Refreshed Toyota Corolla Cross offers interior and design upgrades, priced

Toyota Motor Philippines (TMP) has officially launched the new and improved version of the Philippines’ best-selling Hybrid Electric Vehicle (HEV) model to date – the Toyota Corolla Cross.

Introduced in 2020 as TMP’s first hybrid electric crossover alongside its regular Internal Combustion Engine (ICE) variants, the new 2024 Corolla Cross now comes in an all-HEV lineup.

In the launch event held at SM Aura in Taguig City, TMP President Masando Hashimoto emphasized the role of the Corolla Cross in Toyota’s drive to enable customers to pursue sustainable mobility options.

“The Corolla Cross, the first strong hybrid crossover in the Philippines, has been a key to accelerating electrification in the Philippines. TMP pioneered hybrid in 2009, but it’s upon the Corolla Cross launch in 2020 when we started achieving 3-digit annual sales figures of xEVs. Last year, TMP reached 7,203 Lexus and Toyota xEV sales.”

“As of end of February 2024, there are already more than 4,000 electrified Corolla Cross on the road, part of the more than 13,000-strong customers who chose electrified Toyota and Lexus models since we started the electrified movement,” he added.

At a starting price of PHP 1,498,000 for the G HEV variant, the new Corolla Cross further expands TMP’s range of affordable and reliable electrified vehicles, signifying its strong commitment towards making the electrified lifestyle a mainstream choice for Filipinos.

ELECTRIFYING STYLE & FUNCTION

The V HEV and G HEV variants of the new Corolla Cross now sport a mesh-like grille with hexagonal outlines, while the GR-S HEV variant retains the stylish front façade of the previous Corolla Cross GR-S HEV.

For the headlamps – the V HEV and GR-S HEV variants now have LED lamps with automatic high beam (AHB) and sequential turn signal, while the G HEV variant has upgraded from halogen lamps to LED lamps.

Along with the GR-S HEV variant, the V HEV variant now also has a power back door with kick sensor. The top-of-the-line GR-S HEV variant comes with a panoramic view monitor camera and a panoramic moonroof for that added premium feel.

On the inside, all variants now have LED interior lamps and a leather steering wheel. The foot brake has also now been replaced with an electronic parking brake (EPB).

The new Corolla Cross is also packed with convenience features, such as a 12.3-inch fully digital multi-information display (MID) for the GR-S HEV. The V HEV, meanwhile, has a 7-inch thin-film-transistor (TFT) MID, while the G HEV has a 4.2-inch TFT MID.

All three variants have a 10-inch display audio with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and a wireless charger for convenient smartphone charging on the go.

POWER & SAFETY IN ONE PACKAGE

The GR-S and V variants are equipped with Toyota Safety Sense (TSS), which includes Pre-Collision System (PCS), Automatic High Beam (AHB), Lane Tracing Assist (LTA), Lane Departure Alert (LDA) and Dynamic Radar Cruise Control. All variants have active safety features such as Emergency Brake Signal (EBS), Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS), Electronic Brake Distribution (EBD) and Vehicle Stability Control (VSC).

The new Corolla Cross is powered by a hybrid 4-cylinder, in-line, 16-valve DOHC, chain drive with VVT-i engine with CVT transmission. This hybrid engine combines the power of a conventional engine with the fuel efficiency of an electric motor for an eco-friendlier drive, giving customers the power to start their journey toward a carbon-neutral future.

With its stunning exterior, rich convenience features, and excellent fuel efficiency, the new Corolla Cross provides an attractive package for individuals looking to power their everyday drives with style.

The new Corolla Cross is available in three variants – the GR-S HEV, which starts at PHP 1,917,000; the V HEV, which starts at PHP 1,763,000; and the G HEV, which starts at PHP 1,498,000. Available colors are as follows:

GR-S HEV

  • (2-tone) Emotional Red 2 / Attitude Black Mica
  • (2-tone) Platinum White Pearl Mica / Attitude Black Mica

V HEV

  • Platinum White Pearl Mica
  • Celestite Gray Metallic
  • Metal Stream Metallic

G HEV

  • Platinum White Pearl Mica
  • Celestite Gray Metallic
  • Metal Stream Metallic

Customers can check out the new Toyota Corolla Cross at SM Aura in Taguig City until Sunday, April 14, where it will also be available for test drives. The new Corolla Cross is also available for viewing and reservation at any Toyota dealership nationwide

KEEPING THE COROLLA LEGACY

Hashimoto added the improvement in the Corolla Cross is also part of the drive to continue nurturing the Corolla brand.

“The Corolla is the best-selling Toyota nameplate in the world. Since the introduction of the brand in 1966, roughly 50 million units have been sold in 150 countries – and that includes the Philippines.”

“The Corolla’s story continues today, and with its role in carbon neutrality, we are working on having the Corolla enjoyed by generations to come,” he added.

Aside from the Corolla Cross, TMP also offers the Corolla Altis sedan, which in 2019, became TMP’s first mainstream nameplate to offer an HEV variant.

TMP’s other HEV offerings include the Camry, RAV4, Alphard, and Yaris Cross.

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Redmi Watch 2 Lite review: Deceivingly feature packed

01/11/2022

There was a time when having a smartwatch, of any kind, was considered a luxury. But over the past few years, we’ve seen an abundance of more affordable devices that cover a vast range of users’ needs and wants.

