Category: Motoring

West Africa’s largest automotive parts and after-market trade show is returning to Lagos in May. Now in its third edition, the West Africa Automotive Show (WAAS) will take place at the Landmark Centre on Victoria Island from Tuesday 16th May to Thursday 18th May. 

WAAS is forecast to see more than 150 exhibitors from 40 countries and more than 3,500 participants over its three days. Building on last year’s highly successful event, WAAS will include six Country Pavilions and will launch a new conference alongside the exhibition.

The WAAS Conference will provide visitors with even more opportunity to hear from policy makers and the industry about the automotive sector in Nigeria and West Africa, to find out what’s new, and to discuss policy and trends.

WAAS is the Region’s largest showcase for hundreds of automotive brands from across the world and covers a huge diversity of products, parts and services. It is organised by BtoB Events, which has the largest portfolio of trade exhibitions across the African continent, including the highly popular Food & Beverage West Africa and Beauty West Africa. 

Jamie Hill, Managing Director of BtoB Events, is looking forward to welcoming first-timers and the many returning exhibitors and visitors, especially with the new WAAS Conference adding to the show’s support for the automotive sector. 

“The West Africa Automotive Show has built a huge following and has already become the largest automotive aftermarket exhibition in West Africa. Visitors appreciate being among the first to see, touch and encounter new products and technologies from across the world on site,” he says.

“The WAAS Conference will add to the experience, bringing together the industry’s key leaders and government officials to discuss trends and challenges. I am delighted that we have been able to appoint Luqman Mamudu, the Director of Policy and Planning at the National Automotive Council, as Conference chair.”

Mr Mamudu, who is also the Chief Executive Officer and Founder of Transtech Industrial Consulting, wants the conference programme to address a range of factors affecting the status of Nigeria’s automotive sector and that of West Africa.

“I expect that the inaugural conference of WAAS and the show itself will deepen demand for new parts in Nigeria,” he says. “Above all, the conference recommendations will inform action of the incoming government of Nigeria in charting a new course for the automotive sector.”

WAAS is supported by the founding partner, Africa’s largest auto spare part market – ASPMDA Auto Spare Parts and Machinery Dealers Association – and is endorsed by the National Automotive Design and Development Council (NADDC).

Businesses interested in exhibiting can contact BtoB Events via https://www.westafricaautomotive.com/our-services/book-a-stand/ or by calling +44 (0) 2476 158101. 

Further information

The West Africa Automotive Show (WAAS) and Conference website is at https://www.westafricaautomotive.com/

To speak to Mr Hill or Mr Mamudu, please contact the BtoB Events team on +44 (0) 2476 158101 or +44 (0) 2477 298625.

Visitors can attend free of charge by pre-registering at https://www.westafricaautomotive.com/pre-register/ otherwise there will be a nominal administration fee on the door.

West Africa Automotive Show 2023 Partners include:

Auto Spare Parts & Machinery Dealers Association (ASPMDA)

Automotive Component Manufacturers Association of India (ACMA)

National Automotive Design and Development Council 

New Auto Spare Parts Dealers Association, Nkpor

New Motor Spare Parts Dealers Association, Yangobra Kano

Nigerian Automotive Manufacturers Association

Motormechs and Technicians Association of Nigeria

National Association of Nigerian Traders (NANTS)

Abuja Motor Spare Parts Dealers Association (AMSPDA)

About BtoB Events

BtoB Events Ltd (https://btob-events.com/)is Nigeria’s leading trade event organiser, with exhibitions across five different business sectors.

Our exhibitions attract visitors from across the West Africa region, and our exhibitors attend from across the entire globe. We are delighted to host over 20,000 visitors and over 1,500 exhibitors with us every single year!

Our popularity with exhibitors means our onsite rebooking rates run at over 90%, reflecting exhibitors’ trust in us and the business opportunities we can help provide.

