The Toyota Corolla Cross HEV GR Sport takes handling and sportiness up a notch, but we’re not sure who it’s for.
The Corolla Cross has been a remarkable success for Toyota Malaysia. This one new nameplate helped the brand bounce back in terms of passenger vehicle market share. In short, the people wanted an affordable crossover for the family and when they finally got one from Toyota, they returned to the brand. The ball got rolling in March 2021 with the launch of the fully-imported petrol models. Within a year, we got the locally-assembled hybrid version. By 2023, Toyota even had a petrol version with the GR Sport treatment, which we test drove. The facelift removed some of the problems we originally had with the petrol model – namely the use of a foot pedal parking brake instead of an electric parking brake. So, what’s left for the Corolla Cross to conquer in 2026? Well, we took the latest and greatest variant out for a 3-day test drive to find out.
The variant in question is the Corolla Cross HEV GR Sport, which made its local debut in March of this year. This is the second year the HEV GR Sport variant has been on sale, but we never got to try it when it first debuted. Therefore this review will cover the changes for 2026 as well as the daily driving aspects of this particular variant. For context, this model costs RM8,000 more than the standard Corolla Cross HEV, which in turn costs about RM6,000 more than the base petrol model. That’s RM148,800 for this ‘full-spec’ model. The changes versus last year’s model are mostly cosmetic and I mostly like what they have done.
The GR Sport treatment on the Corolla Cross had previously featured some slightly tacky rear lower diffuser element and a glossy black front grille surround. Now the front grille surround is body coloured, the grille element itself has been restyled and the tackiness has all but gone. The front lower skid plate element has also been swapped out – essentially the GR Sport treatment in this iteration actually lives up to its name.
The headlights are the final exterior change in this model year change and they do look a little more modern with sequential turn signal indicators up top. Unfortunately, the 18″ alloy rims have remained exactly as they were before, and they don’t seem to fit the rest of the vehicle’s vibe, at least not from my perspective. Overall, I do like the new look, particularly with the two-tone paint job with Dark Turqoise and a black roof. The paint finish has some character to it, with a real sparkle in sunlight. This is the best the Corolla Cross has looked in Malaysia.
Inside, the changes are all purely cosmetic. New GR logos EVERYWHERE, including on parts of the vehicle Toyota forgot to apply them to last year. Toyota also found more item in the interior to colour red including some previously white stitching and the seat belts.
That’s right, you don’t need to be a master at karate to wear a red belt in your Corolla Cross HEV GR Sport.
To be honest, it’s not quite as garish as I make it out to be. The cabin mostly is fine, besides the infotainment unit looking like it’s half-way between being free-floating and part of the dashboard.
The interior is otherwise dressed up appropriately to befit its place in the line-up. Whatever Toyota did last year with the introduction of this variant has carried forward, equipment-wise and it is all within expectation.
It has dual-zone climate control with rear air cond vents. It has a 10.1″ touchscreen with wireless Apple Carplay and Android Auto plus a digital instrument cluster to go along with it.
It has a 360-degree parking camera. It has a wireless charger, though it’s the Toyota style one which comes with a clip to keep your phone in place.
I think the biggest disappointment was that the vehicle only featured 6 speakers. They sound decent enough, but it just doesn’t seem appropriate to just have 6 in a car of this size and price. It’s also a little strange to not throw in powered seat controls for the front passenger too. It just feels like RM8,000 should get you all the possible goodies.
So, maybe that money goes into performance. It is, after all, a GR Sport variant. Well, power-wise it’s exactly the same as the Corolla Cross HEV NON-GR Sport. Under the hood sits a 1.8L 4-cylinder naturally-aspirated engine running the Atkinson cycle, generating 98PS and 142Nm of torque. There is also a 72PS primary electric motor.
Toyota says that the system generates a combined 122PS and 163Nm of torque, which is perfectly sufficient for a family commuter, but really far from packing the grunt of a serious performance SUV hybrid. The Toyota hybrid powertrain is simply engineered for fuel efficiency and longevity, and that’s what most people buy hybrid Toyotas for. So, what’s with the GR Sport badges then?
Well, Toyota have done some work to set it apart from the regular versions. The suspension set up is a little firmer and there’s a performance chassis brace too to reduce flexing in corners. The electric power steering system also has a retuned ECU with a different response to the regular model.
These do have an effect on the way the car drives and I have to say, it improves handling at the cost of comfort. It’s as simple as that – it takes corners like a champ, but one really has to wonder if this is appropriate to the rest of the vehicle’s design philosophy. One could make a case if the power output had been significantly increased and if the vehicle was substantially lowered and given larger rims.
Maybe then it would appeal more to a performance-oriented crowd. Unfortunately, it just doesn’t pack the power figures required to deliver real thrills. Even petrol powered rivals are a little quicker off the line than this, but at least it isn’t a complete slouch and it can handle what power it has.
Theoretically, I get where Toyota are coming from. Previously, it was even messier on the showroom floor. You had the base petrol Corolla Cross as the most inexpensive variant. Then the hybrid model costing a bit more, only for a GR Sport version of the petrol model again topping off the range. Having a HEV GR Sport model instead of a petrol one makes more sense from a marketing stand point, but from a product stand point I’m not quite convinced it stands up to scrutiny.
That’s because the Corolla Cross appeals to a conservative and older crowd. In my 3 days with the car, I ferried my aging parents around and was extra cautious over potholes and speed bumps due to the stiffened suspension. I have taken them in non GR Sport versions of the Corolla Cross and found the experience to be much more satisfactory. Perhaps there are young ones out there who embrace the idea of a hybrid that corners hard, but I’m not one of them. Perhaps I’m more of an ‘uncle’ myself. All I know is that there is a version of the Corolla Cross that I would more heartily recommend and it’s hard cheaper than this one.
If you can get past the stiffness, I think you’ll find a really decent small family commuter underneath it all. Toyota has come a long way and these days they’re outdoing many direct rivals when it comes to the basics. You get goodies like a driving video recorder and an emergency kit thrown in.
Plus on the Corolla Cross, seating and boot space is quite flexible.
Seats fold down, though there is a bit of a gap, it’s closed off with some flappy panels. Those same seats also have multiple levels of recline.
It’s hard to complain about space either. The front seats are comfortable and fairly spacious.
The rear’s quite spacious too, especially compared to what else is out there from Japanese rivals, it’s just a little constrained by a slight lack in legroom.
All-in-all, the Toyota Corolla Cross HEV GR Sport builds on the solid foundations of this nameplate and has the same super efficient powertrain, while doubling down on the sporty elements and delivering a tighter handling chassis. Perhaps the logic here ties in with rising fuel prices – you can have it all, a practical crossover with fuel sipping qualities and the ability to handle some tight turns at higher speeds.
2026 Toyota Corolla Cross HEV GR Sport Specification
Engine: Inline-4, 16-Valve, DOHC, Atkinson Cycle, Petrol Hybrid
Capacity: 1,798cc
Gearbox: CVT Automatic
Max power: 97hp @ 5200rpm + 71hp (electric)
Max torque: 142Nm @ 3600rpm + 163Nm (electric)
Price: RM148,800
