The missing pieces of the 2022 Toyota Corolla Cross puzzle! Pricing? Specs? Timing? Here is what is still unclear about new Kia Seltos, Mazda CX-30, Subaru XV small SUV rival

There are a small number of very significant new model launches in 2022. The biggest has to be the new-gen Ford Ranger. You could argue that the new Nissan X-Trail is also up there.

But another model generating huge consumer interest in Australia ahead of its launch is the Toyota Corolla Cross.

A new model line for Brand T, the Corolla Cross will arrive as Toyota’s second small SUV offering alongside the C-HR, while sitting above the smaller Yaris Cross and below the mid-size RAV4.

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The Corolla Cross has all the ingredients to be a smash hit in Australia. It’s competing in one of the biggest market segments (small SUVs), it will come with Toyota’s reputation for reliability, and it has the globally popular Corolla nameplate attached to it.

Add in the fact it will be offered with a petrol-electric hybrid powertrain and you have a sure fire hit.

However, Toyota has kept its cards very close to its chest when it comes to releasing details about the Australian-market model, despite being revealed two years ago.

But Australian buyers are still in the dark on key info like model grades, specification and full engine specs.

So what information are we missing for the Aussie Corolla Cross?

When will Toyota launch the Corolla Cross?

It might seem like Australian buyers have been waiting a while for the Corolla Cross, and you’d be right. But in fairness to Toyota, the company confirmed when the new model was revealed that it would be at least two years before it rolled into local dealerships.

The most recent timing was later this year, and a Toyota Australia spokesperson confirmed with CarsGuide that it was currently expected to land in quarter four this year.

There are a few factors that could push this out to 2023, like the semi-conductor and other parts shortages that have hobbled new model rollouts the world over, combined with shipping delays.

Another hint is the fact that the Corolla Cross does not appear on the ‘Coming soon’ section of the Toyota Australia website. The only model shown is the upcoming second-generation GR86 coupe that is expected in the second half of this year.

There’s also a question mark over how long delivery times will be once the model has launched. Those aforementioned issues impacting most carmakers don’t look to be easing anytime soon, so it will be interesting to see what Toyota says in terms of wait times from launch.

How much will the Corolla Cross cost?

One of the few tidbits of info that Toyota has revealed about the Corolla Cross is that it will be sourced from Japan, rather than Thailand as originally expected.

That could mean the starting price is higher than if it was Thai-built.

But pricing is still unknown at this stage.

Toyota says it will be positioned between the Yaris Cross and RAV4 and alongside the C-HR. Given the Yaris Cross starts from $26,990 before on-road costs and the C-HR from $30,915, the Corolla Cross could start from around $29,990 before on-road costs.

With key rivals like the Kia Seltos, Hyundai Kona and Mazda CX-30 all starting from less than $30k, it could match them.

Of course, we will have to wait until Toyota Australia reveals its hand to see if this checks out. And that will also depend on what equipment it is offered with.

What equipment will the Corolla Cross come with?

This is an unknown at the moment too. Toyota Australia has confirmed wireless Apple CarPlay and wired Android Auto, as well as a suite of driver assist features under its Toyota Safety Sense umbrella.

Local specifications will differ from the Japanese market model so we will need to wait for Toyota to update us on that one.

What engines will the Corolla Cross have?

While Toyota has announced that the Corolla Cross will be offered in front-wheel drive guise with a choice of petrol and hybrid powertrains, and all-wheel drive combined with a new 2.0-litre hybrid unit, that’s all the official details we have for now.

A quick look online shows that the hybrid will pump out a combined output of 146kW and use a continuously variable transmission designed for hybrid powertrains.

How many Corolla Crosses will Toyota sell?

Toyota isn’t saying how many units it will sell annually, but given it’s in a hot segment and, on paper, there are a lot of positives, it could be a big seller for the brand.

That will of course depend on supply from the factory in Japan. A number of models launched in the past year in Australia have recorded low sales figures because of the limited amount of stock the carmaker could get its hands on.

The Kia EV6, Hyundai Ioniq 5 and Tesla Model 3 could have sold in much higher numbers this year had there been sufficient supply.