The suspense finally over as Mikano Motors reveals the identity of its mystery new brand to be Changan Auto to automobile reporters at the Mikano Motors Head Office on Victoria Island, Lagos.

The media were engaged in a session to explore the latest addition to Nigeria’s fastest growing automotive powerhouse.

Prior to the reveal, Mikano Motors had teased audiences’ pan- Nigeria for a month, with endorsements from celebrity influencers such as Celebrity barman- Pascal Chibuike aka Cubana Chief Priest, Jemima Osunde, Akah Nnanni, Sydney Talker and Auto Enthusiasts Supercars of Nigeria and CarContinent who were also in attendance for the official reveal. Also in attendance were a few customers who had already purchased from the Changan line-up by pre-order, amongst them were the first owners of the Changan CS85 Coupe, who also picked up their cars on the same day.

With the addition of Changan (formerly distributed by another Nigerian dealer), Mikano Motors becomes the sole distributor of brands from three of Chinas “Big Four” auto giants – Saic Motors (Maxus), Dongfeng Motor Corporation (ZNA), and now Changan Automobile Group. Established in 1862, Changan Auto is China’s oldest automaker and one of the pioneers of the automotive industry. Their sojourn into building and retailing passenger vehicles, however, started 32 years ago. Since then, the brand has continued to gain immense popularity worldwide for its value offerings across all segments of the automotive industry with sales in the region of 8,500 units sold daily worldwide, under its brands, including Changan, Oshan, and Kaicene, and also its joint ventures with foreign brands like Lincoln, Ford and Mazda known as Changan Ford and Changan Mazda respectively, since 2012. With consistent focus on evolution and innovation, Changan Auto has set its sights on a fully electric line-up by 2025.

The General Manager, Mikano Motors, Ralph Haidar, stated that “Mikano Motors partnership with Changan Auto is a powerful alliance that will further change the landscape of automobile ownership in Nigeria, in the wake of the success of the Geely brand.”

“We are expecting around 15 models from this brand, which will be complementary to our line-up from Geely Auto, Maxus and ZNA,” Haidar said.

In a bold and unprecedented move, Mikano Motors- Changan will be offering a six-year/ 200,000km (whichever comes first) warranty to all its new customers while offering up to a five-year warranty to existing Changan owners. With 15 models, Mikano Motors promises that there will be a car to suit everyone’s needs.

Haidar added: “This is the first of its kind in all of Africa” and one of the reasons why the Changan brand is performing well in some West African countries, especially of note, Ivory Coast. This is also true for many Gulf countries like Qatar, Jordan, and Saudi Arabia where they offer even higher warranties. As a leading global provider of quality automobile sales and services, with a clear understanding of producing quality vehicles and considering the disposable income of auto buyers declines as a result of the global economic recession and other domestic factors, we understand that businesses and individuals need cars that combine durability, affordability, as well as luxury and technology which is what Changan and Mikano Motors are known to provide to its customers.”

National Sales Manager, Mikano Motors, Chijioke Mbonu gave guests an insight into the sales performance of the Changan brand since its arrival at Mikano Motors, stating that “the trust that clients have for the Mikano name has played a huge part in ensuring that sales of over 500 units have been made to government parastatals, corporate organisations and individuals within the past 3 months under the pre-sale terms.”

Operations Manager for Mikano Motors, Syam Abdulkadir, said the company is prepared to handle customers from all the brands under Mikano Motors, with a 3S model that ensures that from the point of sale and throughout their auto journey, they will have peace of mind and the assurance of the all the benefits of the Mikano Motors value proposition. Furthermore, he also made it clear that the brand has already put measures in place for expansion of facilities as needed.

Before closing the event, Mr Haidar publicly declared the presales/ pre- order offer for Changan models. The offer includes, but is not limited to all prices VAT deducted (as a form of discount), free registration and up to three years free service, depending on the model purchased. The event was finally closed with a walk around of four of the 15 anticipated models; the Eado DT sedan, CS35Plus, CS85 Luxury Coupe SUV and the Executive CS95 large SUV.  

