Toyota's next hybrid SUV shapes up: 2023 Toyota Corolla Cross engines and other specs locked for Australia as it takes aim at the Nissan Qashqai, Kia Seltos, Mazda CX-30, MG HS and Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross PHEV

Further details have emerged about the long-awaited Toyota Corolla Cross, including hybrid-engine outputs and more, ahead of its fourth-quarter Australian debut.

Creating a more complete picture of the most anticipated new-model launch this year, we can now confirm that the locally bound small SUV will wear the American/Thai-market single-frame-style front-end design, instead of the Japanese and European markets’ sleeker twin-grille set-up.

This is despite the fact that Australian-bound Corolla Crosses will be built in Japan instead of Thailand as originally thought when the series was announced more than two years ago in mid-2020.

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Then there is what’s beneath the 2023 Corolla Cross’ bonnet.

Toyota Australia announced back in December last year that a ‘new’ M20A-FXS 2.0-litre four-cylinder hybrid powertrain will debut in the optional all-wheel drive (AWD) versions. 

We can now confirm that the 1987cc engine will deliver 112kW of power at 6600rpm for Australia.

However, while we are yet to discover what the hybrid model’s total power and torque outputs are when combined with either the front-wheel-drive (FWD) MXGH10R version’s 53kW AC synchronous electric motor or AWD MXGH15R’s 83kW-front and 30kW-rear axle-mounted electric motors, it should be around 146kW if the European-market version is anything to go by. 

All-wheel drive variants use Toyota’s e-CVT continuously variable transmission, that debuted in Australia when the current-generation RAV4 was released in May, 2019. The 2.0-litre hybrid also comes with a 4.08Ah lithium-ion battery.

If hybrid isn't your thing, then there's always the standard Corolla Cross’ M20A-FKS 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol unit, that pumps out 126kW at 6000rpm, as well as about 200Nm of torque at around 4400rpm. It drives the front wheels via a regular CVT. Drivers of the existing Corolla hatch and sedan models should be familiar with this powertrain combination.

By the way, all AWD versions will adopt a multi-link rear suspension set-up in lieu of the standard torsion bear arrangement found in FWD cars.

Another interesting fact is ground clearance. Although the Corolla Cross sits above the Yaris Cross but below the RAV4 size wise, its 160mm of ground clearance is some 10mm short of the Yaris Cross’ 170mm and 35mm shy of the RAV4’s 195mm. 

That said, it roundly beats the related but ageing C-HR’s 137mm total, and so ought to be a bit more useful driving over gravel or unsealed roads.

Being a monocoque-bodied crossover employing a variation of the TNGA (Toyota New Global Architecture) GA-C as found in the current C-HR (since 2016), Corolla (since 2018) and Lexus UX (since 2019), towing capacity is limited. All Australian-bound models are rated at 750kg with a braked trailer regardless of drivetrain configuration, and between 725kg and 750kg with an unbraked trailer.

Toyota says the Corolla Cross will arrive in Australia with its full suite of driver-assist safety technologies, as well as a front-centre seat airbag to complement the front, side, curtain and front-knee SRS items fitted. Brakes are four-wheel discs.

Dimensionally, our cars will measure in at 4460mm in length, 1825mm in width and 1620mm in height, and sit on a 2640mm wheelbase. For reference, the latter is exactly the same as a C-HR, although a RAV4’s wheelbase at 2690mm is 50mm longer. Not surprisingly, the Yaris Cross’ wheelbase is 80mm shy of the newcomer’s, at 2560mm.

Tyre choices at launch are said to be 215/60R17 on the base Corolla Cross FWD, growing to 225/50R18 on higher grades.

Of course, there is still a lot more information to come before the Toyota's end-of-year launch, including full technical specifications, specific grade walks, equipment levels, Australian fuel consumption and carbon dioxide emissions figures, as well as the all-important pricing.

As we said before, we’re expecting the Corolla Cross to be sit somewhere between the $26,990 before on-road costs Toyota charges for the Yaris Cross GX FWD and $34,400 that the RAV4 GX FWD currently kicks off from… so from about $31,500, with the hybrid adding around $2500 extra to the bottom line. 

This is generally on a par with the C-HR, although whether every grade comes with a hybrid option isn't yet known.

We’re getting closer to what could be Toyota’s next best-seller, so stay tuned and keep an eye out for more Corolla Cross info as it drops.