This week on Chasing Cars: Corolla Cross reviewed, RAV4 GR Sport explained and X-Trail hybrid priced for Australia

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After taking a few weeks off while I looked after my newborn baby girl, the weekly wrap has now returned to the homepage – and it was a big week of ‘firsts’ for a number of manufacturers.

Jeep launched its first fully-electric car – and so did Rolls Royce. Plus, we saw the Audi RS3 become the first hot hatch to hit 300km/h. Good grief. 

It’s also been a big week for hybrid SUVs with the new-generation Nissan X-Trail making an important first showing and we got our hands on the Corolla Cross for the first time. And if fully electric is more your preference Mercedes-Benz has launched the new EQE SUV with an impressive list of features. 

So without further ado, let’s jump into the news and reviews that mattered the most this week. 

Toyota Corolla Cross reviewed

Similar in terms of both size and price to Australia’s most popular SUV, the Toyota RAV4, the Corolla Cross is shaping up to be an incredibly popular vehicle in Australia.

Deputy editor Curt Dupriez took the helm of the new small SUV and came away impressed with its sensible levels of practicality and the frugal hybrid powertrain, which claims consumption as low as 4.3L/100km in FWD hybrid guise. 

Also impressive is Toyota’s implementation of a 10.5-inch touchscreen that offers wireless Apple CarPlay plus there is a 12.3-inch digital driver’s display in the higher GXL and Atmos grades, which works well, too. 

Sadly the Corolla Cross is less affordable in the higher grades as we would like it to be, with an asking price of $49,050 for the flagship Atmos AWD hybrid getting deep into the territory of a larger top-spec RAV4 hybrid. 

You can read or watch our review here. 

Toyota RAV4 GR Sport unveiled

With GR Sport variants of the Hilux, Yaris Cross, C-HR and Land Cruiser 300 Series already in circulation it was of little surprise to see that Toyota Europe would soon be adopting this new grade in its RAV4 line-up.

Armed with a more dynamic suspension tune and GR Sport-branded looks inside and out, the RAV4 certainly looks the part – though the hybrid powertrain is expected to produce the same 160kW as the regular models.

Toyota includes 19-inch alloy wheels, along with GR Sport-branded steering wheel, suede seats and floor mats to complete the package. It’s likely to come to Australia but there has been no official confirmation as of yet.  

Nissan X-Trail hybrid reviewed

Hybrid SUVs are all the rage in Australia – and all over the world in fact – but the new-generation Nissan X-Trail with its ‘E-Power’ hybrid system is determined to do things a bit differently.

It’s armed with an AWD hybrid system that uses its clever ‘variable compression’ 1.5-litre turbocharged three-pot engine as a generator that feeds electric power to a dual-motor, all-wheel-drive system producing an impressive 157kW of power.

In practice, it provides a character similar to a fully-electric vehicle, with our assessment finding that the petrol engine was extremely hushed, making for a comfortable, quick and pleasant drive.

Despite the sophistication of this drivetrain, fuel efficiency was relatively high at 7.0L/100km, a fair whack off Nissan’s claim of 6.1L and there’s daylight between this and a RAV4 which claims – and often achieves – 4.7-4.8L in our experience.

Nissan will only offer the E-Power system in the top-spec Ti and Ti-L grades, priced at $54,190 and $57,190 respectively – which isn’t cheap – but you do get a long list of features such as 12.3-inch screens and the top-grade nets Nappa leather seat material. 

Read or watch our review here.  

All the cars and SUVs we reviewed this week:

If you want a seven-seat, fully-electric SUV your options the Mercedes-Benz EQB 250 looks to be a good option. Priced from $90,700 before on-roads, the EQB offers lots of practicality, luxury and a fairly flexible 371km of range 

Editor Tom Baker has published his long-term review of ‘his’ fully-loaded Polestar 2 after spending six months on the road together. While he generally came away impressed, this Swedish-designed and Chinese-built liftback is not without its faults. Read or watch our review here. 

Journalist Zak Adkins has been thrown the keys to his first long-termer, a Kia Picanto GT, which he quickly put to task on a trip up to Bathurst to see if this sweet little hatch can live up to its performance claims. 

We’ve now had a drive in a fully-fledged production version of the Hyundai Ioniq 6 sedan and we came away impressed with the driving range and comfortable ride of this fully-electric sedan but some of the interior materials leave much to be desired. 

Other car and SUV news we covered this week:

• After perhaps deciding that the regular RS3 was a bit ‘sedate’, Audi pushed the limits of its hype hatch/sedan and created the performance edition, which ups the top speed to 300km/h thanks to increased outputs of 299kW/500Nm. Sadly, it won’t come to Australia.

• Shortly after spitting out this drink, ​​the head of BMW M division, Franciscus van Meel, vehemently shot down the idea of a three- or four-cylinder full-fat M car. 

• Jeep has unveiled its first fully-electric vehicle – known as the Avenger. Not to be confused with the Marvel Cinematic Universe, this retro-futuristic small SUV boasts over 400km of range but at this point in time, it’s yet to be confirmed for Australia. 

• Like clockwork, Porsche has detailed its next addition to the 911 line-up for the 992 generation, with the fan-favourite ‘T’. At 1470kg it’s the lightest in the range and at $280,600 before on-road costs it’s also one of the most affordable. 

• Hyundai has updated the Ioniq 5 line-up in Australia with a bigger 77.4kWh battery which boosts the range to 507km for RWD models and 454km for AWD models. 

• Mercedes-Benz has unveiled its fully-electric alternative to the GLE large SUV in the form of the EQE. It will feature up to 590km of range and be offered in a range of dual- and single-motor variants.

• Also on offer are AMG-badged versions in both 43 and 53 guises, the latter boasts outputs of 505kW and 1000Nm when you opt for the AMG Dynamic Plus package – enough to slingshot this 2.6-tonne limo from 0 to 100km/h in 3.5 seconds. 

• Rolls Royce has revealed its first fully-electric vehicle known as the Spectre. Driving range is estimated to be over 520km and the coupe is claimed to accelerate from 0-100km/h in 4.5 seconds thanks to a four-motor AWD producing 430kW and 900Nm.