The Toyota Corolla Cross has been deemed a high-risk vehicle for hijackings by Discovery Insure, one of South Africa’s largest insurance groups.
In an email sent to the company’s Corolla Cross customers, Discovery noted that it had reviewed its claims data and identified a significant increase in theft and vehicle hijacking trends involving certain models.
“We’re committed to helping you stay protected. To do this, we regularly review the risks associated with the vehicles we insure to make sure your cover remains appropriate and sustainable,” it said.
“Our latest analysis shows a significant increase in vehicle theft trends affecting certain vehicle types and locations. Using data insights, we’ve identified vehicles with a higher risk of theft and hijacking.”
This is supported by crime data from private vehicle tracking and security firms, which shows that the Corolla Cross has been increasingly targeted by criminals since its launch in 2021.
Discovery has made it compulsory for certain policyholders, such as owners of the Corolla Cross 1.8 XR, to install two Crowd Search Sensors.
“To help reduce this risk and to keep your comprehensive cover in place, your vehicle(s) must have two Crowd Search Sensors installed and active,” the company said.
The insurer said the devices use wireless tracking technology linked to its recovery network, greatly improving the chances of recovering a stolen vehicle.
It warned that customers who fail to install and activate the two sensors on their vehicle within the specified notice period could lose their theft and hijacking cover.
“If the devices are not installed, activated, and in working order by the end of the notice period, your plan may be amended to exclude theft and hijacking cover for the affected vehicle(s),” it said.
The Crowd Search Sensor is initially provided at no additional cost to the consumer. However, from the next policy anniversary, consumers will pay a Stolen Vehicle Recovery (SVR) fee of R125 per vehicle per month.
Importantly, Discovery said it will waive this fee if the customer has already installed an approved third-party tracking system.
Why criminals target certain cars in South Africa
Discovery Insure does not maintain a permanent public list of vehicles that require mandatory tracking devices.
Existing customers are notified by their policy schedules if an SVR device is made compulsory, while new customers are informed during the quotation process. In high-risk cases, the insurer may require owners to install a dual-tracking setup.
Discovery is not the only company doing this, as insurance and private security firms across South Africa have put out warnings about the Corolla Cross and other high-risk vehicle models.
In late 2025, Blue Hawk Tactical highlighted that organised criminal groups had been targeting the Corolla Cross across Gauteng for several months.
Fidelity Services Group CEO Wahl Bartmann noted that thieves and hijackers are drawn to vehicles that are both popular and unlikely to draw attention.
The Corolla Cross is a prime example, as it is one of the best-selling vehicles in the country. In June 2026 alone, the Toyota sold 1,356 units, making it one of the top 10 most popular cars on the market.
It’s also viewed as a very typical family SUV, meaning it is very inconspicuous and won’t draw unwanted attention when thieves attempt to move a stolen one. Common colours like white, black, or silver are also favoured for this reason.
Top-selling cars are popular with criminals because there is a high demand for used parts. The vehicles are often dismantled so the individual components can be sold on the black market. In other cases, the vehicles are illegally re-registered and sold to new owners.
For all of these reasons, the lists of the country’s best-selling vehicles and the most hijacked vehicles have a lot of overlap.
Other cars that are often treated as high-risk models include the Toyota Hilux, Toyota Fortuner, and VW Polo, though the exact list changes from year to year as new models are introduced, with criminals taking note of what’s popular.
That being said, it’s also understandable that popular cars will appear in hijacking trend lists simply because there are more of them in circulation to begin with.
Bartmann noted that hijackings are most prevalent in the country’s major urban and semi-urban areas, particularly in Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, and the Western Cape.
He urged motorists to remain vigilant, keep valuables out of sight, and to comply with criminals if confronted.
Motorists should also install portable panic buttons and other rapid-response security tools that can make a difference in an emergency.
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