel drive. Toyota’s high-voltage battery is placed under the rear seat.
| Dimensions | Toyota Corolla Cross Atmos AWD |
|---|---|
| Length | 4460mm |
| Width | 1825mm |
| Height | 1620mm |
| Wheelbase | 2640mm |
| Cargo capacity | 380L |
To see how the Toyota Corolla Cross stacks up against its rivals, use our comparison tool
What’s under the bonnet?
Since petrol-only variants were axed in 2024, the Corolla Cross is now available with just one hybrid powertrain. This consists of a 2.0-litre naturally aspirated four-cylinder petrol engine paired with a hybrid transaxle to produce a peak power output of 146kW (Toyota doesn’t state a combined torque figure).
| Specifications | Toyota Corolla Cross Atmos AWD |
|---|---|
| Engine | 2.0L naturally aspirated 4cyl |
| Engine outputs | 112kW/188Nm |
| Peak electric motor outputs | 83kW/206Nm |
| Peak system outputs | 146kW |
| Battery | 4.06Ah li-ion |
| Transmission | e-CVT |
| Drive type | All-wheel drive |
| Kerb weight | 1550kg |
| 0-100km/h (claimed) | 7.6 seconds |
| Fuel economy (claimed) | 4.4L/100km |
| Fuel economy (as tested) | 4.9L/100km |
| Fuel tank capacity | 43L |
| Fuel requirement | 91-octane regular unleaded |
| CO2 emissions | 100g/km |
| Emissions standard | Euro 5 |
| Braked tow capacity | 750kg |
Like many other hybrid Toyota models, the Corolla Cross AWD lacks a mechanical connection between the front and rear axles. That leaves the petrol engine responsible for driving the front wheels only, while the electric portion can power both the front- and rear-ends.
The engine is often used to charge the battery too, which is controlled automatically, while regenerative braking occurs when coasting or applying the brake pedal. Power flow can be monitored on the instrument display.
Our recorded fuel economy figure was within a comfortable vicinity of Toyota’s claim, despite pushing the car for prolonged periods of time at 100km/h or more. Highway driving dominated our week with the car, which included a 440km round trip to Phillip Island.
To see how the Toyota Corolla Cross stacks up against its rivals, use our comparison tool
How does the Toyota Corolla Cross drive?
If you’ve driven a Toyota hybrid, nothing about the Corolla Cross will come as a surprise.
Toyota’s signature beeps signal this as you unlock the car, which happens as soon as you grab the door handle with the key nearby. Pressing the start button once you’re inside won’t immediately fire up the engine; instead, the car’s hybrid system allows all systems to kick into life silently.
It’ll also set off silently when you slide the gear selector to Drive, which makes it ideal if you’re often leaving home while others are asleep. The engine will start when you inevitably depress the accelerator beyond a certain point or when travelling above a certain speed, and it behaves differently depending on the situation.
At low speed, the engine will primarily charge the battery while the car moves along on electric power. This can happen in front- or all-wheel drive, and you may sometimes notice that the power flow monitor shows the engine and electric motor powering the front wheels at the same time.
The electric motor will often engage all four wheels when accelerating from a standstill, providing improved traction, which is particularly useful in the wet. None of this changes the way the Corolla Cross behaves in everyday driving, and there’s a dedicated button to lock it in EV mode at city speeds.
There’s still a healthy electric push when setting off, but under hard acceleration the engine is brash and very rev-happy, even without rapid movement in ‘Normal’ mode. This is typical of Toyotas lumped with CVTs.
At highway speeds, the electric motor will usually be disengaged entirely. This leaves the petrol engine to drive the front wheels only, and it can feel strained trying to hold a steady pace at 110km/h as it revs away.
The engine will at least shut off when you lift off the throttle, which saves fuel and allows the car’s regenerative braking system to create some battery charge. That regen effect is fairly weak in Drive, but switching to ‘B’ makes it much stronger – this combines both electric regen and lower gearing for noticeable engine braking.
If you need more poke, changing the drive mode to ‘Power’ will give you just that. The difference is significant, and perfect if you need to make a quick overtake.
It’s also worth noting that the brake pedal will take a moment to get used to. The initial bit of the pedal’s travel appears to be mostly regenerative braking, and depressing it further engages the hydraulic brakes in a way that can be sudden if you’re not ready for it.
This doesn’t make the Corolla Cross difficult to drive – it’ll just be a small learning curve if you’re coming from a traditional non-hybrid car.
What won’t be surprising is the steering. Toyota typically does well to make its cars steer in a way that feels right, and it’s no different in the Corolla Cross. It’s weighted appropriately and gives enough feedback from the road, though you’ll still get a bit of body roll around turns.
On the other hand, it seems a little unhappy at maximum freeway speeds, where this small SUV feels a but stilted and not as planted as well as we’d like, which when coupled with the revvy engine means it isn’t the best long-distance cruiser.
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The ride is still comfortable and good at managing high-speed bumps, but you’ll just need to keep tabs on the car’s behaviour – particularly on crumbling rural highways. Road noise isn’t tranquil either, which is to be expected on the Atmos’ larger 18-inch wheels, but it’s better on the GXL’s 17s.
The upside is the Corolla Cross is set up in a way that suits low-speed, urban driving. The steering is nimble in such environments, and the suspension absorbs typical obstacles and bumps such as tram tracks well.
The Corolla Cross’ modest stature also makes it easy to manoeuvre, while its fairly large windows provide good visibility. A drawback is that the rear windscreen resembles a letterbox slot.
Still, there’s a strong array of sensors and cameras, the latter of which is supported by a surround-view monitor of surprisingly high resolution and a see-through chassis function. All this makes the car easy to park, especially in tight multi-level garages.
Toyota’s suite of safety gear is also dependable. We didn’t have any issues with over-sensitive collision warnings or lane-keep inputs, with the only interventions coming when we actually wandered too close to the lane markings.
We also found its adaptive cruise control and lane-centring systems to be reliable, and able to match traffic flow while comfortably keeping the car in its lane. It can also cope with rural highways, but is reluctant to apply much steering lock at speed.
It also hesitates to accelerate when changing lanes, which is common for Toyota cars but annoying if you’ve already caught up to a slower car ahead. This can be unnerving if faster cars are approaching from behind in the overtaking lane, requiring you to take over on the throttle briefly.
Otherwise, the Corolla Cross is predictable on the road, if not a little bland.
To see how the Toyota Corolla Cross stacks up against its rivals, use our comparison tool
What do you get?
Four grades now make up the Corolla Cross range. The GXL is now better equipped, as it has gained items such as a surround-view camera, wireless phone charger, and snow drive mode that were previously only available on the Atmos.
2025 Toyota Corolla Cross GX standard equipment highlights:
- 17-inch alloy wheels
- Space-saver spare wheel
- LED headlights
- Halogen daytime running lights
- Power folding, heated side mirrors
- Embossed fabric seats
- Manual front seat adjustment
- Rear seats with tilt function
- Urethane steering wheel
- Electric park brake
- 2 x front, 2 x rear cupholders
- Retractable luggage cover
- 60:40-split rear seats
- Automatic climate control
- 7.0-inch driver’s instrument display
- Proximity entry with push-button start
- 12V power socket, front
- USB-C port in centre console
- Power windows
- Door pockets with bottle holders
- 8.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system
- 6-speaker sound system
- AM/FM/DAB+ radio
- Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
- Toyota Connected Services (12-month subscription)
Corolla Cross GXL adds:
- Tyre repair kit (AWD only)
- Front fog lights
- High-grade LED headlights
- Sequential turn signals
- Rain-sensing wipers
- Rear privacy glass
- Roof rails
- 10.5-inch touchscreen infotainment system
- Satellite navigation
- Wireless phone charger
- Dual-zone climate control
- USB-C rear charge ports
- Auto-dimming rear-view mirror
- Heated front seats
- Leather-accented shift knob
- Leather-accented steering wheel
- Leather-accented/fabric upholstery
- Snow drive mode (AWD only)
Corolla Cross Atmos adds:
- 18-inch alloy wheels
- Panoramic glass sunroof
- Hands-free power tailgate
- 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster
- Illuminated entry system
- Rear cupholders
- Rear armrest
- Ventilated front seats
- Heated steering wheel
- Leather-accented upholstery
- 8-way power driver’s seat
Corolla Cross GR Sport adds:
- 19-inch alloy wheels
- Lowered sports suspension
- Retuned steering
- Unique front and rear bumpers
To see how the Toyota Corolla Cross stacks up against its rivals, use our comparison tool
Is the Toyota Corolla Cross safe?
