- Pros: Infotainment is much better than Toyota’s
- Pros: More practical cabin – Ultra Seats, flat boot floor
- Pros: More powerful than Corolla Cross Hybrid
- Pros: Sensing is more comprehensive than Corolla Cross Hybrid’s TSS
- Cons: Corolla Cross is more comfortable, quieter at highway speeds
- Cons: Slightly thirstier than Corolla Cross Hybrid
- Cons: Warranty coverage not as comprehensive as Toyota’s
The 1.5-litre e:HEV RS is separated from its chief rival, the 1.8-litre Hybrid, by just slightly over RM 800. The Honda sells for RM 140,800 while the Toyota asks for RM 139,991. Ignore the difference in engine sizes because the 1.5-litre Honda is boosted by a much more powerful 96 PS / 253 Nm drive motor versus the 1.8-litre Toyota’s 72 PS / 163 Nm. Toyota’s hybrid is based on the concept of an ‘engine first, motor second’, while Honda believes in the opposite.
For all intents and purposes, both the HR-V and Corolla Cross hybrids are evenly matched and every savvy buyer shopping for the Corolla Cross Hybrid should also experience the HR-V hybrid (Honda calls it e:HEV) for themselves before signing the dotted line.
This post will focus only on the hybrid variant. If you are still on the fence on which of the 3 engine options available in the HR-V is best for you, .
Pros: Better looking interior than the Corolla Cross
To be clear, the Honda HR-V RS’ interior doesn’t feel like it’s worth RM 140k. One just need to look a similar priced Honda Civic (RM 131k – RM 151k) to be reminded how interiors of cars at this price point should look like.
Its saving grace however, is that its interior is still lightyears better than the Corolla Cross’ awfully cheap looking cabin.
Like the Civic, the HR-V’s knobs are finished with nice bezels, and dashboard is wrapped in soft, non-reflective material, which is greatly appreciated in our climate.
Dual zone A/C is unique to the hybrid e:HEV RS variant
The front-side air vents have an air curtain mode which helps in keeping the front cabin cool, but our test car didn’t had any tinting on the windows so it’s effect was hardly felt.
As a bonus, the Honda isn’t any less practical than the Toyota. More on that later.
Pros: Infotainment is much better than Toyota’s
The biggest deal breaker for the Corolla Cross is not the car itself, but the locally-sourced infotainment head unit that’s so frustrating to use, especially its 360-degree camera that comes on every time you slow down and put on your indicators, thus overriding Waze / Google Maps. Unlike Honda’s LaneWatch, there’s no way to switch back to map view and you won’t be able to see the map until you speed up!
HR-V lacks 360-degree camera, which the Toyota offers, but believe it or not, we still don’t want the Toyota’s head unit
In contrast, the Honda HR-V e:HEV RS’ original Honda head unit works like a charm. Its 8-inch touchscreen is one inch smaller than Toyota’s but it doesn’t matter because its Android Auto / Apple CarPlay integration works so much better, with decent image resolution, and more importanty, doesn’t lag.
The Honda also has 8 speakers versus the Toyota’s 6.
Pros: More practical cabin – Ultra Seats, flat boot floor
In terms of head and shoulder room, the Corolla Cross has a stronger advantage as it can sit 3 adults behind more comfortably.
But you’ll be surprised to know that it is the smaller Honda HR-V that is more practical, allowing you to fit more cargo inside.
Flat floding seats make a lot of difference
Take the boot floor for example, the Corolla Cross’ rear seats don’t fold flat but the Honda HR-V does. Having a flat boot floor makes a world of difference in how usable the boot is.
The Honda also has a lower boot floor, so it’s easier to load and unload heavy items.
Corolla Cross Hybrid is the bigger car, but the hump limits usability
Of course, there’s also the magical Honda Ultra Seats, which allows the seats to not only fold down but also fold up, so you can transport not just long items, but also tall ones. Its an amazing feature that transforms a small B-segment SUV into something that matches a mini cargo van.
Pros: More powerful than Corolla Cross Hybrid
Both cars are not blisteringly quick and if we are being honest, the HR-V e:HEV RS doesn’t drive like its 253 Nm suggests. Still, the HR-V is noticeably faster than the Corolla Cross Hybrid (0-100 km/h only in 12.9 seconds).
Apart from the blue-tinted Honda logo in front, e:HEV RS is differentiated from the turbocharged V variant by its clear lens tail lights and single exhaust tip
Since our driving session was shared with other media, we didn’t have a chance to run it with out timing gear yet, but we reckon that it’s a 10 second car.
Pros: Sensing is more comprehensive than Corolla Cross Hybrid’s TSS
Sensing’s ACC adds stop-go function, which is not available in the Toyota
Like the Civic and Accord, the HR-V’s Sensing driver assistance suite is more intuitive to use than Toyota’s, with better laid out user interface versus the Corolla Cross’ more cluttered instrument panel.
In the Honda, displays for Sensing-related functions are grouped together in the middle.
Sensing’s adaptive cruise control also adds stop-go function, for a more relaxed drive when you’re caught in a slow crawl on the highway (not advisable to use ACC in the city, where motorcycles frequently cut in).
