{"id":1322,"date":"2026-03-25T17:59:00","date_gmt":"2026-03-25T17:59:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/in4ride.com\/?p=1322"},"modified":"2026-03-30T11:06:58","modified_gmt":"2026-03-30T11:06:58","slug":"popular-toyota-corolla-cross-gr-s-updated","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/in4ride.com\/?p=1322","title":{"rendered":"POPULAR TOYOTA COROLLA CROSS GR-S UPDATED"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n
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Toyota<\/strong> has given its hit Corolla Cross<\/strong> some updated GR-S<\/strong> treatment. What started life as a sensible crossover in 2021 has now become the number one SUV in Toyota\u2019s Mzansi line-up<\/strong>. The 2022 GR-S version kicked off the \u201cGR-S attitude\u201d<\/strong> without ruining the formula that made it the best-seller<\/strong> that it is. With a commanding 30% market share<\/strong> in its segment (averaging 1 849 units a month<\/strong> in 2025), and the title of \u201cbest-selling hybrid\u201d<\/strong> in Mzansi, the Corolla Cross isn\u2019t just another tall Corolla.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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To be fair, the GR-S isn\u2019t some fire-breathing Gazoo Racing<\/strong> monster like we see in the GR Yaris or GR Supra. Toyota didn\u2019t touch the powertrains<\/strong> at all. Under the bonnet<\/strong> you still get the same two familiar options, namely the peppy 1.8-litre petrol<\/strong> and the efficient hybrid system. In the petrol-only version, maximum power comes to 103kW<\/strong> and torque of 173Nm<\/strong>, while the Hybrid<\/strong> delivers 90kW<\/strong> and 142Nm<\/strong>. So then no extra horses, no louder exhaust<\/strong>, no drama. This GR-S is all about that sporty look. The new black mesh front grille<\/strong> sits up front like a statement piece, flanked by sharp LED headlights <\/strong>and daytime running lights that give the face a meaner, more purposeful stare. Move around the sides and you\u2019ll spot 18-inch alloy<\/strong> wheels and LED rear lights, while the three striking bi-tone colour options make sure the Cross stand out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Inside, the GR-S treatment continues. Black leather dominates, stitched with bold red accents<\/strong> that run across the seats and dashboard. Red seatbelts<\/strong> add a flash of motorsport flair, while the aluminium sports foot pedals<\/strong> give the left foot something proper to grip on. The GR-S petrol model even throws in paddle shifters behind the wheel so you can take manual control when the mood strikes. Every model now gets the fresh centre console<\/strong> layout too, which is cleaner, more modern, and easier to live with. Such a console consists of a 25.7cm touch screen<\/strong> with Android Auto<\/strong> and Apple Carplay, Bluetooth<\/strong>, radio, mobile phone sat nav<\/strong> and other features, air vents, air con controls and others.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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We drove the car around the Tshwane<\/strong> area in Gauteng, myself and my driving partner Sheryl Goldstuck.<\/strong> In the end, it still drives exactly like the Corolla Cross that thousands have already bet on previously. The hybrid version of course feels noticeably more responsive<\/strong> off the line, zipping<\/strong> away from the lights with that instant electric torque. I found the CVT gearbox<\/strong> to remain smooth enough at lower revs, keeping things quiet<\/strong> and relaxed<\/strong> exactly when you want it to be. Push it harder though, and yes, it still bites a little at the top end; that familiar CVT character is still there. Again, don\u2019t go expecting snaps, crackles and pops just because it wears a GR-S badge. This is a body kit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Toyota says the target<\/strong> buyer is the 30 to 45-year-old<\/strong> Mzansi person. These are the folks who\u2019ve outgrown the hatchback phase, but are also not ready for a bakkie<\/strong> or larger SUV<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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And let\u2019s not forget the big local angle<\/strong>. Every single Corolla Cross GR-S rolling out of the showroom<\/strong> is built right here in KwaZulu Natal<\/strong>, at Toyota\u2019s Plant in Prospecton<\/strong>, Durban. That obviously means jobs stay, that means local content<\/strong>, and that means the car feels like it actually belongs on our roads.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Pricing is quite sensible too. For that money<\/strong> you\u2019re getting Toyota\u2019s legendary reliability<\/strong>, hybrid efficiency that laughs at fuel prices, and a crossover that actually looks good.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Updated Toyota Corolla Cross GR-S Prices<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

GR-S \u2013 R527 000<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

GR-S HEV Hybrid \u2013 R569 700<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Toyota has given its hit Corolla Cross some updated GR-S treatment. What started life as a sensible crossover in 2021…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":1323,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_regular_price":[],"currency_symbol":[],"footnotes":""},"categories":[59,80,197],"tags":[519,517,518,520,201,516],"class_list":["post-1322","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-launches","category-news","category-toyota","tag-corolla-cross","tag-corolla-cross-gr-s","tag-gr-s","tag-prospecton","tag-toyota","tag-toyota-corolla-cross-gr-s"],"post_slider_layout_featured_media_urls":{"thumbnail":["https:\/\/in4ride.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Toyota-Corolla-Cross-GRS-HEV-1-150x150.jpg",150,150,true],"post_slider_layout_landscape_large":["https:\/\/in4ride.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Toyota-Corolla-Cross-GRS-HEV-1-1200x800.jpg",1200,800,true],"post_slider_layout_portrait_large":["https:\/\/in4ride.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Toyota-Corolla-Cross-GRS-HEV-1-1200x1552.jpg",1200,1552,true],"post_slider_layout_square_large":["https:\/\/in4ride.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Toyota-Corolla-Cross-GRS-HEV-1-1200x1200.jpg",1200,1200,true],"post_slider_layout_landscape":["https:\/\/in4ride.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Toyota-Corolla-Cross-GRS-HEV-1-600x400.jpg",600,400,true],"post_slider_layout_portrait":["https:\/\/in4ride.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Toyota-Corolla-Cross-GRS-HEV-1-600x900.jpg",600,900,true],"post_slider_layout_square":["https:\/\/in4ride.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Toyota-Corolla-Cross-GRS-HEV-1-600x600.jpg",600,600,true],"full":["https:\/\/in4ride.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Toyota-Corolla-Cross-GRS-HEV-1.jpg",1920,1552,false]},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/in4ride.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1322","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/in4ride.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/in4ride.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/in4ride.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/in4ride.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1322"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/in4ride.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1322\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1331,"href":"https:\/\/in4ride.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1322\/revisions\/1331"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/in4ride.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/1323"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/in4ride.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1322"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/in4ride.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1322"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/in4ride.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1322"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}