by Gabrielle DeSantis

After this year’s announcement of the Toyota Corolla Cross joining its lineup of SUVs, Toyota has made another Corolla announcement. The Corolla Cross GR Sport is a tougher-looking variant with both visual and mechanical changes to make it sportier than the standard Corolla Cross. What other differences are there between the GR Sport and standard Corolla Cross? How does it measure up to sporty crossovers from other automakers? On September 13th, Toyota unveiled the Corolla Cross GR Sport in Taiwan.

Corolla Cross GR Sport standout new features

The GR Sport will stand out from the standard version of the Corolla Cross in a few different ways. One of the main focuses is sportiness which is heavily influenced by the way the vehicle drives. To help with that, Toyota Gazoo Racing gave it a sports suspension with new springs and dampers for improved handling. It also received a new chassis reinforcement bracket to ensure it is as stable and secure as it is smooth to drive.

The SUV’s front end has been completely redesigned. The front bumper has a grille similar to the Hilux pickup truck, which is unavailable in the United States, surrounded with black chrome. You’ll also notice integrated fog lights and aluminum-style skid plates with larger intakes nearby. New silver addons are on the side of the vehicle with a matching skid plate in the rear, and of course a GR badge. The interior features a GR-branded engine start button and seats, along with new graphics for the infotainment touchscreen display.

How much does the Corolla Cross GR Sport cost?

Both standard and hybrid powertrains are available for the Corolla Cross GR Sport. The standard has a 1.8-liter four-cylinder engine and starts at a price of $31,601 after being exchanged for Taiwanese dollars. The hybrid powertrain combines a 1.8-liter engine with an electric motor and will be offered for $34,129.

Corolla Cross GR Sport competition

Compact SUVs are a crowded vehicle segment, and only becoming more so as time passes. There are also plenty of other compact SUVs offering a sporty driving experience, so which ones exactly does the GR Sport have to compete with?

2022 Kia Seltos Nightfall

Starting at just $24,190, the Seltos offers AWD on all models above the LX and S trim. The real competitor to the GR Sport is the Nightfall Seltos. Starting at $26,690 you’ll get  AWD with a 1.6-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine. It also has plenty of standard safety technology and Kelley Blue Book says upgrading to the turbocharged engine “makes the Seltos more energetic and fun to drive”.

2021 Subaru Crosstrek Sport & Limited

The Crosstrek Sport & Limited models have a newly available 2.5-liter engine producing 182-hp which is a 30-hp increase over the 2.0-liter engine. It’s also now offered with standard AWD giving it decent off-road capability. The Sport model will cost you $26,495 with the limited moving up a bit to $27,995. The Crosstrek is also offered in a hybrid powertrain and has two electric motors to go with its four-cylinder engine. The hybrid version starts at $35,345.

2021 Ford Bronco Sport Badlands & First Edition

If you haven’t already heard about the Bronco Sport, it’s the newest subcompact version of the redesigned Bronco from Ford. The Bronco Sport brings all the same all-terrain capability you want but without some of the extras and size that drive up the price of the standard Bronco. The standard trim comes with a 1.5-liter three-cylinder engine. To upgrade to a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine, you’ll have to purchase a minimum of the Badlands trim level. Badlands is the fourth highest trim level, and only the First Edition costs more. Badlands also adds an upgraded 4WD system, increased ground clearance, larger off-road shocks, and expanded G.O.A.T. modes in the terrain-management system. The Ford Bronco Sport Badlands starts at $32,660 with the First Edition upgrade pushing it up to $38,160 if you want to go all-in.

The Toyota Corolla Cross GR Sport is a capable compact SUV bringing sportiness and style to the standard Cross model. Toyota looks to break into this segment with a spin on the classic Corolla, bringing the name to the SUV category. The GR Sport version adds mostly visual changes, but some of the performance features may be important to some. Toyota unveiled the Corolla Cross GR Sport and it will compete with all of these vehicles and more in the subcompact SUV category.

RELATED: 2022 Toyota Corolla Cross Arrives For Spooky Season

The post Toyota Unveils Corolla Cross GR Sport In Taiwan appeared first on MotorBiscuit.

by Gabrielle DeSantis

If you’re car shopping, you know that there’s a massive shortage of vehicles right now. This is partly due to supply chain disruptions and a global chip crisis, and it’s causing cars, trucks, and SUVs to be in high demand. Some used cars are even selling for more than brand new ones. Yet despite this, there are some vehicles that have been hanging out on the dealership lot for long periods of time. So which SUVs take the longest to sell? 