Members of the Tricycle Operators and Owners Association of Nigeria (TOOAN) affiliated with Lagos State Parks and Garages (LASPG) in Isolo area has held a rally for the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu and all other APC candidates.

The rally took place between Ago-Bridge, Okota and the palace of the Osolo of Isolo Kingdom.

In attendance were Chairman of TOOAN ‘B’ Zone Comrade Monsuru Agbabiaka (Alagba), Chairman of Isolo Local Council Development Area(LCDA), Olasoju Adebayo and notable Nollywood stars under the umbrella of the Connecting Grassroot Initiatives (CGI) for Asiwaju/Shettima.

Agbabiaka said Asiwaju Tinubu has always been a person whose top priority is the welfare of the people.

Having done well as Governor of Lagos state, Agbabiaka said Nigerians stand to gain more if Tinubu is elected as President.

He described Tinubu as the man of the people.

“I have worked with him during his time as a senator and governor till date and without doubt he is the man that can bring immense development to Nigeria. We are mobilising not less than 300,000 people to vote for him in our area,” he said.

Adebayo described Tinubu as a thoroughbred politician, technocrat, businessman, who understands the yearning of the people.

“If he can make Lagos work, he can also make Nigeria work,” he said.

The Canada Coalition of Support Groups and the All-Progressives Congress (APC) Canada was delighted with the success of the campaign and town hall engagement with the Nigerian community in Canada for APC’s presidential candidate Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and his running mate Senator Kashim Shettima. The event was themed: Renewed Hope for A New Nigeria. It had Speaker Dr. Abiola Oshodi as the keynote speaker. The event was held at White Oaks Conference Resort & Spa, Niagara, Ontario, Canada.

Other speakers that joined in virtually were APC National Women Leader, Dr Betta Edu, APC National Youth Leader  Dayo Israel; Director of the APC Diaspora Directorate Prince Ade Omole  and executive director of Niger Delta Power Holding Company Limited Ifeoluwa Oyedele. The event was an opportunity for the speakers to address Nigerians in the diaspora and others who joined online on the merit of voting for Asiwaju Tinubu.

The organising chairman; Ibraheem-Ola Haruna,  represented by APC Canada Chairman Nick Apata, alluded to the fact that Asiwaju Tinubu represents a prominent transitional leader that will change the trajectory of development in Nigeria, Africa and the entire black race. He enjoined Nigerians to vote for Asiwaju because, beyond party affiliation and religious or ethnic considerations, he has been proven to walk his talk.

Chairman of the Coalition of Support Groups in Canada and the event convener, Mr Olujimi Adekanle, also spoke about Tinubu as a progressive that awakened the consciousness of the Nigerians through opposition against a one-party state.

In the keynote address, Dr. Oshodi dissected the “Renewed Hope” manifesto of Tinubu/Shettima holistically, explaining in detail the plan to use technology, more funding and recruitment of more personnel to tackle insecurity.

The goal, he said, is to make Nigeria self-sufficient in agriculture and to consolidate the effort of Buhari’s administration on electricity.

Tesla’s Model 3 is understandably a popular choice for Electric Vehicle shoppers, but there is another option if you’re searching for a small electric car: the 2023 Polestar 2. Similar to the Model 3, Polestar 2 offers both single and dual electric motor configurations. The single-motor model has more potential range, while the dual motor trades some range for quicker acceleration. Polestar is the all-electric offshoot brand from Volvo, and the 2 shares much of its EV tech and underpinnings with the Volvo XC40 Recharge SUV.

The Polestar 2 is a smart pick for a small, upscale Electric Vehicle (EV). It’s comfortable and fun to drive around. It also has a generous amount of cargo space. The main downside is that it doesn’t have as much maximum range as some rivals.

