Corolla Cross 1.8 HEV at KLIMS 2024
The 2025 Toyota Corolla Cross facelift has been launched at the Kuala Lumpur International Mobility Show (KLIMS) 2024 following the opening of order books last month. The refreshed SUV comes in three variants – two hybrid and one pure petrol.
The variants are the 1.8V (RM133,800), the 1.8 HEV (RM140,800) and the 1.8 HEV GR Sport that retails for RM148,800. As the outgoing GR Sport isn’t a hybrid, the latter is a new variant for our market. As before, the Corolla Cross is CKD locally assembled at Toyota’s Bukit Raja, Selangor plant.
The updated Corolla Cross sports a new front end that features redesigned bi-LED headlamps (with sequential signals) and a slimmer upper grille. The main grille just below also gets honeycomb perforations and blends in neatly into prominent faux intakes at the sides.
Corolla Cross 1.8 HEV at KLIMS 2024
The GR Sport gets a very different front end so there’s definitely no confusion between the two faces, and there’s also a two-tone paintjob, clear lens tail lamps for a ‘smoky’ look, rear bumper lower garnish and GR/GR Sport emblems. The sporty one also comes with stiffer suspension, a performance chassis brace and a ‘Sport ECU’ for the electric power steering.
All three variants ride on 18-inch wheels with 225/50 Toyo rubber. The rims of the 1.8V and standard HEV have a dark grey metallic finish while the GR Sport rides on two-tone wheels. There are five paint options – Red Mica Metallic, Platinum White Pearl, Silver Metallic, Celestite Grey Metallic (HEV only) and Dark Turquoise, which is a new colour. The GR Sport combines a black roof with Platinum White Pearl, Red Mica Metallic and Dark Turquoise.
Inside, the pure ICE base model gets a 4.2-inch colour MID, but the hybrids come with a 12.3-inch screen with three layouts and four visual designs (Casual, Smart, Tough, Sporty), along with real-time hybrid-specific displays, of course.
Corolla Cross 1.8 HEV at KLIMS 2024
Infotainment is courtesy of a 10.1-inch touchscreen (previously 9.0-inch) with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The biggest interior upgrade is the electronic parking brake with auto hold, which replaces the antiquated foot-operated parking brake.
Trim wise, the black interior of the 1.8V and HEV is sprinkled with dark brown accents. No brown for the GR Sport, which pairs black with red stitching on the leather-wrapped steering wheel, leather-wrapped gearshift lever knob and boot, and leather seats. The front headrests are also embossed with the GR logo. That logo also appears on the engine start/stop button.
All variants come with a powered tailgate that’s activated by placing a foot under the rear bumper. Of course, the boot can also be opened by the smart key, dashboard switch or the physical button on the car. By the way, cargo volume is a very decent 440 litres with the hybrid battery located under the rear seats.
Corolla Cross HEV GR Sport facelift, Thai-market; looks similar to the pre-facelift GRS
Speaking of the battery, it’s a nickel-metal hydride (Ni-MH) pack supplying two electric motors assisting a 1.8-litre four-cylinder NA engine. The Atkinson cycle 2ZR-FXE produces 98 PS and 142 Nm of torque. Combined, the system has 122 PS, and 163 Nm of torque from the 72 PS primary motor is available from rest, which ensures good pick-up. Power delivery to the front wheels is via an E-CVT specially designed for hybrids.
By the way, you can start the engine remotely using the Toyota MY smartphone app. This also allows activation of the air-con so that the cabin can be cooled down before entry.
Safety wise, the Corolla Cross comes with Toyota Safety Sense 2.0, which uses a camera and radar to power Pre-Collision System (PCS), Lane Departure Alert (LDA) with Steering Assist, Lane Tracing Assist (LTA), Dynamic Radar Cruise Control (DRCC) – All Speed and the Automatic High Beam (AHB). There’s also a vehicle telematics system with three years of free subscription. Solar and security window film is included.
The vehicle warranty is for five years with no limit on mileage. Hybrid models get a separate eight-year unlimited mileage warranty for the hybrid battery pack, inverter and power management control ECU. There’s an option to extend the hybrid warranty for another two years – the warranty is transferable and will enhance resale value and give more peace of mind to owners, UMWT says.
Once again, the Toyota Corolla Cross facelift is priced at RM133,800 for the 1.8V (down by RM3,600), RM140,800 for the 1.8 HEV (down by RM1,200) and RM148,800 for the 1.8 HEV GR Sport, which is up RM6,600 from the pre-facelift non-hybrid GR Sport.
By the way, the facelifted GR Sport – which looks very similar to the pre-facelift GR Sport – is not present at the KLIMS press day, but we’ve attached pics of the Thai-market car here.
GALLERY: Toyota Corolla Cross 1.8 HEV at KLIMS 2024
GALLERY: Toyota Corolla Cross HEV GR Sport facelift at BIMS 2024
The post 2025 Toyota Corolla Cross facelift launched at KLIMS 2024 – 1.8 V, HEV; GR Sport now hybrid, RM134k-149k appeared first on Paul Tan’s Automotive News.
