![]() ![]() Indeed, the G20e’s negligible 0.3L/100km consumption benefit over the much more powerful 2.5-litre G25 engine proves that any CX-30 powered by a 2.0-litre is simply about price.Ĭlick any of the photos in this story to see more images for comparison Once you’re inside the Corolla Cross, in fact, all memories of the C-HR’s rear-seat claustrophobia and helmet-like vision instantly vanish. In a similar fashion, the obvious CX-30 for this comparison should be a G20e Evolve with its mild-hybrid 2.0-litre engine and an even sharper $41,362 drive-away price.īut with a combined fuel-consumption benefit of just 0.2L/100km over the G20 Touring SP’s non-hybrid engine, Mazda’s ‘M Hybrid’ hype appears to be mainly marketing driven. But that’s still less than what the HR-V and Niro cost. Honda offers a simple two-variant HR-V range – 1.5-litre petrol Vi-X and 1.5-litre petrol-hybrid e:HEV L – while Kia’s second-generation Niro arrives with either hybrid or full-electric power, each in S or GT-Line specification.Īt $47,000 drive-away for an HR-V hybrid (in any colour) and $49,361 drive-away for our Niro S hybrid test car, the front-drive Corolla Cross GXL Hybrid’s $43,254 drive-away price starts to look pretty damn sharp … until you consider our wildcard for this test, the Mazda CX-30 G20 Touring SP, which at $43,369 drive-away is both competitive with the Toyota’s ask and $1545 cheaper than the larger-engined CX-30 G25 Touring SP.Īdmittedly, the Corolla Cross GXL hybrid we have here is an AWD variant ($46,512 drive-away) – just over three grand more than the front-drive hybrid and garnished with multi-link rear suspension (instead of a torsion beam), a larger 43-litre fuel tank (versus 36 litres) and a tyre repair kit instead of a space-saver spare. What makes the Corolla Cross so appealing is its RAV4-in-a-concentrate vibe, the quality of its engineering DNA and the breadth of its range (eight variants, including five hybrids and two all-wheel-drive models), spanning $33-49K before on-road costs.īut two other new-generation small SUVs are attempting to lure Australian buyers with their cutting-edge chic – the third-generation Honda HR-V ($36-47K drive-away) and the Kia Niro ($44-72K before on-road costs) – plus the forthcoming all-new Nissan Qashqai ($34-47K plus on-road costs). In its first month on sale, Toyota Australia shifted 1025 of them – instantly displacing the Corolla hatch and sedan (904 sales) in the popularity stakes, as well as Toyota’s sexier, more youth-oriented C-HR small SUV (585 sales). Toyota’s fresh-faced debutante is the Corolla Cross SUV – the first Australian model since the 1988-92 Corolla 4WD wagon to leverage the Corolla nameplate for a niche variant … though the Corolla Cross won’t be considered niche for long. Mazda’s likeable CX-3, on the other hand – now re-classified as a light SUV – included just enough extra interior room to make it appealing, though without the boost in boot space to sufficiently lift-and-separate it to true SUV status.Ĭlearly, the increasingly important small SUV category has been crying out for a fundamental shift in thinking – starting with under-bonnet tech and continuing with how much space and choice is offered for the price. ![]() There were exceptions, such as Honda’s second-generation HR-V (2014-21) whose benchmark interior package somehow compensated for its patchy dashboard and detail design, and its dull drivetrain. For the most part, the small SUV allure wrested purely on visibility, manoeuvrability, and perceived modernity. Larger and heavier than the hatchbacks that sired them, they offered neither the grunt, the space, or the value-for-money of lower-level medium SUVs costing only marginally more. Just moments ago, the bulk of Australia’s small SUV set seemed more like a reality-show cast than any kind of brains trust. Hybrids on test: HR-V v Corolla Cross v Kia Niro.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |