Toyota South Africa has confirmed that the locally-built Corolla Cross will be launched at the beginning of November. The manufacturer has also released a few details about its positioning.
For starters, Toyota SA has confirmed that the Corolla Cross will be available with an assortment of exterior accessory packages that suit a wide variety of tastes, including “rugged, adventure themed” models as well as “sporty urban” themes.
The manufacturer has also confirmed that the new high-riding Corolla variant will slot between the C-HR and RAV4 models, both in terms of size and powertrain configuration. It’s not quite clear how the new Corolla Cross will be priced in relation to its siblings, but it’s a sure bet that it will be somewhat more affordable than the slightly larger RAV4, which starts at R482 400. The C-HR currently has a starting price of R402 300.
The Corolla Cross is built around Toyota’s modular TNGA platform, and it is expected to be offered with the familiar 1,8-litre normally aspirated petrol engine as well as a hybrid variant.
The new SUV will be the first TNGA variant to be built at the local plant in Prospecton, near Durban. It will be built alongside the older-generation Corolla Quest as well as the Hilux, Fortuner and Hiace.
“The TNGA platform (GA-C) has enabled the Corolla Cross to achieve high-quality performance, a comfortable ride, and outstanding quietness,” Toyota SA said. “In addition to its exceptional comfort, the Corolla Cross provides a spacious cabin, easy entry into and exit from the car, class-leading luggage space suitable for all scenarios, and safety equipment inherited from the Corolla series.”
South African pricing and specifications for the Toyota Corolla Cross will be released closer to launch. The vehicle will go up against compact SUVs like the Hyundai Creta, Mazda CX-30, Nissan Qashqai and Kia Seltos.
