Not much is being said here yet about the Corolla Cross. Different story in Australia.

INSIGHT into the span of technical involvement available with a new kind of Corolla coming to New Zealand soon has been shared by the neighbours.

Toyota Australia is also setting up for an October launch of the long-awaited Corolla Cross, a small sports utility bearing Toyota’s most enduring nameplate.

Straddling the gap between the Yaris Cross and the big-selling RAV4, and also conceivably offering as a more practical alternate to the C-HR, the car has been in production for two years and was at one point tipped to land here in 2021. But then came coronavirus.

The Australians today shared a swath of information that effectively spills the beans on the model, about which Toyota New Zealand has said little.

There’s no suggestion the line-up there will replicate here. Indeed, it is highly likely that Toyota NZ’s determination to meet Government’s stringent fleet-wide CO2 targets under the Clean Car Standard, which enacts on January 1 next year, will mean three pure petrol editions offered there won’t be considered.

That still leaves a selection of petrol hybrid editions that in Australia tick-box across three trim levels – the NZ-familiar GX and GXL grades plus a new flagship designation, Atmos.

The hybrids offer in front-drive across all grades and with electric all-wheel drive, labelled as ‘E-Four’, for GXL and Atmos.

The engine story is still unwrapping. Toyota has a 2.0-litre non-turbo four-cylinder engine that, in isolation develops 126kW.No official output has been cited for it in the hybrid set-up, though in some other markets it makes 112kW on its own, rising to 146kW with the hybrid. On all-wheel-drive, an electric motor drives the rear wheels.

Australia market prices are no accurate barometer to NZ stickers, as our neighbour has taxes not applicable here, but for the record the front drives price from the equivalent of $NZ39,600 to $51,300 while the E-Fours span from $47,100 to $54,700.

The entry specification covers 17-inch alloy wheels, LED lights, daytime running lights, and heated and auto retractable door mirrors while inside, standard equipment includes automatic air conditioning, fabric seats, and smart entry and start.

Corolla Cross debuts Toyota’s latest-generation infotainment system, which supports wireless Apple CarPlay and wired Android Auto. In the GX this runs through an 8.0-inch touchscreen display and six-speaker audio system. The screens are larger in the GXL (10.5 inch) and Atmos (12.3 inch).

Among safety features is a new element for Corolla, lane change assist. The model also has pre collision system with pedestrian and bicyclist detection, active cruise control with curve speed reduction, lane trace assist, and lane departure alert.

All grades in Australia also offer eight SRS airbags, automatic high beam, blind spot monitor with safe exit assist, rear cross traffic alert and a reversing camera.

Australia’s GXL has a higher grade of LED headlamp, front fog lamps, rear privacy glass, and roof rails, combination leather-accented and fabric seats, leather-accented shift knob and steering wheel, electrochromatic rearview mirror and dual-zone automatic air conditioning. It gets an enlarged 10.5-inch touchscreen multimedia system with satellite navigation and a pair of USB-C ports included for rear occupants.

Additional safety features include front and rear parking support brake with static object and rear-crossing vehicle detection and a Panoramic View Monitor.

The Atmos runs 18-inch alloy wheels, has a panoramic moon roof and power back door with kick sensor. Leather-accented seats with front seat heating and driver's eight-way power adjustment feature, as does a heated steering wheel, wireless phone charger, automatic rain-sensing front wipers, and 12.3-inch full digital instrument cluster display. Atmos hybrid grades in Australia have an Advanced Park Assist and a full function Panoramic View Monitor with ‘see through’ moving view.