Test drive 2024 Toyota Corolla Cross 1.8 Dynamic: the car of all time

We have already driven the full two-liter version of the Corolla Cross. This is the small 1.8 engine in the most basic version. In our opinion, the Toyota Corolla Cross 1.8 Dynamic performs better than the fully loaded versions. This is what the car was meant to be, simple, simple, simple. One of the cars of all time. Do you just want a car? Then buy a Corolla Cross.

What is it Toyota Corolla Cross 1.8 Dynamic?

Toyota Corolla Cross Dynamic with 1.8 is a version of the popular SUV that Toyota has been offering for some time now. It is the second cheapest version of the non-business models. It is also a simple looking car that still clearly shows that it is a Toyota. The car has a friendly appearance, it looks like a car that you can get in and out of, for example, traveling to Algeria with your whole family and your cat without any worries.

This is the first from Toyota with the fifth generation hybrid powertrain. This is one of the powertrains coming in the new CH-R. This car was only available with 197 hp, but now there is a 1.8 version with 140 hp, which, according to Toyota, will be a sales hit in the Netherlands. That’s the version we drove in this test drive. A test drive of the more expensive Launch Edition 2.0 can be found here.

We drove a Toyota Corolla Cross 1.8 Dynamic. Power is, as I just wrote, the second cheapest version of non-commercial models. The 1800cc four-cylinder is mated to a continuously variable transmission (CVT) and, surprisingly, is almost as economical as the 2.0 (5 liters per 100km, the 2.0 doesn’t have 5.1 per 100km). Well done, Toyota. Giving options without negatives.

How does he drive?

There is nothing simpler than the Toyota Corolla Cross, we already said in the previous test drive. There is nothing complicated about Toyota Corolla Cross Dynamic, even less than, for example, Executive. In Power, the seats are made of fabric with a fun design, and can be adjusted using the familiar manual levers. Amazing, humble. Adjust the ventilation? Correct, easy to do with two knives. To change gears? Just with a simple ratchet lever. The picture seems clear to me.

The interior is very well thought out, simple and functional as well as the wonderful plastic. But, that’s good. There are no expensive items in the everyday car that your kids will throw Wicky and your dog will shake in the grass. There are no illogical buttons or strange screens, in fact, just plain buttons. Super retro. Just one push button for everything you use often and more can be found on the screen.

When you take off, it’s a little awkward at first because the CVT doesn’t change gears. But, you get used to that quickly. Acceleration is fine, the big 2.0 is definitely faster, but it won’t make much of a difference Driving itself is very easy. Steering is light and predictable, as is the pedal. You have a lot of all-round visibility, as the side mirrors are very large and therefore provide excellent overview. The 360-degree camera is also great, because the car on the screen is transparent, so you can see everything perfectly. Suspension is good and forgivable. Nice and short when cornering but nice and smooth on hills. Ideally, child 1 must be at the soccer game at 5:00 p.m. and child 2 must be at recess five hours earlier.

Strong

The biggest plus is the simplicity of the Toyota Corolla Cross Dynamic, which has already been mentioned several times. There is an open button or better: a lever for everything you need. Everything is in a good place and easy to find and work. Driving is simple and self-explanatory. Many things need space and few things need second thoughts. It’s really a basic car, without complex design choices or complex philosophies. Just a clean and beautiful car.

Why do people buy Toyota SUV? Correct. Space, simplicity and reliability. Space in Toyota Corolla Cross is more than enough. More than enough, actually. The trunk is very large and the space in the cockpit is quite sufficient. Do you need a holiday car for your family (youth) or your trip to Veluwe with the grandchildren? Then this is your car. Especially in the Dynamic version, they can’t demolish anything (expensive).

In addition, Toyota Corolla Cross Dynamic is a very economical car, even more economical than 2.0. If you drive it normally (don’t accelerate too fast, etc.) and pay a little attention to your regenerative braking, the car drives very economically. 5 liters per 100 kilometers should be possible. That’s 1 out of 20. We managed a very good 3.9l/100km for the 39km shortcut in 1 hour and 9 minutes. So that’s 1 out of 25.6.

Weak points

The gearbox of the Toyota Corolla Cross of course has P, R, N, D and B. That B, like most cars, is the way to restore the brakes. In that case, the car puts more brakes on the battery so it can charge faster. We always enjoy driving this car. Unfortunately, you can’t activate the cruise control in B mode. To do that, you have to ‘shift’ to D to drive on the highway. That’s crazy and annoying.

What is good about the interior of plastic is that it is difficult to get broken or dirty. What a pity that (especially with piano lacquer parts) you get grease fingerprints all over your intention. The screen is very sensitive to fingerprints and the stupid piano-lacquer plastic sticker around the thin buttons for the climate controls, for example, isn’t much nicer at home either. That’s a shame for a car that will be used by the little Micha’s hand-painted Capri-Sonne. Easy to wipe with a cloth, of course.

In addition, this is a surprising point that we meet with all Toyotas today: no housing. What do we mean by that? There is no button or tile on the screen that we can click that gives us a combination of information. It’s navigation, music or other things, but not the ‘home screen’. This feels overwhelming to us and personally makes me uncomfortable. Give Toyota a home screen!

Equipment

Our test model is nice and basic. No electric seats, no leather, no heated seats. All right. What is usually included is as follows:

• Privacy glass behind
• Get in and drive without the key
• Dual Zone Climate Control
• Navigation on the 10.5-inch screen
• 12.3 inch digital instruments
• Entrance lighting and storage cupboards feature in the interior
• The interior mirror automatically dims
• Rear camera
• Adaptive Cruise Control (with almost all known and modern safety systems)

Our test model also has several options. The color, called Urban Khaki, costs an additional 350 euros. Are we options? We meant choice. Unity.

Conclusion test drive Toyota Corolla Cross 1.8 Dynamic

Toyota Corolla Cross 1.8 Dynamic is a simple SUV that is very easy to use. Everything is simple and easy to use and find. The space in the car is more than enough and the car consumes very little fuel. The interior looks like a piano, leaving a lot of fingerprints behind and the screen doesn’t have a real home screen. But hey, we certainly wouldn’t leave it there for that. It’s a very nice car. It’s probably an everyday car, especially in this simple base version.

Toyota Corolla Cross in the basic version is is available from EUR 38,195 (in Belgium from EUR 34,880). Our test model is the closest affordable version in the range, the Dynamic. With all options (unity) added, we arrive at approximately EUR 40,545.

All photos in this article were taken by Without Berger .