The Toyota Corolla Cross range wears a five-star ANCAP safety rating based on testing conducted in 2022.
| Category | Toyota Corolla Cross |
|---|---|
| Adult occupant protection | 85 per cent |
| Child occupant protection | 88 per cent |
| Vulnerable road user protection | 87 per cent |
| Safety assist | 83 per cent |
Standard safety features include:
- 8 airbags incl. front-centre airbag
- Blind-spot monitoring incl. safe exit assist
- Parking support brake incl. vehicle, object detection
- Rear cross-traffic alert
- Reversing camera
- Toyota Safety Sense
- AEB with pedestrian, cyclist detection
- Adaptive cruise control incl. curve speed reduction
- Auto high-beam
- Lane departure warning
- Lane keep assist
- Lane Trace Assist (centring)
- Lane change assist
- Speed sign assist
Corolla Cross GXL adds:
- ‘Simple’ panoramic view monitor
Corolla Cross Atmos adds:
- Enhanced panoramic view monitor (see-through view)
- Advanced Park Assist
- Parking support brake incl. pedestrian detection
To see how the Toyota Corolla Cross stacks up against its rivals, use our comparison tool
How much does the Toyota Corolla Cross cost to run?
The Corolla Cross is backed by Toyota Australia’s five-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty, which extends to seven years for the engine and driveline provided the car is serviced on time and within the Japanese brand’s national dealer network.
| Servicing and Warranty | Toyota Corolla Cross |
|---|---|
| Warranty | 5 years, unlimited kilometres |
| Roadside assistance | $99 or $139 per year, depending on plan |
| Service intervals | 12 months or 15,000km |
| Capped-price servicing | 5 years ($255 each) |
| Total capped-price service cost | $1275 |
Maintenance costs are up $5 per service from the pre-update model.
To see how the Toyota Corolla Cross stacks up against its rivals, use our comparison tool
CarExpert’s Take on the Toyota Corolla Cross Atmos AWD
In bolting a more upright body to the Corolla platform, Toyota hasn’t lost much of what makes the hatch brilliant.
Although it may be mechanically similar and dimensionally comparable, the on-road experience proves that the Corolla Cross has plenty to offer in its own right. The headline act is efficiency, as even prolonged driving outside of the car’s comfort zone doesn’t see it chug through fuel.
Its interior – and seats in particular – are very comfortable, which makes for a pleasant drive when combined with the impressive ride comfort. It’s difficult to make a small SUV ride well due to a high-riding body atop a short wheelbase, but the Corolla Cross handles most bumps with composure.
It’s only when speeds pick up and road conditions deteriorate that it feels a little out of its league, but the crashy chassis is nothing to worry about and it isn’t about to fall out from underneath you. The regular Corolla has it beat when it comes to handling dynamics and body control, but that’s hardly surprising.
All that makes for a great car overall, but not for the $51,000 Atmos in particular. Save some cash and go for a front-wheel drive Corolla Cross GXL instead – the recent updates have made that variant a much more convincing value proposition.
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