2024 Toyota Corolla Cross to become next model to go hybrid-only in Australia

UPDATE: Toyota goes 100% hybrid on popular cars and SUVs in Australia

2024 Toyota Corolla Cross becomes next model to go hybrid-only

The 2024 Toyota Corolla Cross small SUV is expected to go hybrid-only in Australia.

Toyota Australia has removed petrol-only versions of the Corolla Cross from a new version of its specification list, which includes "Petrol Deletion Update" in the document title.

Wheels has contacted Toyota Australia for comment.

It will become the sixth Toyota vehicle to shift to a hybrid-only line-up in Australia since late 2023, following the Yaris and Corolla hatches, the smaller Yaris Cross, and new-generation versions of the Camry and C-HR.

The decision to delete petrol-only engines from Toyota’s smallest cars follows increased demand for electrified powertrains and the planned introduction of Australia’s New Vehicle Efficiency Standard in 2025, which will incentivise carmakers to introduce more fuel-efficient vehicles.

It also frees room for Toyota to continue selling higher-polluting larger SUVs and commercial vehicles like the HiLux, LandCruiser 70 Series, Prado and LandCruiser 300 Series.

Between January and March 2024, Toyota Australia delivered 24,722 hybrid vehicles out of 56,238 in total – a record-high 44 per cent share in the first quarter of a year – with the Corolla Cross, RAV4, Kluger, Corolla and Camry achieving first-quarter hybrid sales records.

The Corolla Cross will now be exclusively available with a 146kW 2.0-litre petrol-electric hybrid, which can be had in front- or all-wheel-drive and is paired to an electronic continuously variable automatic transmission.

Combined fuel consumption for the Corolla Cross Hybrid is rated between 4.3L/100km and 4.4L/100km – compared to 6.0L/100km for the petrol model.

Prices for the 2024 Toyota Corolla Cross now start at $36,480 before on-road costs for the GX Hybrid FWD – a $2500 increase over the previous entry point for the petrol GX – and rise to $50,030 plus on-roads for the Atmos Hybrid AWD.

The cheapest non-hybrid Toyota SUV is now the $39,760 before on-road costs RAV4 GX petrol. A new-generation RAV4 is expected to debut in 2025 and could become the next hybrid-only Toyota vehicle.

Small SUV rivals to the Corolla Cross include the Hyundai Kona, GWM Haval Jolion and Nissan Qashqai – also available with full-hybrid powertrains – along with the Subaru Crosstrek, Mazda CX-30, Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross, Kia Seltos and Volkswagen T-Roc.

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2024 Toyota Corolla Cross pricing