The Toyota Corolla Cross which made its debut in July in Thailand has hit a jackpot. The Corolla Cross which is already enjoying handsome sales since the first month of its launch has achieved a phenomenal feat of scoring a hat-trick in being the bestselling car in its class in Thailand for 3 consecutive months.
Not only that the Toyota Corolla Cross sells in great numbers & has been the highest selling vehicle for the quarter ended 30th September 2020, it beats the runner up MG ZS by an enormous margin. The MG ZS was the bestselling car in its class prior to the launch of Corolla Cross and still stands at the top position for calendar year figures, but its average monthly sales are almost half compared to the figures of Toyota Corolla Cross.
The Corolla Cross sits on the TNGA platform and shares many of its components with 12th gen Corolla, particularly the almost identical interior. The Corolla Cross in Thailand comes with a choice of two engines, a 1.8-liter 2ZR-FBE gasoline engine with 140 hp of power and 175 Nm of torque that sends power to the front wheels via a CVT gearbox. Then there is a hybrid powertrain option with a 600-volt electric motor supplementing the setup with 72 hp and 163 Nm. The electric motor works in conjunction with a 1.8-liter 2ZR-FXE engine that punches out 98 hp and 142 Nm & is paired to an e-CVT gearbox.
Toyota claims an average fuel consumption of up to 23.3 km per liter for the hybrid and 15.4 km per liter for the gasoline versions. The Corolla Cross in Thailand comes rich in safety equipment with up to 8 airbags, ABS with EBD, stability control, traction control, hill-start & downhill assist, ISOFIX child seat anchorage, TPMS (tire pressure monitoring system) & cruise control etc. Plus the Corolla Cross offers advanced Toyota Safety Sense suite which includes BSM (Blind Spot Monitor), RCTA (Rear Cross Traffic Alert), PCS (Pre-Collision System), Cruise Control, AHB (Automatic High Beams), LDA (Lane Departure Alert) and LTA (Lane Tracing Assist) in higher-spec models.
After Thailand, the Corolla Cross has already been launched in Indonesia and Vietnam and is well on course to be introduced in other Asian markets. The car is also scheduled to be introduced in Pakistan as CBU import, as test mules have already arrived here and as revealed by CEO of Indus Motor Company (IMC) Mr Ali Asghar Jamali, the Toyota Corolla Cross will be launched here in December this year.
Related: On Papers: Kia Sportage vs Toyota Corolla Cross
Whether the Corolla Cross can receive the same sort of success as its witnessing in Thailand will be an interesting thing so see. However a lot depends on pricing as being a CBU, it’s expected to be priced on a higher side. But if IMC is able to price it around Hyundai Tucson or Kia Sportage, then the Toyota Corolla Cross might get a good chance to attract a number of buyers in Pakistan too.
What is your take on the upcoming Toyota Corolla Cross? Let us know with your comments.
A computer animation professional with over 23 years of industry experience having served in leading organizations, TV channels & production facilities in Pakistan. An avid car enthusiast and petrolhead with an affection to deliver quality content to help shape opinions. Formerly written for PakWheels as well as major publications including Dawn. Founder of CarSpiritPK.com
