Tested: Toyota Corolla Cross – ok without a charging cable?

At the bottom of the incline towards the highway, the speed is lowered, and then the throttle is silently placed on the floor. The motor roars loudly for joy, here plenty of noise isolation has come to the rescue, and the stepless gearbox works best in cooperation with the front and rear electric motors.

Two out of three claims were upheld

Toyota states that 0-100 km/h should take 7.5 seconds, and that claim appears to be true. They also say that better acceleration should make driving more enjoyable, and they also promise that the driver will experience a better relationship between throttle use and vehicle response.

A two out of three possible result is a usable one, but as so often before, the stepless gearbox makes it difficult to perceive any logical connection between throttle, rpm and speed.

But that doesn’t really matter that much. Toyota Corolla Cross recovers with its charm and comfort.

Like many other models from that manufacturer, the Toyota Corolla Cross has a stepless gearbox, which means the engine runs with great enthusiasm and not a little noisy when you least expect it. Photo: Ragnvald Johansen/Finansavisen

Huge grill

According to the manufacturer, the 2.0-liter petrol engine produces 152 horsepower and 190 Nm. Combined with the two electric motors, output should be 197 horsepower, but total torque isn’t specified. The maximum speed is 180 km / h, and the permissible trailer weight is 750 kg.

Claimed consumption is 0.54 liters per mile, and at today’s fuel prices that’s good for what looks like a roomy C-Class SUV.

The massive grill may give the impression of being larger, but it ends up in a range with Nissan Qashqai and Peugeot 2008.

Pricing starts at NOK 455,700 for the cheapest version called the Active, and it should be possible to order the car now.

With some crossovers in the list of options, the Toyota Corolla Cross comes with a panoramic glass roof, which also makes it bright and pleasant in the back seat. Photo: Ragnvald Johansen/Finansavisen

down to earth

The car is based on the TNGA-C platform, and is placed in size between the Toyota C-HR and RAV4. The design is so similar to the latter that for a moment there was doubt as to whether there was a calendar mix-up.

But when you look closely, the Toyota Corolla Cross is nicer, rounder and more down-to-earth with less ground clearance than the RAV4.

All-wheel drive is provided by the rear electric motor, and is probably intended more as a helping hand on steep inclines than something to explore the deep woods with.

A small detour between Spanish vines shows that it does well in local cultivation, and then also activates a smart camera function that allows you to see “through” the car.

Toyota Corolla Cross can get out among the vineyards in Spain without encountering any particular problems. When it notices that you have chosen a narrow path, it activates a camera that allows you to see stones and obstacles along the side and partly under the car. Photo: Ragnvald Johansen/Finansavisen

The gentle lamentation

Another thing that the Toyota Corolla Cross handles well is potholes, bumps and off-road surfaces. The suspension is set up in such a soft way that it’s reminiscent of an old American from the more expensive end of the price scale.

Fortunately, it neither rolls nor pigeons, and when a turn on a country road turns out to be a developed semicircle, it obediently bites off with only a slight pathos of the tires.

The engine revs up when you least expect it, but after testing a number of electric cars recently, the sound of the combustion engine is welcome.

In the fifth generation, the combination of electric and petrol propulsion has eliminated all vibration going from one to the next, and aside from a gentle hum, only the digital instrumentation tells you what’s going on.

Toyota Corolla Cross has a soft suspension that swallows bumps, a little reminiscent of an old American. Photo: Ragnvald Johansen/Finansavisen

small mirror

Toyota Corolla Cross defines comfort through ease of use, rather than isolation from the environment. The oversized side mirrors can fit a pickup truck, and they make a lot of wind noise at high speeds. But it gives a really good overview of the rear, which feels safe.

The buttons for turning on the heat in the seat and steering wheel are very relevant in this country, and Toyota has made them so durable that even the largest working fists will be able to operate them with ease.

To adjust the temperature, it is enough to turn the knob, and for the group of customers who like to drive a Toyota Corolla, it is probably just right. The point is, this customer group is very large and loyal, which is something many other manufacturers would like.

According to Toyota, they have sold more than 50 million Corollas over the course of 55 years and 12 generations. They also state that the sales target is 400,000 units annually, with a 9% market share in 2025.

The trunk of the Toyota Corolla Cross is quite large, with a volume of 433 liters, which can be increased to 1337 liters by folding the seats. Photo: Ragnvald Johansen/Finansavisen

Medium finesse

Part of this pie of 400,000 Toyota Corolla crossovers will certainly get Norwegian plates, although very few electric cars are sold in this country.

China’s NIO recently celebrated one year in the country’s most expensive sales premises in Karl Johan, and managed to report initial sales of 905 cars. They also offer SUVs, with plenty of equipment, battery operation and personal service.

But sitting in the well-cushioned seats, it’s easy to understand that many are choosing to trade in their old Corolla for a new one.

The Toyota Corolla Cross is the latest version of a model that Toyota has sold for 55 years and, according to them, has sold more than 50 million copies. Photo: Ragnvald Johansen/Finansavisen

It offers no surprises, and is just a slightly larger, better-equipped version of the same car they had before, and the one that came before it again, which some of their parents may have also driven.

The sun is setting over the vineyards of Spain, and there’s no shortage of low-tempo buzz with Tim McGraw when he sings “I like it, I like it, I want more of it.”