Raised Expectations

Comfortably carrying the weight of responsibility that comes with the Corolla nameplate, Toyota's family-focused SUV package continues to shine in the light of increased competition

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A chat with Ian McLaren on his return from driving the forthcoming new Volkswagen Tiguan eTSI revealed interesting comparisons between the German brand's latest hybrid technology and the workings of my Corolla Cross HEV. While the former incorporates a 48 V starter-generator setup to complement the workings of the 1.5-litre turbopetrol engine, including seamlessly placing the transmission into a coast mode in certain conditions, Toyota's proven traditional hybrid setup focuses on supplementing the 1.8-litre engine's on-the-move performance via its ability to drive for short distances, including initial pull-away, in EV mode. Both systems harvest regenerative (braking) energy to recharge their respective batteries.

Satisfied with my average fuel consumption of just 4.70 L/100 km in the Corolla Cross, if there was one aspect of Toyota's HEV technology I would change, it would be to pair it with a torque-converter-type transmission, as opposed to the CVT solution. This can detract somewhat from the otherwise refined ownership experience, notably under hard acceleration.