Updated 2024 Toyota Corolla Cross surfaces: What's coming for popular Kia Seltos, Haval Jolion, MG ZS and Mazda CX-30 rival

Toyota has introduced a round of improvements to its Corolla Cross – the slightly-raised crossover wagon version of its strong-selling small-car range – some three and a quarter years after it first broke cover internationally.

But for now, the changes have only been announced for Japan – which is where Australian-market models are made ­– so there is no timeline as yet to when we will see the updates on locally-bound versions as well.

A Toyota spokesperson confirmed the updates for the Japanese market, but was quiet on if or when they would roll out to the Australian-spec models.

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"In Australia, we are committed to introducing further updates for this model, but we have nothing to announce today."

So, how different are the MY24 models compared to before when it does land in Australia?

For the Japanese Domestic Market (JDM) Corolla Cross, Toyota says the main alterations are to driver-assist safety systems, with the introduction of Proactive Driving Assist as part of the Toyota Safety Sense system that adds some subtle mechanical intervention to steering and braking to help keep the vehicle within the chosen line of travel and minimise a collision.

The refreshed Corolla Cross also scores an upgrade to Toyota's Pre-Crash Safety system, with sensors that can now detect oncoming vehicles at an intersection when the driver is turning into the traffic. It also gains an automatic braking feature for pedestrians.

Whether the tech also spots cyclists, or works in adverse weather or night-time conditions, is not yet known.

In Japan, the Corolla Cross boasts a different front fascia compared to our version, but they're mostly the same underneath.

Inside the brand's spacious crossover, there are revisions to the multimedia system, headlined by the inclusion of in-car Wi-Fi on some higher grades, as well as the availability of a liquid crystal meter panel for improved screen clarity in the multi-information display unit ahead of the driver.

Additional colours, as well as more two-tone options, have also been added.

The press kit out of Japan also mentions a series of updates to the electric modules as fitted to the smaller 1.8-litre 2ZR-FXE hybrid engine models sold in that market. These are designed to lower fuel consumption and carbon emissions.

For the Japanese Domestic Market (JDM) Corolla Cross, Toyota says the main alterations are to driver-assist safety systems.

In contrast, Australian consumers receive the larger and more-powerful 2.0-litre M20A-FXS hybrid powertrain, but there is no information as to whether this also scores the improved efficiency tech. Let's wait and see.

Finally, have there been any changes to the exterior styling? Not yet.

After all, let's not forget that our Corolla Cross boasts a larger and more aggressive single grille treatment, which is the same as found in versions sold in North America, Europe, Thailand and some other regions, as opposed to a slightly less anthropomorphic split-grille look differentiating the JDM versions.

The press kit out of Japan also mentions a series of updates to the electric modules as fitted to the smaller 1.8-litre 2ZR-FXE hybrid engine models sold in that market.

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In contrast, Australian consumers receive the larger and more-powerful 2.0-litre M20A-FXS hybrid powertrain.

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There is no information as to whether this also scores the improved efficiency tech. Let's wait and see.

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Speaking of which, and to reiterate, all the changes are for now specific to the Corolla Cross as sold in Japan. Whether Australian-bound models also gain some or all of these has yet to be confirmed. But, like we said, as ours comes from the same factory, most are likely to.

Severely restricted supply since launching in November, 2022, means that Corolla Cross buyers have faced delivery delays of between three and 12 months, with some hybrid models even known to have exceeded these timeframes.

Dominated by the MG ZS, Mazda CX-30, Haval Jolion and Kia Seltos, the small SUV segment is booming this year, with year-to-date sales up by around 25 per cent compared to the same period last year.