There are seven SUVs on iSeeCars’ list of the slowest selling new SUVs in July. They determined these SUVs by looking at the data on more than a million new and used vehicles sold that month. What they found was that the average selling time for a new car was 35 days in July, and 35.4 days for used. Yet these seven SUVs took longer – much longer – to sell. And that means you may be able to get a good deal on one of these vehicles, if they strike your fancy. 

The 2021 Jeep Compass was the worst selling SUV in July

The 2021 Jeep Compass was the slowest selling car in five states. These include Alabama, Arizona, Nevada, New Jersey, and Texas. It took the longest to sell in Nevada, at 195.4 days.

Perhaps it’s no surprise that the 2021 Jeep Compass is doing poorly in these five states. Consumer Reports says it isn’t in competition with any other SUVs in its class. They note that the Compass has a “180-hp, 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine that we found to be unrefined and sluggish. All-wheel-drive versions have the nine-speed automatic, which is neither smooth nor responsive.”

The 2021 Jeep Cherokee joins its Jeep sibling as one of the worst selling SUVs

Altogether Jeep has the worst selling SUV in ten states, making it the car manufacturer with the most vehicles on the list. The 2021 Jeep Cherokee was the worst selling SUV in California, Illinois and Iowa. California took the longest to sell the Cherokee, at 156.5 days.

Consumer Reports isn’t in love with the Cherokee, either. It says that it’s unresponsive and “cumbersome.” Its 2.4-liter V6 engine hesitates, and its fuel economy is less than stellar at just 23 mpg. 

The 2021 Mazda CX-5 somehow made it on the list of SUVs that take the longest to sell

The 2021 Mazda CX-5 was the slowest selling SUV in both Colorado and Mississippi, where it took 128.6 days to sell. This is despite it being a Consumer Reports-recommended SUV with an IIHS Top Safety Pick+ award.

Although Consumer Reports calls it “one of the best small SUVs,” it does note that its infotainment system isn’t super easy to use. Perhaps this was a big factor in people’s buying decisions in both states. 

The 2021 Lincoln Corsair’s poor reliability rating makes it one of the worst selling SUVs

The 2021 Lincoln Corsair took 158 days to sell in Florida and an astonishing 201.9 in Michigan. 

Although Consumer Reports likes the Corsair, its 1/5 reliability rating can’t go unnoticed. This is in part due to its 2020 poor reliability areas, which include its body integrity and power equipment. 

The 2021 Jeep Renegade is the third Jeep on the list of SUVs that take a lont time to sell

It certainly wasn’t a good July for Jeep. The 2021 Jeep Renegade was the slowest selling car in both Kansas and New Hampshire. In Kansas it took a whopping 199.3 days to sell. 

The 2021 Jeep Renegade has a noticeably low Consumer Reports rating for both reliability and owner satisfaction. These are both just a 1/5. On top of that, only 22% of Jeep Renegade owners would buy their SUV again. 

The 2021 Ford Explorer takes a long time to sell in two states

Both Maine and Virginia report the 2021 Ford Explorer sitting on dealer lots for a long time, at 84.9 and 137.9 days, respectively. 

Consumer Reports says to avoid the 2021 Ford Explorer due to its poor gas mileage and rough handling. It calls the Explorer’s ride “stiff” and “less compliant” than other SUVs.

The 2021 Ford Ecosport’s high price makes it a hard to sell SUV

Consumer Reports notes that the 2021 Ford Ecosport is the most expensive subcompact SUV in its class, starting at $20,395. Although there’s nothing awful about the Ecosport, there’s nothing particularly great about it, either. Combine that with a high price, and it’s no surprise that the Ford Ecosport was the slowest selling SUV in Massachusetts, Missouri, New Mexico, and Ohio. 

If despite their shortcomings you’re still interested in one of these SUVs, now may be a great time to buy one. When vehicles take a long time to sell, dealers are often eager to get rid of them, and are willing to part with them for a lower price. If you’re in the market for a new SUV, one of these SUVs that take the longest time to sell just may be the right fit for you.

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