Toyota Corolla Cross GR-S: Bang for your buck

Last year, I took the Toyota Corolla Cross on a trip from Gauteng to Limpopo. I wanted to test the space, fuel consumption, comfort and the ride quality because the vehicle had become popular among South Africans. While it passed most of the tests, it mostly struggled with comfort and lacked appeal on the interior. There was nothing that stood out, making me question why the car was so in demand, selling more than 22 000 units in 2025. Even so, it did need something more; something to get me excited about. In March, Toyota finally answered the call by bringing the GR-S versions of the Corolla Cross to the South African market. While the engine and drivetrain remain the same and the changes are purely cosmetic, sometimes that is all a car needs. What has Toyota done with the Corolla Cross GR-S? Well, for starters, Toyota has added a bold black mesh grille, sleek LED headlamps with sequential indicators and a sporty skid plate. The car sits on 18 inch six-spoke machined alloy wheels that enhance the stance of the car. Blacked-out badges all around give it a slightly sporty edge. On the inside, the vehicle feels sporty. Toyota wanted to give drivers a more engaging and premium experience. It succeeded. The black leather upholstery combined with the contrast red stitching make the vehicle a pleasant place to be but the best part about the interior, as silly as it might sound, is the fact that there are red seatbelts. It’s a small but very nice touch from Toyota and incorporates the feeling of GR-Sport into the vehicle more fully. The interior also boasts a 12.3 inch digital cluster and a 10.1 inch infotainment system that is equipped with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. I will be the first to say that I’m not a huge fan of the infotainment system. I find it slightly slow and unresponsive. Toyota says that the Corolla GR-S includes a system that features multi-touch functionality, improved Bluetooth connectivity and an enhanced user interface for a smoother, more intuiti