Toyota Corolla Cross 2023 Review

The competition in Malaysia's C-segment SUV market has become increasingly fierce in recent years, with many family users and young consumers preferring models that are practical in space, offer balanced configurations, and have reliable brands. The 2023 Toyota Corolla Cross 1.8G AT, positioned as the mid-range variant of the lineup, enters the market at a price of RM 130,900. Its core selling points focus on Toyota's consistent durability while providing a wealth of safety features and comfort functions, all within a reasonable price range. This test drive will focus on verifying its space performance, daily practicality of its powertrain, and whether its configurations truly meet the needs of target users.

In terms of exterior design, the 2023 Corolla Cross 1.8G AT continues the bold and rugged family style, with concise yet layered lines throughout the body. The front features a large trapezoidal grille paired with horizontally blackened trim. The LED headlights on both sides are connected to the grille, enhancing the visual width. The lower part of the front bumper includes silver protective trim, enhancing the SUV's off-road feel. From the side, the 17-inch alloy wheels (tire specification 215/60R17) are paired with a straight waistline running from the front to the rear. The rear LED taillights adopt a smoked finish, echoing the silver protective trim on the rear bumper and enhancing overall recognition. The lighting system comes standard across the range with LED light sources, including daytime running lights and front fog lights, providing clear illumination at night or in adverse weather conditions.

Inside, the interior features a dark color scheme, with the center console wrapped in soft-touch materials, offering a delicate feel. The 9-inch touchscreen infotainment display is positioned at the top of the center console, providing smooth operation and supporting basic multimedia functions. Below it, some physical buttons are retained for convenient operation while driving. The instrument cluster includes a 4.2-inch LCD screen that displays basic information such as speed, fuel consumption, and mileage, with clear readability. In terms of configuration, the 1.8G AT comes standard with keyless entry/start, an 8-way electrically adjustable driver's seat, automatic air conditioning, rain-sensing wipers, and a 6-speaker audio system. The front row is also equipped with a 220V/230V power outlet to meet daily charging needs. Safety features are a highlight of this car, with all models coming standard with 7 airbags (including a knee airbag), ABS, vehicle stability control, blind-spot monitoring, and an active braking system, providing comprehensive safety protection for occupants.

In terms of space performance, the 2023 Corolla Cross 1.8G AT has body dimensions of 4450mm×1825mm×1620mm and a wheelbase of 2640mm. The rear legroom is quite spacious, allowing a passenger who is 175cm tall to sit in the rear with about two fists' worth of space between their knees and the front seats. Headroom is also quite ample. The trunk has a capacity of 440L, making it sufficient for storing 2-3 suitcases, and the rear seats support a 60:40 split fold, which can further expand storage space, offering great practicality. In terms of storage capabilities, the design of the front central armrest box, door storage compartments, and cup holders is quite reasonable, allowing for the storage of everyday items such as phones and water bottles. The rear seats are equipped with air conditioning vents, enhancing the comfort of rear-seat passengers.

In terms of the power system, the 1.8G AT is equipped with a 1.8L naturally aspirated engine, with a maximum power of 103kW (139PS) and a maximum torque of 172N·m, paired with a CVT transmission, featuring a front-engine, front-wheel-drive layout. During actual driving, the power response during the start is relatively linear, the acceleration process is steady, and the CVT transmission provides good smoothness without significant jerking. When driving in urban roads, the power is sufficient to handle daily commuting, and overtaking requires stepping harder on the accelerator. Once the engine revs increase, there is a noticeable burst of power. The suspension system uses front MacPherson independent suspension and rear torsion beam non-independent suspension, with tuning focused on comfort. It effectively filters out most vibrations when passing uneven roads, maintaining the stability of the car body. The steering wheel provides precise control with minimal dead zone, making it agile and suitable for urban driving.

In terms of specialized performance tests, the car's fuel efficiency is remarkable, with a combined fuel consumption of approximately 6.5L per 100 kilometers under mixed road conditions. For a C-segment SUV, this fuel economy performance is quite impressive. Regarding braking performance, the ventilated disc brakes both in the front and rear provide stable braking effects with short stopping distances, offering sufficient confidence. In terms of noise control, when driving at high speed, wind noise and tire noise are somewhat noticeable but within an acceptable range and do not affect normal communication among passengers inside the car. Regarding seat comfort, the front seats offer good cushioning and are not prone to causing fatigue during long drives. The rear seats are also well-padded, offering high levels of passenger comfort.

To summarize, the key strengths of the 2023 Toyota Corolla Cross 1.8G AT lie in its well-balanced configuration, practical space, and reliable safety performance. Compared to competitors in the same class, such as the Honda HR-V 1.5V, it has advantages in safety features (7 airbags) and price, while the HR-V has a slight lead in power parameters. It is suitable for families prioritizing practicality and safety as well as young consumers seeking brand reliability. Overall, the 2023 Toyota Corolla Cross 1.8G AT is a C-segment SUV that balances family and daily commuting needs, with impressive performance in terms of space, features, and fuel economy. It is one of the models worth considering in this market segment.