The Polestar 2 debuted for the 2021 model year, and the 2023 model benefits from numerous updates. The Long Range Dual Motor version gains 11 miles of driving distance on a full battery, now offering an EPA-estimated 260 miles between visits to a charging station. Get the optional Performance Pack, and this version of the car now adds 68 horsepower and 15 lb-ft of torque for an impressive total of 476 hp and 502 lb-ft. For 2023, Polestar also adds the BST Edition 270, a limited-edition trim that ups the performance ante with hardware upgrades and a tougher exterior look. Poloestar will build just 270 units globally, making it the rarest Polestar model to date.

Fresh wheel designs, paint colors and interior materials are available, including a new premium leather upholstery upgrade that also equips the Polestar 2 with ventilated front seats for the first time. In addition, the Plus Pack now includes a more advanced air filter for keeping unwanted particulates out of the cabin. Finally, the heat pump included in the Plus Pack now operates over a wider range of temperatures to help negate the driving range losses observed in cooler weather.

Polestar knows the field of similarly sized and configured EVs is growing by the day, and Tesla is no longer the only source of competition.

Its steering may not have quite the quick and immediate snap of the Tesla’s, but it zips around turns with confidence. When you just feel like cruising, the Polestar is a smooth operator, delivering the easy and quiet acceleration expectED from an EV. Emergency braking is trouble-free, with short distances, and the Polestar 2 offers easy one-pedal driving. Lifting off the accelerator brings about strong regenerative braking to slow you down, so you don’t need to use the brake pedal for most situations.

Polestar has done an excellent job of making the 2 comfortable. The ride is compliant without being overly soft, and overall the car is smoother over bumps than some Teslas we’ve tested. It’s quiet, too, with only a mild amount of wind and road noise apparent at highway speeds. The front seats have enough cushioning and support to make long drives comfortable.

All Polestar 2 models come standard with dual-zone automatic climate control, and our test vehicle was equipped with heated front and rear seats. The climate control system works quickly, though some may not like that the controls are tied entirely to the touchscreen.

The Polestar 2 uses a Google-based touchscreen interface that’s reliable and easy to use. Earlier iterations of this system could be a little buggy, but it seems as if Polestar has fixed the issues. Most of the other controls are straight from sister company Volvo and require some time to get familiar with. That includes the window switches, steering wheel and turn signal stalks.

The Polestar 2 isn’t a large car, but it provides a decent amount of space for both front and rear passengers. The car’s small size makes getting in and out of tight parking spots relatively easy, though we wish the doors opened a bit wider for easier entry and exit. Visibility is aided by relatively large side windows and mirrors. The rear window is narrow, however, so we’re thankful for the standard surround-view camera system.

There are quite a few advantages for this Android-based touchscreen, such as over-the-air updates (it automatically updates just like your smartphone to get the latest software and features) and Google Maps-based navigation. It’s all straightforward and works more like a smartphone than most other systems. There isn’t much to it right now, but it has the ability to add apps from the Google Play store. As for smartphone integration and projecting your phone’s apps into the touchscreen, Apple CarPlay comes standard. Android Auto isn’t yet available, which seems odd given that it’s a Google-based system.

Voice controls work well, another benefit of the Android software. In addition to entering an address or adjusting the climate control, one can ask for the weather or have the car tell you a joke. Sound quality is fine though nothing exceptional. One would expect it to have more audio clarity at higher volume.

The Polestar 2 is available with a full suite of advanced driver aids, no surprise for a company that was spun off from Volvo, an automaker known for its safety. There are quite a few standard features like collision avoidance and lane departure warning, though some more advanced systems like adaptive cruise control are tied to certain packages.

