In China, the Toyota Corolla Cross has undergone a major facelift, now sporting a design that looks more in tune with the fully electric bZ4X. In the Philippines, the Corolla Cross has only seen one facelift, but arguably, its overall impression has remained unchanged over the last four years.
If the crossover is due for another refresh, or perhaps even a whole new generation, a complete redesign could be in order, and Toyota offices in China already have it in the metal. Specifically, GAC-Toyota and its new Frontlander—the Chinese counterpart to the Corolla Cross, offered in the same segment with similar specs.
The Frontlander—or the Chinese Corolla Cross—features a wider, taller front fascia segmented into three sections. At the top, the hood sits above a long panel gap, reminiscent of the current Camry HEV. Below the gap, two metal surfaces form the bumper and the rest of the grille—similar to the bZ4X, as we previously mentioned.
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Inside, the Frontlander gets what looks like a BYD-styled cabin, with a 12.9-inch infotainment display in the center. Like most new Chinese cars, there is a noticeable lack of physical buttons, but in the same spirit, the cabin is updated with a wireless charging pad, USB-C ports, and ambient lighting. The rest of the interior, including the seats, is finished in what looks like soft-touch materials and white leather.
Power-wise, GAC-Toyota offers fully combustion and hybrid Frontlanders, all built around 2.0-liter mills. That would be a decent upgrade from the 1.8-liter engines in the current Corolla Cross, especially if Toyota Motor Philippines plans to keep the crossover exclusively hybrid. The hybrid Frontlander makes around 156hp and 188Nm of torque, while its Corolla Cross counterpart makes 131hp and 142Nm.
To add to the question we posed earlier, would you want to see this China-made version of the Corolla Cross here in the Philippines? Sound off in the comments.
