It’s safe to say that the SUV automobile class is currently the auto industry’s most hotly contested market. Toyota’s innovative new foray into the mini-SUV sector is the 2022 Corolla Cross. It is an ingenious addition to take on industry rivals like the Jeep Compass, Nissan Rogue, and Kia Seltos thanks to its domestic style, value-oriented pricing, and practicality combined with a widely recognized brand name.
To see if the new 2022 Toyota Corolla Cross is any better than the competition, Jakub and Yuri from TheStraightPipes drove one.
Jakub’s opening remark, “This is one of the slowest cars I can remember driving in my life,” shows that the new mini-SUV Corolla’s design is plainly not for power. It is intended for residential use and is practical in nature.
In a market where the demand for crossover SUVs is growing daily, Toyota made a wise choice by positioning the 2022 Toyota Corolla Cross between the C-HR and RAV4. The Cross doesn’t look anything like the well-known sedan or the hatchback, while having the world-famous Corolla moniker.
A new function, a subscription service, is also included with the new 2022 Toyota Corolla Cross. The key fob for the Cross is unmarked for remote starting. However, you can activate remote start by pressing the lock button three times in the right order.
The real kicker is here. You must have a key fob with an active DCM function, according to the Toyota website. Jakub explains that this means you get a remote start trial for your key fob that lasts for three years for free. After then, a remote start service will cost money. This feature does not exactly please Jakub and Yuri.
A 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine with a CVT transmission powering the new 2022 Toyota Corolla Cross produces 169 HP and 205 Nm of torque. The new 2022 Toyota Corolla Cross has a $23,410 base price.
The Corolla Cross is power-impaired while driving. Jakub acknowledges that the car has decent suspension and is not the least powerful he has ever driven. It is well-damped and perfect for daily commuting and metropolitan traffic. Despite having a low beginning price, the model has adaptive cruise control and lane keep assist.
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What does a Toyota Corolla cross come with as standard?
All non-hybrid Corolla Cross models will have a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine that produces 169 horsepower and a continuously variable automatic transmission as standard equipment. All-wheel drive is an optional feature. In that initial test, we bemoaned the engine’s buzzy noise, especially at high revs, and the laziness of the acceleration. Our all-wheel drive test car achieved a 60 mph time of 9.2 seconds on our test track. Sloths are more swift. A 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine and three electric motors make up the hybrid powertrain, which has a combined output of 194 horsepower and all-wheel drive as standard. The hybrid variant hasn’t been tested yet, but we’re expecting it offers both improved refinement and speedier acceleration. However, the Corolla Cross’s ride is adequate, so consumers looking for comfort will be happy either way.
What distinguishes the Corolla Cross LE from the L?
A few improvements over the original L trim are offered by the LE trim. For instance, Toyota claims that the LE trim upgrades the Corolla Cross L’s normal 7-inch touch screen display to an 8-inch one. Additionally, a wireless phone charger is included as standard equipment with the LE trim.
In terms of comfort features, the standard L trim only has manual A/C controls, however the LE trim additionally includes an automatic A/C system. Additionally, even if the LE trim’s interior doesn’t feature a lot of leather, the steering wheel is covered in leather. Push-button start, remote keyless entry, panic buttons, and other features are included as standard equipment on the LE trim.
Toyota additionally offers a few options that are only offered on trim levels LE and higher. Customers can add a sunroof to their Corolla Cross LE, for instance, but they cannot add one to the base trim. It’s not surprise that the LE trim is the most popular overall, according to Edmunds, given these features and its pricing.
Does Toyota offer remote starting as standard?
The Smart Key fob in your car can be used to start and stop your engine with Toyota’s remote start system. In order to ensure that your car’s interior is at the perfect temperature when you get in and drive to your next location, this feature also lets you turn on the air conditioner, heater, and defroster.
The Corolla Cross is it ready to start?