The Polestar 2 has both a hatch and a small front trunk. The latter, at 1.3 cubic feet, isn’t useful for much beyond a small item or two. The rear is a different story, with a deep cargo area that seems larger than its official 14.2-cubic-foot capacity would suggest. That’s more space than the Tesla Model 3, though the Tesla trunk is more usable. The hatchback-style opening makes loading cargo fairly easy, and the 60/40-split folding seats open up the area further. That said, it offers far less cargo space than some similarly priced EVs such as the Hyundai Ioniq 5 and Ford Mustang Mach-E. The Polestar 2 does have a 2,000-pound factory tow rating, which isn’t a lot of weight, but some rivals aren’t rated to tow anything.

Small-item storage isn’t so great. The center battery tunnel cuts into space that would otherwise be for small-item storage. Cupholders are concealed under a sliding and folding armrest, so you have to choose between drinks or an elbow rest. Most other cubbies are modestly sized.

The rear seat has Isofix anchor points located under plastic tabs. Most child safety seats should fit OK, though installing a rear-facing seat will limit how far back you can scoot the front seats.

As far as efficiency goes, this Polestar is estimated to consume 31 kWh of electricity for every 100 miles of travel. The Polestar trails most of its competition in efficiency, but given the relatively low cost of electricity compared to gas, the monetary differences won’t be a big difference in your monthly budget.

Polestar borrows a lot from sister company Volvo, giving it a distinctly European look and feel. The interior is stylish and simple, though the sea of black surfaces can be a bit drab after a while. All of the materials, even the plastic parts, have a more premium look and feel than what you’ll find in a Tesla. But that feel will cost you, and the Polestar 2 doesn’t fare well when it comes to cost. It has one of the highest base MSRPs in its class and doesn’t come as well equipped or offer as much range for the price.

Part of that premium price does include a decent warranty and some other ownership benefits. Polestar’s four-year/50,000-mile basic warranty and eight-year/100,000-mile battery warranty is pretty standard for the class, but it provides two years of free fast charging at Electrify America (150 kW for 30 minutes per session). Polestar also includes roadside assistance for four years/50,000 miles.

The Kia Carens has been crowned as the Indian Car of the Year (ICOTY) 2023 and the Kia EV6 won the Green Car Award 2023 by ICOTY. With this, Kia has become the first brand ever to win two ICOTY awards in the same year. 

The ICOTY awards, held under the aegis of the Automotive Journalists Association of India (AJAI), are the most coveted automotive awards in India and are often referred to as the Oscars of the Indian automotive industry. The award is an expert and independent judgment of the best new car. The highly experienced jury members are responsible for selecting a single decisive winner. The criteria like price, fuel efficiency, styling, comfort, safety, performance, practicality, technical innovation, value for money, and suitability for Indian driving conditions are particularly important factors that are considered while deciding on the winner.

Reacting to the feat, Kia Corporation President and Chief Executive Officer, Ho Sung Song said: “India is one of the most important markets for Kia, as the Indian market has grown at an unprecedented rate. Kia has become one of the fastest-growing automotive brands in the Indian market and to be recognized by the Indian Car of the Year jury is a significant achievement for the whole Kia family. The Kia Carens highlights our commitment to offer tailor-made family vehicles to meet Indian customers’ needs, while the Kia EV6 embodies our vision to pave the road for electrified mobility solutions for India. We will continue our efforts to contribute to the future of mobility for customers in India and around the world.”

Kia India Managing Director and CEO Tae-Jin Park said: “We are thankful to the esteemed ICOTY jury members for this honor. This is a well-deserved recognition for the Kia brand and speaks volumes for our technological prowess, capabilities and understanding of Indian market. It is a true reflection of our successful journey in India and a great motivation for us to keep working and contributing towards an inspiring tomorrow.”