Toyota’s Dynamic Radar Cruise Control (DRCC) is also able to bring the car to a halt but since it uses a mechanically operated foot brake instead of an electric one, it is unable to resume the function after stopping.
The Corolla Cross adds blind spot monitor, which the Honda doesn’t have, but its LaneWatch camera makes up for it by being more useful at night, in the rain. Also, blind spot is less of an issue on the driver’s side, hence why LaneWatch works on the left.
Cons: Black roof lining makes the Honda’s cabin feel tight
Just like there’s no perfect wife / husband, there is no perfect car and the HR-V is no different. While we love its ultra-practical Ultra Seats, more powerful drivetrain, and the more expensive interior versus the Toyota, we don’t like the e:HEV RS variant’s black roof lining.
Black roofliner, higher dashboard, coupled with omission of sunroof make the cabin feel tighter than it actually is
The black material makes the already low roof feel closer than it needs to be. Those with children may also find this to be a concern, as it makes toddlers fidgety.
The new HR-V’s dashboard also sits higher than before, likewise the infotainment, which is also closer to the driver for easier reach, but together with the black roof lining and smaller windows, it makes for a more claustrophobic experience.
Turbocharged V variant gets a lighter colour roof lining
Although the Corolla Cross’ has a similarly dark roof lining, its taller roof and larger windows gives it a more ‘airy’ feel in the cabin.
On the upside, the ‘regular’ non-hybrid turbocharged V variant comes with a lighter beige roof liner.
Cons: Corolla Cross is more comfortable, quieter at highway speeds
Like all Honda hybrids past and current, engine refinement is not its forte. The Corolla Cross Hybrid’s engine runs on the same Atkinson cycle principle as the HR-V e:HEV RS, but the Toyota is quieter and smoother.
The Honda’s engine sends more vibration into the cabin and at certain speeds, you feel the vibration through the throttle pedal, which doesn’t make for a comfortable drive on long distances.
Most of the time, the car will be in hybrid drive mode but at certain cruising speeds, the lock-up clutch will bypass the motor, using only the engine to drive the car
Although the Honda has more powerful motors, its smaller 1.5-litre engine has to work harder to keep it juiced up when driving on long sustained highway speeds.
Overall, the Corolla Cross Hybrid the more relaxed cruiser, with better seats too. Despite its lower power output and lack of straight line speed, it is the Toyota that is the more comfortable long distance driving car,
Cons: Slightly thirstier than Corolla Cross Hybrid
In urban traffic, the HR-V e:HEV RS’ motor-first, engine-second concept works like a charm. At higher engine speeds however, the benefits of its hybrid drivetrain diminishes quickly, and it’s probably related to the smaller 1.5-litre engine which has to work harder than the Corolla Cross’ 1.8-litre.
Over 230 km distance from Terengganu to KL, mostly highways, the HR-V Hybrid averaged 6.4-litre/100 km. The Corolla Cross on the other hand, crossed 370 km from Penang to Shah Alam with an average of 5.7-litre/100 km, both trip computer readings.
Yes, the route is not identical, but the Corolla Cross’ more relaxed running engine suggests that it will be more economical regardless of the route.
Cons: Warranty coverage not as comprehensive as Toyota’s
The Toyota Corolla Cross’s hybrid system is covered by an 8+2 years unlimited mileage warranty (2 years extension is optional, costs RM 2,950), and it covers not just the battery but also the inverter and power management control unit.
The Honda HR-V Hybrid’s high voltage battery is covered an 8-year unlimited mileage warranty, and it doesn’t cover other hybrid components, only the battery.
‘Other makes’ is obviously referring to Honda Malaysia
On the upside, real-world experience suggests that Honda hybrids are more reliable than Toyota ones in local driving conditions.
Most independent hybrid specialists we speak to say Honda hybrids rarely need repairs even though 10-year old IMA mild-hybrid models were sold in far greater numbers (3 models – Jazz, Insight, CR-Z) than the Toyota Prius and Prius c.
Conclusion
Both the Corolla Corolla Cross and HR-V e:HEV RS Hybrid are two of the best value for money SUVs you can buy today. They are future-proofed against the expected increase in fuel prices once subsidies for RON 95 is revised post-election, and comes with all the safety and convenience features you want.
Both have their strength and weaknesses but if we have to choose one, our vote goes to the Honda.
The Honda’s poorer refinement only becomes apparent at higher speeds and you don’t drive at 130 km/h for hours straight very often, but you use the infotainment and turn signals every day and we just cannot live with the Corolla Cross’ laggy infotainment and the infuriating 360-degree camera that insists on overring Android Auto / Apple Car Play’s navigation every time you slow down and use the indicator.
If you are the sort who don’t know what Android Auto / Apple CarPlay is and still use an old school phone holder stuck to the windscreen, and you listen to FM radio instead of Spotify, then yes the Corolla Cross Hybrid is still a right fit for you.
Keyword: Pros and Cons: 2022 Honda HR-V e:HEV RS, is it better than the Corolla Cross Hybrid?