The entry-level Corolla Cross model for 2022 is the Toyota Corolla Cross L. The LE mid-range trim and XLE top-of-the-line trim come next. Numerous driver assistance features are standard, including automatic high beams, full-speed range dynamic radar cruise control, a road sign assistance function, lane tracing assistance, and a pre-collision system with pedestrian detection functionality. These features include a lane departure alert system with steering assistance.
The higher trim levels of this SUV offer even more options for users to appreciate, like a push-button start remote keyless entry system, an illuminated glove box, wireless smartphone charging, a foldable armrest in back, and more.
How Powerful will the 2022 Toyota Corolla Cross Be?
A four-cylinder, 2.0-liter engine paired with a continuously variable automatic transmission is standard equipment on the 2022 Toyota Corolla Cross. The 169 horsepower and 151 pound-feet of torque that the 2022 Toyota Corolla Cross will produce are the performance and power output figures that motorists may anticipate.
What makes the Corolla Cross unique?
On paper, you have the choice between the Corolla, Corolla Hybrid, the Corolla hatchback, and something called a Corolla Cross. However, you’re not entirely sure what you’re looking at. These Corollas are what they are, and how do they differ? The high-level summary is as follows: The Corolla family has recently grown to include the traditional four-door, a hybrid (also based on the four-door), a sporty hatchback, and now a crossover known as the Corolla Cross. All of these vehicles share a same component set and engine lineup. We’ll break down how these Corolla cars and crossovers compare below.
Platform and Styling
This one is easy: The same TNGA architecture is used in every modern Corolla, regardless of its engine, body style, etc. Depending on the Corolla model you choose, the rear suspension may vary. Front-wheel drive While every other Corolla utilizes a multilink rear end, the Corolla Cross SUVs have a straightforward twist-beam rear axlethe mechanicals are identical. The shorter of the two wheelbases used by the Corolla family is used by the Corolla Cross and hatchback variant. The wheelbase of the sedans is longer, measuring 106.3 inches, at 103.9 inches.
Depending on the Corolla, Toyota adjusts the sportiness dial up or down, with the entry-level sedans (especially the Hybrid) and the Corolla Cross falling on the softer, less focused handling end of the spectrum, and the XSE sedan, hatchbacks, and especially the brand-new for 2023 GR Corolla hatchback falling on the (much) sportier end.
It’s interesting to note that the dashboard looks almost identical inside every Corolla. Even the Corolla Cross crossover employs the same core dashboard components, including the same 8-inch touchscreen and largely digital instrument cluster found in higher-end Corolla sedan and hybrid versions. The center console varies somewhat between the models, while the remainder of the interior is identically fashioned throughout all of them, with the exception of any adjustments needed to make room for, say, the hatchback’s shorter rear doors or the Cross’s taller roof.
The front ends of the Corolla sedan, hybrid, and hatchback all have comparable mouthy, trim-level-specific grille designs, bumpers, and barbed LED headlights as well. The hatchback’s rear end features distinctive taillights and, of course, a hatchback opening rather than a trunk. With proto-RAV4 design features diluted down into basic, wide headlights and taillights and generally forgettable detailing, the Corolla Cross may be the most traditionally fashioned of the three. However, it has little in common with other Corollas.
The Corolla Hybrid only has 15-inch lightweight aluminum wheels with aerodynamic hubcaps, as opposed to entry-level sedans’ 16- and 18-inch aluminum wheels and 15-16-inch steel wheels with hubcaps. The Corolla Cross is available with 17-inch steel wheels with hubcaps or 17- or 18-inch aluminum wheel options, whereas the sporty hatchback is only available with 16- or 18-inch aluminum wheels.
Powertrain and Fuel Economy
Toyota offers a variety of transmissions and engines for the Corolla. Sedan variants typically have a long-lasting 1.8-liter I-4 engine with a continuously variable automatic transmission that produces an unimpressive 139 horsepower and 126 lb-ft of torque (CVT). The bigger 2.0-liter I-4 (169 horsepower and 151 lb-ft of torque) found in the sportier Corolla XSE sedan versions is shared with the hatchbacks and the Corolla Cross SUV. In contrast to the Cross, which has a CVT as standard equipment across the board, the 2.0-liter engine is only available with the sedan and hatchback, which also have a six-speed manual transmission as an option.
