First drive in the new Toyota Corolla Cross GR-Sport – Sporty handling and good looks

Toyota has revealed its latest project in the form of an athletic new derivative for its popular Corolla Cross – the GR-Sport.

This new model is based on the standard Corolla Cross Xr and has seen its steering and suspension reworked while also receiving a number of exclusive GR-branded design features.

TopAuto recently had the opportunity to test drive the GR-Sport while attending the grand re-opening of Toyota’s Prospecton assembly plant in Durban.

First impressions

Visually, the Corolla Cross GR makes a good first impression.

The new front grille design gives it a more defined and aggressive look, which helps to sell the idea that this is a sporty variation on an existing model.

The GR badges and two-tone colour scheme also go a long way in this regard, and the black 18-inch alloy wheels and daytime-running lights complete the visual package for an overall good-looking crossover.

Of course, the sporty design extends to the interior as well, as the seats are adorned with black leather styled with red stitching and GR logos.

After hopping in and hitting the GR-branded push-start button, we took off around Toyota’s private test track.

The 172Nm of torque is able to provide dependable acceleration and the throttle response was gratifyingly sharp every time it was pressed.

Going into the first corner gave a hint as to the improvements made to the steering and suspension, as the crossover handled the turn very smoothly.

The subsequent straight allowed us to take the Cross up to 140km/h, which it achieved with seemingly minimal effort while producing just the right amount of noise you’d want and expect from a car with sporty branding.

Slamming on the brakes saw the Corolla ground to a halt without any hint of a loss of control, an impressive ability for a vehicle in this segment.

Coming back down on a long straight, Toyota organised a slalom stage to again emphasize the improvements made to the steering and suspension. The GR-Sport performed impressively through this section with the body mass feeling low and centralised while performing various steering maneouvres.

The CVT gearbox also held up rather well for the duration of the test, being responsive in line with the throttle actions.

Overall, while the new Corolla Cross GR-Sport may only be a more energetic take on a pre-existing model, the steering improvements made to this derivative are noticeable, the styling changes are welcomed, and the engine rarely leaves you wanting more – even around a track.

Toyota Corolla Cross GR-Sport