Hybrid for the people

Toyota is making a play for a sizeable chunk of the compact SUV market – and the time could be right for a hybrid

- By Rhynhardt Krynauw

Price: R448 300

Engine: 1,8-litre, 4-cylinder petrol + electric motor

Transmission: CVT

Power: 90 kW

Torque: 142 N.m 0-100 km/h: n/a

Top speed: 170 km/h*

Fuel consumption: 4,30 L/100 km* CO²: 98 g/km*

Rivals: Citroën C3 Aircross, Ford EcoSport, Hyundai Creta, Haval Jolion, Kia Seltos, Peugeot 2008

As you may know, Toyota has been hard at work on what it sees as an extremely important project. A few years of planning, billions in investment, hundreds of new tools, a squadron of assembly robots, a global pandemic and lots of wangling later, and the Corolla Cross has started rolling off the assembly line. And it’s built right here, in Prospecton, Durban. South African, and proudly so. It also has the honour of being the first hybrid built in SA. We took it for a spin at the local launch.

The Corolla family resemblence is strong, now with added heft for this latest SUF entrant.