Kia Carens is yet another made-in-India global product from Kia that brings the sophistication of a family mover and the sportiness of an SUV in one compelling package. The Kia Carens is a comfortable and spacious three-row seater Recreational Vehicle designed for modern Indian families. The vehicle hosts many first-in-class features such as 26.03 Cm (10.25″) HD Touchscreen Navigation with Next Generation Kia Connect, BOSE Premium Sound System with 8 speakers, Smart Pure Air Purifier with Virus and Bacteria protection, Ventilated front seats, 2nd Row Seat One Touch Easy Electric Tumble and SkyLight Sunroof to name a few. All the trim levels offer the Robust 10 Hi-safety package as standard which includes 6 airbags, VSM, HAC, ESC, all-Wheel Disc Brakes, to name a few, making the Kia Carens safe for a family drive. The Kia Carens is available with three powertrain options – Smartstream 1.5 Petrol, Smartstream 1.4 T-GDi Petrol and 1.5 CRDi VGT Diesel. Further, customers also get an option to choose from three transmission options – 6MT, 7DCT and 6AT.The vehicle is offered in the Seven seater option in Premium to Luxury trims, while the Luxury Plus trim is available with a choice of both 6 and 7 seater options.

Kia EV6 is the first Electric Vehicle by Kia in India and is built on Kia’s dedicated EV platform, the Electric-Global Modular Platform (E-GMP). The vehicle boasts a highly impressive real-world driving range, ultra-fast charging capabilities, and a spacious, high-tech interior. It features an 800-volt ultra-fast charging capability, with a 10-80 percent charge taking as little as 18 minutes using a 350-kW charger. Alongside its charging capabilities, the EV6 will be introduced in India with a long-range (77.4 kWh) battery pack that offers a range of up to 708 km on a full charge (ARAI certified).

The newly-entrant into the automobile sector, Mikano joined GAC, Cosharis, Toyota, Stallion Motors and Mercedes Benz to dominate award winners at the Nigeria Auto Journalists Association (NAJA) Awards.

The event was held on Thursday at the Oriental Hotels, Victoria Island, Lagos.

Other top winners at the 11th NAJA Awards, the 2022 edition, are Lanre Shittu Motors, CFAO Motors, R.T. Briscoe, Elizade Autoland, Innoson, JAC, Jet Systems and Autochek.

Over thirty awards were given in various categories.

The event which was attended by stakeholders in the auto industry, including a representative from the Corps Marshal of the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC), Dauda Ali Biu, saw the GAC GS4 carting home the coveted Car-of-the-Year (COTY) crown.

The GS4 defeated Suzuki S-Presso and Geely Coolray in a keenly contested race.

Also, Mercedes Benz brand marketed by Weststar Associates Ltd in Nigeria emerged as the Luxury Brand of the Year, defeating BMW and Porsche, while Toyota Land Cruiser emerged as the SUV of the Year and Range Rover (Autobiography) clinched the Luxury SUV of the Year trophy respectively.

Mikano’s showroom on Victoria Island Lagos won the Showroom of the Year.

Also at the well-attended award night, Toyota Hilux emerged the Pickup of the Year, defeating Mitsubishi L200 and Ford Range. Toyota also won the minibus-of-the-year award.

The Chinese bus of the year award went to Foton View C2 being handled in Nigeria by Kewalram Nigeria.

Suzuki S-Presso picked the Budget Car of the Year, and JAC J7 going home with the outstanding auto design vehicle of the Year.

Lanre Shittu’s JAC truck plant was adjudged the Truck plant of the Year; it also won the Large Truck of the Year while Innoson Motors bagged the Assembly Plant of the Year award.

Stallion’s Bajaj was declared the three-wheeler of the year. The firm waa also named multi-brand assembler of the year.

Jet System received the electric auto company of the year; Micking emerged oil brand of the year; Nord won the best innovative auto company award, Autochek was celebrated as best in online auto finance and marketing.

The duo of R.T. Briscoe and Mandilas Motors were honoured as the most resilient auto companies.

Dangote’s Peugeot also got the most resilient auto brand.

GUO Transport emerged as the transport company of the year.

As part of their contributions to the development of Nigeria’s auto industry, the Seyi Onajide, MD of RT Briscoe and Kunle Jaiyesimi, DMD of CFAO Motors were honoured with the auto Personality of the Year awards.

