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By the look of things, we still have a long way to go before the SUV, and subcompact SUV market dumbs down, especially considering that performance brands like Ferrari are also just setting foot into this market segment, and even Lamborghini just unveiled the Urus Performante So, what does this mean exactly?
To put it rather straightforward, this means that we’re bound to soon see a plethora of small, (somewhat) fast little SUVs hit the market – yes, we mean more than there already are – and this is Toyota’s latest competitor, the Corolla Cross. As you could have guessed by its name, the Corolla Cross is based on the Corolla, only know it’s been lifted and transformed into something a tad more practical, but don’t think it will be anywhere near the performance level of the GR Corolla.
At this moment, the 2022 Corolla Cross is offered in six main trim levels: L, LE, XLE, S, SE, and XSE. The smallest powertrain available in this car is a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine that emits 169 hp, but if you crave some power without paying the cost of a worse fuel economy, a variant is also available that pairs up a four-cylinder engine and three electric motors to create a total of 194 hp. It’s also worth mentioning that the Corolla Cross will receive a mid-cycle refresh next year, and we can’t wait to see what it will entail.
10 We Like: Affordable Price Tag
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The Corolla has always been one of the most affordable cars to buy while providing good value for money in return too, and the Corolla Cross is no different in this regard.
The Corolla Cross has a starting price of around $24,000, and its hybrid variant costs anywhere from $28,000 upwards, and as standard, it comes with a bunch of features like Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, as well as a list of driving assists – more on that later.
9 Why We Wouldn’t Buy: An Oddball In The Market
When you take a step back and look at the bigger picture, there really is no need for the Corolla Cross to exist. If you want a proper Toyota-built SUV, you pick up yourself a RAV4 Prime, or if you need a small, stylish alternative, the CH-R is the way to go, but the Corolla Cross… well, it fits right in between them.
As a result, some of its main rivals are heavy hitters like the Mazda CX-30 and Hyundai Kona, so needless to say, power doesn’t lie in numbers, but rather in the quality you produce.
8 We Like: Traditional Toyota Reliability
It’s no secret that Toyotas are built to last a lifetime, especially older ones, but even with their newest creations, Toyota still incorporated quality craftsmanship into their cars, and that’s something you don’t see very often anymore.
The Corolla Cross comes with a three-year/36,000-mile warranty, as well as a five-year/60,000-mile powertrain warranty, and free maintenance for two years, so even if you have the slightest doubt in your mind, Toyota will be able to set you at ease.
7 Why We Wouldn’t Buy: Dreary Driving Experience
The normal Corolla isn’t necessarily a joy to drive, it just focuses on being a reliable commuter, and the Corolla Cross is no different. Its 169-hp four-banger will do 0-60 mph only once 9.2 seconds have elapsed, and its supposed “fast” hybrid version can do the same in 8 seconds, still slow in comparison to the RAV4 Hybrid.
Not only is it slow in a straight line though, it feels emotionless to drive, and wobbles around corners like a tall piece loaf of bread – it’s basically useless offroad too, unfortunately. If you care about an engaging driving experience, this might be a dealbreaker for you.
6 We Like: Jammed Full Of Standard Features
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The only blatant piece of tech the Toyota seems to miss is a standard all-wheel-drive system, other than that, it seems rather impressive since it has driving aids that would usually be considered to be optional extras, fitted as standard such as adaptive cruise control and lane-departure warning.
The same can be said for the interior since it comes pre-installed with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and SiriusXM satellite radio.
5 Why We Wouldn’t Buy: Unimaginative Interior
Albeit jam-packed with standard features and impressive technology, the Corolla Cross falls victim to the same disease the Corolla has; oversimplification and cost-cutting.
The materials used throughout its cabin are subpar, and its overall design is… moderate to say the least. The Corolla Cross doesn’t reinvent the wheel, but rather just reproduces it.
4 We Like: Surprisingly Practical
From a subjective point of the view, there isn’t much to say regarding the Cross’ interior, but objectively we can wholeheartedly say that not only does it feature some brilliant tech, but it’s surprisingly practical too.
Knee room might be slightly smaller than the base Corolla, but the larger trunk size and added headroom is definitely worth the sacrifice.
3 Why We Wouldn’t Buy: Lack Of Personality
We’re almost done bashing the Corolla Cross, we swear, but there is one last thing we need to point out, and it’s the main reason we wouldn’t consider buying one, and that’s its platonic personality.
It drives okay, it looks okay, it performs okay, and the list just goes on. There is no emotion involved in the Corolla Cross, and for some that might not be a problem, but for others, well, that’s why the Alfa Romeo Tonale exists.
2 We Like: Fuel Economy
The EPA reckons that the front-wheel-drive, gasoline-only Corolla Cross will be able to achieve 31 mpg in the city and 33 on the open road, resulting in an average mpg rating of 32, while its all-wheel-drive counterpart should achieve an average of 30.5 mpg.
The Hybrid Cross on the other hand blows these figures right out of the water. The EPA has yet to conduct tests on the Corolla Cross Hybrid, but Toyota claims that it has an average fuel consumption rate of 37 mpg.
1 Why We Wouldn’t Buy: Why Not Just Get A RAV4?
The age-old question: “Why not just save up a bit more money, and buy the one you really want?” In this instance, we have to agree. The RAV4 starts at just $28,000, that’s just $4,000 more than the Corolla Cross, and in return, you’ll get something more practical, more attractive, more luxurious, quicker, and overall better.
There’s a saying that goes, “different strokes for different folks,” and while we can see why someone would want to have a compact SUV built by Toyota, we still don’t understand why you’d choose it over the sublime RAV4.
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