With Toyota South Africa preparing for the launch of the SA-built Corolla Cross, internationally a Corolla Cross GR Sport was announced.

The Toyota Corolla Cross will be arriving in local showrooms towards the end of the year, fresh off the production line at Toyota SA’s plant in Durban. With petrol and hybrid options available, it looks like customers will be spoilt for choice when it comes to SUVs around the R350k mark.

The Corolla Cross will be slotted between the Toyota C-HR, Urban Cruiser and the Toyota RAV4, giving customers more choice than ever when it comes to a family SUV.

Toyota Corolla Cross SA Prices and Specs Confirmed

As comprehensive as the SA range is, it’s lacking a sporty touch. Enter the GR Sport, which has just been announced by Toyota Asia. Like all GR Sport models in Toyota’s portfolio, this isn’t a performance version, but rather a mostly cosmetic upgrade.

With subtle GR Sport badging inside and out, as well as a new-look front bumper with unique intakes and foglight recesses, the Corolla Cross GR Sport looks bold and interesting. There are also unique headlights and taillights as well as interior upgrades.

Inside, the Corolla Cross GR Sport theme extends to the interior panels and seats, with a black theme throughout. There’s a GR Sport logo on the start button as well as the seats. It is not just about the looks and Toyota says its Corolla Cross GR Sport also gets an adjusted suspension with thicker shock absorbers and stabilizers. The steering setup is also said to be reconfigured, presumably to give it a bit more feel and engagement.

The engine is left untouched and for the record, the Corolla Cross is powered by a 1.8-litre naturally-aspirated petrol engine delivering 103 kW and 173 Nm. The hybrid model has a 1.8-litre petrol engine paired to an electric motor giving it a total output of 90 kW.

Toyota South Africa confirmed the GR Sport will be available in SA, but at a later stage. Expect it in 2022.

Further Reading

Toyota Corolla Cross Specs and Pricing Confirmed for SA

Toyota Urban Cruiser (2021) Review