Also, the late Vice President of Coscharis Group, Mrs. Charity Maduka and the late Chairman of Globe Motors, Willie Anumudu, were given posthumous awards for supporting growth of Nigeria’s auto industry.

Chairman of NAJA, Mike Ochonma, said the awards recognized performance of auto brands, plants and personalities creating value in the sector based on the criteria including brand value, market leadership and business strategy against their peers in the past year under review.

He said all winners were selected for their impressive performance in Nigeria auto industry despite a challenging macro-economic environment in the past year under review.

Commenting on the award, DMD, CFAO Motors, Jaiyesimi, commended NAJA for its consistency over the years, noting that the recognition by NAJA was an indication that great work does not go unnoticed.

Speaking on the award for CFAO, Jaiyesimi said: “It is gratifying that our many years of commitment and mindful service, with our clients’ needs at heart, are still yielding great results.

“We are deeply honoured to receive this award. To be recognized by NAJA, an umbrella body for auto journalists in Nigeria, is a fulfilling achievement for us. This award is about defining our role towards creating value for our employees, customers, shareholders, communities and the society at large.”

With the rush by manufacturers to meet the  need for more crossover Sport Utility Vehicles (SUVs), there’s enough volume for them to come up with their unique take on the segment. Something quirky, different; perhaps a bit weird.

The 2023 Corolla Cross is none of those things. From the conservative exterior to the monotone interior, Toyota’s little SUV doesn’t reach out and grab you to make a first impression. But, spend some time with one and you’ll find a comfortable, capable partner available at a compelling price.

It almost feels a bit derivative for Toyota to call its littlest SUV the Corolla Cross, milking nearly 60 years worth of name recognition for small, value-oriented motoring. But the Corolla Cross is very much a bigger, taller version of the stoic Corolla, and for that reason, you have to respect the no-nonsense nomenclature here.

That said, for a crossover SUV that shares so much with the sedan, on the outside, there’s very little visual to connect the two. It starts up front with a tall, dark grille that itself sits on top of more dark material, some black plastic cladding that runs all the way around the car, forming the lower extents of the fenders, rocker panels, and rear bumper. This gives the car a slightly chunky, vaguely rugged look that’s necessary for this segment. The total price for the car is $32,718, including a $1,215 destination charge.

The blocky fender flares help in that regard, too, highlighting the rear tail-lights, which stand out from the receding flanks of the car. A tiny spoiler mounted on the top of the hatch gives only the tiniest of sporting pretensions, mounted just aft of the only real bit of visual flare: a tiny chrome badge that says “Corolla Cross.”

All that cladding on the front, back, and sides pairs well with the Blue Crush Metallic paint, a colour that, like the rest of the car, is pretty straightforward.

While the outside of the Corolla Cross doesn’t share too much with its namesake, it’s a completely different story on the inside. The interior is an almost identical clone of that found in the Corolla hatch and sedan. Mind you, that’s not a bad thing. Surely it helps keep the cost down, but regardless it’s a nicely laid-out and well-made space.

The dash is a combination of simple, clean shapes of soft-touch plastics embossed with an unfortunate faux leather pattern, complete with pretend to stitch. With so many premium manufacturers like Volvo and Mercedes-Benz going out of their way to offer vegan interiors, one is inclined to say it’s time for manufacturers to give up on the pretend leather patterns.

Materials are good, hard plastics are limited to the lower door cards and center console between the seats, though the headliner does feel a little cardboardy. Only the gloss piano black surfaces around the shifter and infotainment system are a real bother. They’re impossible to keep clean at the best of times and, given how your average Corolla gets used, they’re liable to be properly filthy in the wild.

The center stack contains a simple, separate HVAC row with a pair of temperature knobs for driver and passenger, a few physical buttons, and a little LCD for temperature and mode readouts. Up above the vents one’ll find the main infotainment touchscreen, eight inches in the XLE and standing proud out of the dashboard.