Now, the Redmi Watch 2 Lite is another affordable to add to the list. While it isn’t for the most tech-forward it does offer a great range of essentials.

Let’s dive right in and get to know the Redmi Watch 2 Lite.

Design

The Redmi Watch 2 Lite harbors a design and build that isn’t unfamiliar at all. Apple already popularized this square-faced smartwatch way back when it introduced its Watch and, needless to say, it’s a design that works.

We have a 1.55-inch touch display here on the Watch 2 Lite, just a tad bit smaller than the Redmi Watch 2.

Colors are very rich and vibrant and make the icons look very playful.

Its touch response, however, isn’t the fastest. But given how much it costs, it’s not so surprising and easily forgivable.

Bezels are also quite prominent when using a brighter watch face but you can cheat the look of a bezel-less display by opting for ones with darker backgrounds.

Controls are pretty standard: long press to change watch face, swipe left or right to check on widgets such as heart rate, steps, sleep, and more. Swiping down shows you your notifications while swiping up accesses a quick menu.

I was also surprised to find gesture controls such as tilt to wake and cover to sleep. To access the full menu, however, you’ll have to press the button on the side.

It’s a very lightweight watch which makes it comfortable to wear even while sleeping or exercising.

The screen is housed in a matte plastic frame while the straps are made of rubber which makes the whole device easy to clean.

What we have here is the Redmi Watch 2 Lite in Black but it’s also available in Ivory and Blue.

Straps are also interchangeable and there are additional Pink, Olive, and Brown strap colors available to purchase. You can release the straps by pressing the buttons found on the underside of the device.

The Redmi Watch 2 Late carries a 5ATM water-resistant rating which means you can use it in the shower or even for a swim.

All in all, this design is undoubtedly basic but that makes it a safe choice especially for those just figuring out if a smartwatch is for them. You have enough swiping and reading room and get that nice vibrancy as well.

Features and performance

On this Redmi Watch 2 Lite, we’re getting a 24-hour heart rate tracker, SpO2 measurement and tracking, sleep monitoring, stress monitoring, GPS, over a hundred fitness modes, menstrual cycle tracker, and more.

It also offers push notification, idle alerts, incoming call and message notification, music control, and other useful features.

I would probably get this for the trackers alone because for its price, I think you’re getting a really good deal.

As for how well these work, I’ve been able to use the watch for sleep, stress, heart rate, and fitness tracking and so far I’ve not been disappointed.

Of course, it’s expected that accuracy may not be totally on point. For example, when I used it for my quick workouts, I found that it would sometimes have a delay in my heart rate readings.

I was already sweating pretty hard and could feel my heart pumping fast but this didn’t reflect on the watch right away. The app, however, can display the correct data. We’ll talk more about that later on.

Other than that, the fitness tracker is able to supply relevant information such as the maximum heart rate achieved during exercise as well as heart rate zones that were hit during the workout.

The Sleep Tracker works as it should as well. The watch is able to monitor sleep stages and duration while continuously monitoring heart rate too.

The Redmi Watch 2 Lite even offers continuous Sp02 monitoring as well while users are asleep. Additionally, you can enable advanced tracking which will then consider REM sleep stages.

Outside of sleep and fitness, this device also became a useful productivity tool for work and around the house.

Getting notifications on your wrist is always convenient plus I was able to make use of the timers for cooking and even the alarm to wake me up.

I can even use the watch to find my phone when I lose it – something that happens quite often.

Connectivity

The Redmi Watch 2 Lite works alongside the Xiaomi Wear app. It’s designed to work for both Android and iOS. Our experience, though, is purely with Android.

Its dashboard offers tracked data at a glance and you can even reorganize or hide the widgets according to your liking. From here, you can also just tap on what you’d want more details on.

The app also offers brief explanations for each metric tracked but I do wish it took things a step further by offering suggestions on how to improve based on the user’s readings.

Apart from that, everything in this app eas easy to digest. From the cute graphics to the pleasing UI, it helps elevate the whole smartwatch experience.

And if you’re a first-time smartwatch user, it’s also not overwhelming.

On the app, you can also get more watch faces. There’s quite a selection and it’s easy to find something that will suit your personality.

Battery

The Redmi Watch 2 Lite carries a 262mAh battery which, the company says, can last up to 10 days. I had turned on all the features of this watch and it lasted me about 5 days.

That’s not bad considering everything this smartwatch offers but I imagine it could easily make it 10 days if you stick to the most basic features.

Creature Feature

In our reviews, The Modern Creatures aims to find special features or qualities in a device that makes it worth having. And for the Redmi Watch 2 Lite, it would have to be its health and fitness trackers.

Again, the tech you’ll find on the Redmi Watch 2 Lite isn’t anything groundbreaking but the fact that it’s all found on this device and is offered at such an attractive price makes it easy to pick out among the rest.

Alternatively, if you’ve come to like this watch, you can even opt for the Redmi Watch 2 which has a slightly larger screen but retains the same features.

Final thoughts

While there are many affordable smartwatches out there, I find that the Redmi Watch 2 Lite strikes a good balance of smart and fitness features all tucked into a familiar design. Its strength isn’t that it’s groundbreaking but that it’s offering really capable smartwatch tech at an affordable price.

It’s not at all intimidating for first-time users either or for those who just want a capable and affordable smartwatch. The Redmi Watch 2 Lite is available for PhP 2,597. Get it here.

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