2024 Toyota Corolla Cross 1.8 GR-S HEV

Extra style for extra dough

When you think of the adjectives to describe a Corolla, or a Toyota in general, the words that would first come to mind would probably be reliable, or practical. Truth be told, generations of the Corolla have proven that these things could run forever, which made it highly popular.

Those attributes were carried over as consumer preferences changed over the years. When demand called for Toyota to build a crossover smaller than the RAV4, the Corolla Cross was born. And when it was time to embrace electrification, both the Corolla Altis and Corolla Cross were one of the first ones to become a hybrid.

However, there are two things the Corolla nameplate wasn’t exactly known for – it wasn’t visually exciting, nor was it exciting to drive. Let’s see if the new Corolla Cross GR-S can change that.

As we all know, the GR Sport is the Toyota equivalent of what BMW M Sport. You get all the sporty styling while performance more or less remains similar to the standard model.

This year, the Corolla Cross was recently given a minor model refresh whereas the standard V and G models got a revised exterior. This GR-S version, on the other hand, remained the same outside from when it was first launched in 2022.

Quite honestly, nothing really needed to be changed on the exterior. It’s still one of the most handsome-looking crossovers out there with its different set of bumpers, with some gloss black highlights for that extra visual flair, and the clear taillights at the rear. What I like the most about the GR-S is the choice of wheels – 18s in two-tone finish, and fitted to Michelin rubber.

The Emotional Red color is striking, and it will indeed attract quite the attention when parked outside. But overall, the GR styling treatment in my opinion was just right – not overdone. The goal was met in turning the Corolla Cross’ rather conservative look into something sportier. And yes Toyoda-san, I agree. This does not look like a boring car at all.

I had the GR-S at the same time our team had the base G version of the Corolla Cross, and I was indeed impressed with how Toyota made the cabin of the GR-S feel more upmarket by simply changing a few materials inside. It’s still no Lexus, but the soft-touch surfaces on the dashboard, the door sidings, and the leather upholstery rivals that of the HR-V RS.

Since it is the top-spec variant, the GR-S welcomes you with its new panoramic glass roof, a black headliner for added sportiness, and the front seats with the GR embossed on the headrests. For the latest update, they added a few more things inside like a wireless charger, and a new electronic parking brake instead of the foot-operated parking brake lever.

There’s also a new 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster exclusive to the GR-S variant. The new screen gives off a level of detail that’s a step closer to smartphone levels, while the new 10-inch touchscreen infotainment gives a welcome improvement in connectivity with the wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

The rest is carried over with the previous versions so you still get respectable head and legroom on both the front and rear seats. There’s wider room for your legs on the driver’s seat since the foot-operated parking brake is no longer there, and the cargo space can still carry things up to 33 inches long, and 43 inches wide, extending to 53 inches long when you fold the 2nd row seats.

However, there are some issues I encountered with the new toys inside. The bigger touchscreen could use a bit more tweaking as it tends to get a bit laggy during operation. And in terms of value proposition, I do wish the GR-S model had a more premium sound system on board as you get basically the same speakers with the base G model.

Powering the Corolla Cross is the 1.8-liter hybrid powertrain that makes a combined 122 PS and 142 Nm of torque paired to an eCVT that drives the front wheels. This now applies to all three variants of the Corolla Cross that are currently on sale in the market.

I’ll be perfectly honest – driving the Corolla Cross GR-S is a rather uneventful affair, but the nice side about it is that it’s really fundamentally sound in terms of driving dynamics. The TNGA platform on the Corolla Cross keeps the experience relaxed, and quiet, and the GR-tuned suspension has further refined the riding comfort of the crossover rather than make it stiffer. It feels more planted than the base G variant, and it doesn’t float or wallow on road dips.

The acceleration of the vehicle won’t excite you, and the engine can get a bit audible when it wakes up. But the rather reassuring thing is that you have an instant response from the electric motor whenever you step hard on the throttle to do your overtakes.

When you want to maximize the hybrid system’s efficiency, all you have to do is watch your pedal application on the power gauge and keep it somewhere in the middle of the ECO range. That's usually when the Corolla Cross is at its most efficient since you keep the car on EV mode until the batteries run out of juice.

While the GR-S returns a more refined ride than the base G, the lower spec seems to fare better in terms of fuel efficiency than the top-of-the-line version. The GR-S averaged around 17 to 18 km/l in the city at a 17 km/h average, while that goes up to 26 km/l on the highway. On the G variant, however, I can easily do 22 km/l at the same average speed, and up to 28 km/l on the expressways. That may have a lot to do with the G variant getting smaller and skinnier wheels than the GR-S.

With a price of PHP 1.917 million (+ PHP 5K for the Emotional Red color), the GR-S version isn't cheap by any measure. Its nearest rival, the HR-V RS, costs PHP 200K less. Sure, you might get back the price difference through fuel savings in the long run, but that amount of money can already land you a bigger vehicle like a top-spec Japanese 4x4 pickup truck or a mid-variant 4x2 PPV.

I personally think when you look at value itself, the Corolla Cross is at its best with the base G variant. So what would make the GR-S worth getting over the base model that’s over PHP 400K less? Well, the Toyota Corolla Cross GR-S reminds me of a decision I made two years ago when I bought my Yaris.

While all second-gen Yaris models sold here from 2007 to 2013 had the same mechanicals, the 2012-2013 versions like mine pull a premium in the marketplace for a very simple reason. It has the RS body kit of the Japan-spec Yaris that made the car look sportier. I had the option of paying a lot less for what’s basically the same car, but every time I walked away from the parking lot and took a second look, that’s when I knew it was worth it to pay extra. It's all about buyer's satisfaction. It's something you really can't put a price on.

That is the type of customer I think Toyota is going for with the GR-S. Those who wouldn’t mind shelling out a bit more in exchange for something that would make them feel better about their purchase. Coughing up PHP 1.9 million isn’t easy, but if a stylish and flashy hybrid crossover sitting in your garage would leave a smile on your face every day, then the Corolla Cross GR-S fits the bill.