This is flanked with another pair of knobs, including one for volume thank goodness, plus eight buttons for going home or skipping straight to various sections of Entune. Entune itself is, well, Entune, dated and tired but perfectly functional. There’s no navigation out of the box, one will need to install that separately, but if you’re going to go through the trouble of connecting your smartphone, you might as well just use either Android Auto or Apple CarPlay. Either of which work just fine here so long as you don’t mind plugging in.

That means the lone front USB port up front will be used to drive the infotainment experience. There’s a wireless Qi charger, too, but if your passenger wants to gain a little juice and use their phone at the same time they’re out of luck. Rear-seat passengers, meanwhile, get one each of USB Type-A and USB Type-C.

The gauge cluster is a large, centrally mounted LCD. A physical tachometer runs up the left side and, on the right, separate dials for fuel level and coolant temperature. That large central LCD doesn’t offer much in the w    ay of customization, its middle section is able to cycle through things like trip info and ADAS status — all the usual stuff and nothing too flashy.

There is, though, one thing that’ll make you sit up and take notice: the nine-speaker JBL sound system. This thing kicks. Sure, it lacks a little finesse, and one had to drop the bass in the settings before hearing the lyrics, but for a car this affordable it’s a great system. Bass lovers will find little need to upgrade.

While so much of the car is fair to middling if there’s one area sure to leave you wanting it’s the powertrain department. The Corolla Cross features a 169-horsepower, 2.0-liter four-cylinder paired with a continuously variable transmission. The CVT does its best to ape a traditional automatic, changing ratios to simulate gear shifts every now and again, but still you’d best get used to the continuous droning complaints of each of the four cylinders whenever you push the accelerator flat to the floor.

And you’re liable to do that a lot. Anytime you want to get up a hill, for example, or accelerate to highway speed. Passing on a two-lane road? You’d best make sure the road is clear for a good, long way before putting on that turn signal. This is the same motor used in the smaller, 175-pound lighter, FWD Corolla. Here, dragging around a heavier, AWD Corolla Cross, it struggles.

It is, at least, frugal. The Corolla Cross in XLE trim is rated at 29 mpg city, 32 highway, and 30 combined.

Underwhelming though it may be, lack of performance is not the end of the world. The Corolla Cross is perfectly driveable. In fact, with the Corolla Cross’s relaxed suspension and comforting ride, there’s no reason to push.

The back-seat passengers will probably appreciate your taking it easy anyway. There isn’t exactly a massive amount of legroom back there, but it’s enough, plus plenty of headroom. There’s seating for three-across, but unless your guests are small you’re better off keeping it to two and letting them use the flip-down armrest.

When rolling solo, the seats split and fold 60/40, giving easy access to the 25.2 cubic feet of storage space (slightly more, 26.5, if you go with the FWD version). The rear of the car is accessed through a power liftgate (part of the $1,250 Convenience Package), where the floor has handy cubbies on the left and right, perfect for stuffing avocados and other bits of produce from your grocery run that are otherwise liable to roll around on the ride home.

In terms of active safety, the Corolla Cross comes standard with Toyota Safety Sense 2.0, which includes the usual niceties like adaptive cruise and advanced lane-keep assist. It does a fair job of keeping you centered in the lane but beeps annoyingly any time you stray near the lines.

If you want blind-spot monitoring, you’ll need to opt for at least the mid-tier LE model, which also gives you rear cross-traffic alert, ensuring you don’t back yourself into trouble. Finally, step up to the top-trim XLE and you also get parking assist sensors along with automatic emergency braking.

Pricing and Options

Regardless of how you option it out, you’ll wind up with a nice-driving, comfortable, and clean-looking SUV that’ll do a great job of hauling you and all your stuff wherever you need to go — just so long as you’re not in a hurry to get there.