Your appreciation/enjoyment of the Toyota Corolla Cross GR Sport might depend on your understanding of what "GR Sport" actually is.
Gazoo Racing (GR) is Toyota's motorsport division and also develops wicked bespoke performance road cars, like the GR Yaris, GR Corolla and forthcoming GR GT super-coupe. Note how the GR bit comes before the car name, because GR is the brand.
But Toyota also makes an increasing number of GR Sport vehicles that aren't ground-up efforts, but simply add some snazzy bits to mainstream models. Cars like the Yaris Cross GR Sport, C-HR GR Sport, new RAV4 GR Sport and even the Land Cruiser GR Sport. Note how the GR Sport bit comes after the car name in those, because it's just a trim level for the Toyota brand.
And that's where the Corolla Cross GR Sport comes in. This is a standard Cross (no major engine changes) with styling upgrades including a unique front bumper and grille, different trim and retuned suspension, with extra body bracing at the rear and 19-inch wheels with peformance-oriented Yokohama Advan Fleva tyres.
So you're in the wrong place if you want extra straight-line speed. But the 2.0-litre hybrid is certainly not slow, and it remains astonishingly economical, especially in urban use. The GR Sport is 0.5l/100km more thirsty than the regular (lighter) Cross, but it'll still easily return fuel economy in the 4l-bracket around town.
Note how the 'GR Sport' bit comes after the car name here, not before, because it's just a trim level for the Toyota brand.
This model does get a Sport drive mode that increases revs, sharpens up the response of the electric motor and applies extra regen/braking, plus steering wheel-mounted shift paddles for the continuously variable transmission (CVT). We'd argue all of the above are strictly optional from a user point of view, as they don't add a whole lot to the overall performance.
On the plus side, the Cross runs on EV a lot during urban driving (like any Toyota hybrid) and is very refined at speed, so CVT flaring doesn't detract from the experience too much.
The GR Sport's credibility rests on its modified suspension. It's lower and firmer than the standard Cross and there's real benefit in the open-road handling character.
Toyota NZ has been quite clever in carving out a niche for this model by making it the only local Corolla Cross with AWD (which is available on other models in other markets), so it's also the only one with more sophisticated double-wishbone suspension in place of the standard torsion beam.
The AWD system is quite clever. As fitted to the larger RAV4, the E-Four setup leaves the petrol engine and an electric motor to handle the front axle, while there's a separate motor at the back. It means the GR Sport still feels very much like a front-drive car in corners, but the e-axle at the rear can also respond quickly when required. The GR Sport also has a Snow Extra mode, which optimises the drivetrain for loose surfaces.
The cabin has a smarter look thanks to touches like gunmetal accents, aluminium pedals and lots of GR logos.
Much of the GR Sport's credibility rests on its modified suspension. It definitely feels firmer than the standard Cross and there's real benefit in the open-road handling.
The recalibrated steering, retuned suspension, performance tyres and stiffer rear structure add up to an impressive cornering experience: the GR Sport goes exactly where you point it and retains a rock-solid attitude through tricky corners. There's a huge difference between this and a regular Cross.
The cabin has a smarter look thanks to touches like gunmetal accents, aluminium pedals and lots of GR logos. It's generally up to Limited specification, save a couple of equipment quirks: you miss out on front-seat ventilation and for some reason, the power tailgate in the GR Sport doesn't get the kick-activation of the Limited.
There are definitely a few cheats in the pusuit of a sportier image. The GR Sports seats look good and are nicely upholstered, but the shape is not that different to the standard chairs you get in the Limited model. And while those red brake calipers look good, it's only the colour that's different; the stopping hardware is unchanged.
There's also some compomise in the boot, which drops from 417 to 384 litres thanks to the AWD sysem underneath. The cargo floor is incredibly flimsy; lift it up and you'll find a tyre inflation kit (the Limited gets an actual spare tyre); delve deeper and you'll see the electronic gubbins for the rear e-axle are taking up space.
The boot has a wide aperture, but any Corolla Cross has somewhat compromised cargo capability, because there's such a step-up from the boot floor to the folded rear seats.
So it's not the last word in practicality, but no Corolla Cross needs to be: this is still a compact SUV remember, larger than the Yaris Cross (which is tiny) but slightly smaller than the C-HR.
It remains a useful little SUV in class-context, and nobody would deny the GR Sport is the best-looking Corolla Cross by far, as well as serving up a substantially sharper demeanour in the corners, if that's something you want from your Toyota compact-SUV. Certain compromises mean it's not for everybody, but we find it rather endearing... and genuinely enjoyable to drive.
How much is the Toyota Corolla Cross GR Sport?
It’s the top of the range at $54,990, or $55,990 with the two-tone exterior finish (black roof, basically) as tested. Yes, Toyota NZ does list that as a whole separate model.
The GR Sport is $3k more expensive than the more luxury-themed Limited (which is also available in two-tone).
What are the key statistics for the Toyota Corolla Cross GR Sport?
Same powertrain as any other Corolla Cross: a 2.0-litre petrol 4-cylinder with hybrid system (including lithium-ion battery) making 146kW combined. Toyota doesn’t quote combined torque figures for its hybrids, but the engine alone makes 188Nm.
Is the Toyota Corolla Cross GR Sport efficient?
Extra weight and the AWD system makes the GR Sport slightly more thirsty than a FWD model, but overall it still returns an exceptional 4.6l/100km.
Is the Toyota Corolla Cross GR Sport good to drive?
It’s no more powerful than a regular Corolla Cross and in fact it will be slightly slower, because it’s heavier. But the GR Sport has lowered/retuned suspension, sticky Yokohama performance tyres, and AWD Cross models (of which this is the only one for the NZ market) have double wishbone rear suspension in place of the standard torsion bar.
So yes, the GR Sport is a good deal sharper on the road and actually quite sporty feeling in corners. The tradeoff is a firmer ride, especially around town.
Is the Toyota Corolla Cross GR Sport practical?
The Cross is a compact SUV with decent space and cargo-carrying capability. But it’s not class-leading. The rear seat is tight even for a car of this size and there’s some compromise in luggage capacity with the AWD system, which cuts bootspace down from 417 litres to 384. There’s also quite an awkward step-up from the boot to the rear seats when they’re folded.
The GR Sport doesn’t get a spare tyre like the FWD Corolla Cross models, either. Look under the flimsy boot floor and there’s an inflation kit, with componentry for the rear e-axle taking up the rest of the space.
What do we like about the Toyota Corolla Cross GR Sport?
It looks really good with its special grille and dark exterior trim, not to mention the 19-inch wheels. It’s fast enough, but it’s also clear Toyota has put some real effort into the chassis, with the new suspension setup and grippy tyres.
It’s also still fantastically economical, thanks to Toyota’s proven hybrid technology.
What don’t we like about the Toyota Corolla Cross GR Sport?
It still hurts to explain to people that it’s no more powerful than the standard Corolla Cross. There are a few cheats, like the sports seats that are really the same shape as the regular seats, or the red calipers on brakes that are just… the standard stoppers.
What kind of person would the Toyota Corolla Cross GR Sport suit?
Somebody who wants a Corolla Cross that’s a bit special, but understands and accepts where “Sport” sits in the GR scheme of things.
