Toyota Unveils Corolla Cross GR Sport In Taiwan
After this year’s announcement of the Toyota Corolla Cross joining its lineup of SUVs, Toyota has made another Corolla announcement. The Corolla Cross GR Sport is a tougher-looking variant with both visual and mechanical changes to make it sportier than the standard Corolla Cross. What other differences are there between the GR Sport and standard Corolla Cross? How does it measure up to sporty crossovers from other automakers? On September 13th, Toyota unveiled the Corolla Cross GR Sport in Taiwan.
Corolla Cross GR Sport standout new features
The GR Sport will stand out from the standard version of the Corolla Cross in a few different ways. One of the main focuses is sportiness which is heavily influenced by the way the vehicle drives. To help with that, Toyota Gazoo Racing gave it a sports suspension with new springs and dampers for improved handling. It also received a new chassis reinforcement bracket to ensure it is as stable and secure as it is smooth to drive.
The SUV’s front end has been completely redesigned. The front bumper has a grille similar to the Hilux pickup truck, which is unavailable in the United States, surrounded with black chrome. You’ll also notice integrated fog lights and aluminum-style skid plates with larger intakes nearby. New silver addons are on the side of the vehicle with a matching skid plate in the rear, and of course a GR badge. The interior features a GR-branded engine start button and seats, along with new graphics for the infotainment touchscreen display.
How much does the Corolla Cross GR Sport cost?
Both standard and hybrid powertrains are available for the Corolla Cross GR Sport. The standard has a 1.8-liter four-cylinder engine and starts at a price of $31,601 after being exchanged for Taiwanese dollars. The hybrid powertrain combines a 1.8-liter engine with an electric motor and will be offered for $34,129.
Corolla Cross GR Sport competition
Compact SUVs are a crowded vehicle segment, and only becoming more so as time passes. There are also plenty of other compact SUVs offering a sporty driving experience, so which ones exactly does the GR Sport have to compete with?
2022 Kia Seltos Nightfall
Starting at just $24,190, the Seltos offers AWD on all models above the LX and S trim. The real competitor to the GR Sport is the Nightfall Seltos. Starting at $26,690 you’ll get AWD with a 1.6-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine. It also has plenty of standard safety technology and Kelley Blue Book says upgrading to the turbocharged engine “makes the Seltos more energetic and fun to drive”.
2021 Subaru Crosstrek Sport & Limited
The Crosstrek Sport & Limited models have a newly available 2.5-liter engine producing 182-hp which is a 30-hp increase over the 2.0-liter engine. It’s also now offered with standard AWD giving it decent off-road capability. The Sport model will cost you $26,495 with the limited moving up a bit to $27,995. The Crosstrek is also offered in a hybrid powertrain and has two electric motors to go with its four-cylinder engine. The hybrid version starts at $35,345.
2021 Ford Bronco Sport Badlands & First Edition
If you haven’t already heard about the Bronco Sport, it’s the newest subcompact version of the redesigned Bronco from Ford. The Bronco Sport brings all the same all-terrain capability you want but without some of the extras and size that drive up the price of the standard Bronco. The standard trim comes with a 1.5-liter three-cylinder engine. To upgrade to a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine, you’ll have to purchase a minimum of the Badlands trim level. Badlands is the fourth highest trim level, and only the First Edition costs more. Badlands also adds an upgraded 4WD system, increased ground clearance, larger off-road shocks, and expanded G.O.A.T. modes in the terrain-management system. The Ford Bronco Sport Badlands starts at $32,660 with the First Edition upgrade pushing it up to $38,160 if you want to go all-in.
The Toyota Corolla Cross GR Sport is a capable compact SUV bringing sportiness and style to the standard Cross model. Toyota looks to break into this segment with a spin on the classic Corolla, bringing the name to the SUV category. The GR Sport version adds mostly visual changes, but some of the performance features may be important to some. Toyota unveiled the Corolla Cross GR Sport and it will compete with all of these vehicles and more in the subcompact SUV category.
