Mercedes-Benz G-Class vs Toyota Corolla Cross

The 2021 Mercedes-Benz G-Class, known as the G-Wagen, was a striking blend of ruggedness and luxury. Its boxy, two-box design was a nod to its military origins, yet it had become a status symbol among the elite. The G-Class featured a retro exterior that stood out in the Mercedes-Benz lineup, with straight body lines and a robust appearance. Inside, the G-Class offered a sophisticated ambiance with a 12.3-inch widescreen infotainment screen and a matching virtual instrument panel, allowing for a customizable and immersive driving experience. Despite its luxurious appeal, the G-Class remained a capable off-road machine, often seen in bold custom colors and adorned with extravagant features.

In contrast, the 2022 Toyota Corolla Cross presented a more conservative design approach. While it shared some styling cues with the larger RAV4, such as a snub nose and tall ride height, the Corolla Cross maintained a subdued appearance. It was a compact SUV, shorter than the RAV4 but larger than the C-HR, offering more interior space than the latter. The Corolla Cross featured subtle styling details, like scalloping around the rear door handles and hidden logos throughout the vehicle. Its interior closely resembled that of the Corolla sedan and hatchback, with oversized door handles and a straightforward layout. However, the material quality was perceived as below that of its sedan counterpart, and the seats were considered hard and unsupportive.

The 2021 Mercedes-Benz G-Class was a powerhouse, particularly the G550 model, which boasted a twin-turbocharged 4.0-liter V8 engine producing 416 horsepower and 450 pound-feet of torque. Despite its hefty curb weight of 5,551 pounds, the G550 was surprisingly quick, accelerating from 0 to 60 mph in just 5.6 seconds. It featured a nine-speed automatic transmission, permanent four-wheel drive, and Dynamic Select driving programs, including a "G-mode" for off-roading. The G-Class had impressive off-road capabilities, with a ground clearance of 9.5 inches and approach, departure, and breakover angles that inspired confidence. The AMG G63 variant took performance to another level, with 577 horsepower and 627 pound-feet of torque, achieving 0 to 60 mph in 4.5 seconds. However, the G-Class's fuel economy was a downside, with ratings of 13 mpg city and 19 mpg highway for the G550.

The 2022 Toyota Corolla Cross, on the other hand, was equipped with a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine delivering 169 horsepower and 150 pound-feet of torque. It featured a continuously variable transmission (CVT) with an actual first gear for improved acceleration. While the Corolla Cross provided adequate performance for city driving, it struggled to maintain pace on highways, with engine droning and rubber-banding issues at higher speeds. The optional all-wheel-drive system, shared with the Toyota Camry, offered some versatility, but the Corolla Cross was not designed for off-roading. Its 8.2 inches of ground clearance and 1,500-pound towing capacity were modest compared to traditional SUVs.

The 2021 Mercedes-Benz G-Class excelled in both luxury and utility. It offered 38.1 cubic feet of cargo space behind the third row, expandable to 68.6 cubic feet with the second row folded flat. The G550 had a payload capacity of over 1,000 pounds and could tow up to 7,700 pounds. The front cabin was spacious, with ample storage and a tall roofline providing excellent headroom. The second row accommodated three adults comfortably, with a 60/40 split-folding seatback. However, some luxury features, like ventilated front seats, were only available in expensive packages.

The 2022 Toyota Corolla Cross provided more passenger and cargo space than the Corolla hatchback, with an extra 2.1 inches of rear legroom and 1.4 inches of rear headroom. It offered 26.5 cubic feet of cargo space with FWD and 25.2 cubic feet with AWD, expandable to 66.8 cubic feet with the rear seats folded. While it compared well to rival crossovers in terms of interior space, the Corolla Cross's seats were hard and unsupportive, and the driving position, though SUV-like, was not ideal for long trips. Storage spaces were minimal but functional.

The 2021 Mercedes-Benz G-Class impressed with its twin 12.3-inch HD screens for the instrument panel and infotainment system. These screens were customizable, allowing drivers to coordinate colors with ambient lighting for a personalized experience. The G550 featured the latest COMAND system, with unique Touch Control buttons on the steering wheel for intuitive control. A Burmester Surround Sound system enhanced the audio experience, while WiFi, Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto were standard. However, wireless device charging was not available.

The 2022 Toyota Corolla Cross offered a straightforward infotainment system, with a 7-inch touchscreen on base models and an 8-inch touchscreen on higher trims. Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Bluetooth, WiFi, and Amazon Alexa compatibility were standard across all trims. The LE and XLE models offered a nine-speaker JBL audio system as an upgrade. While the system was easy to use, the graphics were plain, and the screen was slow to boot up. The Corolla Cross LE and XLE also featured wireless charging, although the pad's size was limited.

The 2021 Mercedes-Benz G-Class came equipped with a range of standard safety features, including a rearview camera, Pre-Safe, traffic-sign assist, attention assist, active lane-keeping assist, active brake assist, adaptive cruise control, and blind-spot monitoring. However, the active lane-keeping assist was noted for its abrupt intervention, which could be distracting. The G-Class had not been rated for crash-worthiness by the IIHS or NHTSA.

The 2022 Toyota Corolla Cross included Toyota Safety Sense 2.0, offering forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, adaptive cruise control, automatic high beams, traffic-sign recognition, and Lane Tracing Assist. The LE trim added blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert, while the XLE featured rear automatic braking and front and rear park assist. Crash-test ratings from the IIHS and NHTSA were not available at the time of review.