This is due to the extended SST exemption that has benefitted the still-imported Corolla Cross.
Good news to prospective buyers of the top spec Corolla Cross 1.8 V, as your new ride is now marginally cheaper thanks to the government’s extended SST exemption period. Originally set to retail for RM 134,000 when it eventually arrived, UMW Toyota has recently revealed that this particular variant of crossover will now only retail for RM 129,266 in Peninsula Malaysia till the end of the year.
Just providing a bit of context as to what the news story is here, despite the Corolla Cross having been on sale since late March this year, only the lower-spec 1.8 G that retailed for RM 124,000 was available for purchase locally. That is because UMW Toyota had only initially imported a limited number of these more affordable units over from Thailand, with the more premium variant set to only go on sale for RM 134,000 after the SST exemption period expired at the end of June.
As the SST exemption has recently been extended (yet again) till the end of this year however, UMW Toyota is now able to offer the higher-tier 1.8V at the aforementioned lower price RM 129,226. It is worth bearing in mind too that all Corolla Cross crossovers sold in Malaysia currently are still fully-imported from Thailand, as local assembly of this particular model has not begun yet.
Now thanks to the 50% sales tax exemption applying to the 1.8V too, the price gulf between the two specs of Toyota has shrunk to just RM 6,000. This in turn should probably see many prospective buyers seriously considering the switch to getting the more premium variant instead.
This is particularly when considering that for the extra outlay, the Corolla Cross gains a whole load of worthwhile features both outside and in. Kicking off with the exterior first, the 1.8 V gains bi-LED headlights, LED tail lights with a ‘light curtain’ effect, an acoustic laminated windshield and dual-tone alloys that are an inch larger than the 17-inches found on the 1.8 G.
Moving on inside meanwhile, stepping up to the higher-tier 1.8 V nets interior ambient lighting and more importantly perhaps, the Toyota Safety Sense 2.0 active safety suite. Bringing with it Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB), Lane Departure Alert with Steering Assist, Lane Tracing Assist, Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) upwards of 30 km/h, and Automatic High Beam (AHB) functionality.
Speaking more generally about the kit available on both cars however, both variants of the Corolla Cross comes as standard with keyless-go, a leather-wrapped multi-function steering wheel, a 9-inch central infotainment display with Apple Carplay and Android Auto integration, a 4.2-inch digital combination cluster, single-zone automatic climate control with rear air-con vents and a powered tailgate with a kick sensor. A Blind Spot Monitoring (BSM) system, a Tyre Pressure Warning System (TPWS) , Rear Cross Traffic Alert (RCTA), a 3D Surround View Monitor (SVM), 7 airbags, front and rear parking sensors in addition a host of passive safety acronyms not to mention a Digital Video Recorder (DVR) and Toyota’s Vehicle Telematics System (VTS) are also to be featured regardless of trim level too.
Both variants of the Corolla Cross are currently available for purchase at all authorised Toyota dealerships nationwide. Though given that the ongoing nationwide lockdown restrictions have resulted in physical dealerships being closed for the time being, prospective buyers are now encouraged instead to place their bookings for this Japanese crossover online through the link here.