With its 1.8-liter I-4, dual electric motors, and continuously variable automatic transmission ripped straight from the Prius hatchback, the Corolla Hybrid departs from these options. According to the EPA, the combo only produces 121 hp and 105 lb-ft of torque, but it is incredibly efficient, returning 52 mpg combined. While the Corolla Cross can be ordered with either front- or all-wheel drive, every Corolla has front-wheel drive as standard.
Dimensions
Although it might come as a surprise, the Corolla Cross isn’t the largest of the three Corollas, all of which fit into the compact size category. These distinctions apply to the sedan, which is 8.3 inches shorter and 1.8 inches thinner than the Corolla Cross at 56.5 inches height and 182.3 inches long (against 175.6 inches for the Cross). At 172.0 inches long, 70.5 inches wide, and 57.1 inches tall, the hatchback is the smallest vehicle. The sedan’s length is mostly attributable to its longer 106.3-inch wheelbase, as opposed to the 103.9-inch configuration used by the hatchback and Corolla Cross.
None of the Corollas are particularly roomy for their class, with the Honda Civic easily outpacing the Corolla sedan’s back seat in terms of legroom and overall space. With only 29.9 inches of rear legroom, the hatchback is even more constrained. The Corolla Cross is similarly constrained, but with 2.1 inches more legroom and 2.5 inches more headroom because to the larger roof.
The Corolla hatchbacks boost the ante with 17.8 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seats, while the sedans get 13.1 cubic feet of trunk space, a figure unchanged by the Corolla Hybrid’s placement of its hybrid battery pack beneath the rear seats. Unsurprisingly, the Corolla Cross (seen above), with its taller body and longer length than the hatchback, offers the largest trunk space with 26.5 cubic feet available behind its rear seats. For greater space, the rear seats in every Corolla can be folded down. However, doing so on the sedan just creates a pass-through into the cabin, while doing so on the hatchback and Cross directly moves the cargo floor to the area slightly behind the front seats.
Pricing and Features
LED headlights, a 60/40 split-folding back seat, and a touchscreen infotainment system with Apple Car Play and Android Auto are all standard on every Corolla. Only single-zone air conditioning, a 7.0-inch touchscreen, and 15-inch steel wheels with hubcaps on the sedan and 17-inch wheels on the Cross are included in the base Corolla L sedan and Cross variants, respectively.
Beyond these pitiful Ls, every other Corolla receives an upgrade to a larger 8.0-inch touchscreen, automatic temperature control, and better finishes. The big news is that Toyota Safety Sense 2.0, a group of active safety features that includes automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keep assistance, adaptive cruise control, and automatic high beams, is now standard on every Corolla. On all vehicles but the L, additional safety systems like blind-spot monitoring are inexpensively packaged or come standard on nicer trim levels.
Nomenclature
Knowing the letters “L” and “S” can help you have a better understanding of how Toyota handles trim levels on its vehicles. The Corolla L, LE, and pricier XLE are just a few examples of trim levels with a L in their names that are meant to be more conventional, quintessentially “Toyota” variations. Consider the letter L to stand for “luxury,” even if just in theme and ambition and not in actuality. The Corolla hatchback is only available in the S models, which are sportier (SE, XSE). Contrarily, the decidedly unsporty Corolla Cross is closely tied to the L concept, offering L, LE, and XLE variations but neither SE or XSE. The only cars that come in L, LE, XLE, SE, and XSE trims are Corolla sedans. See the 2022 Corolla’s trim levels and body styles, along with prices, in the table below:
Does Corolla Cross exceed Corolla in size?
When comparing the wheelbases of the Corolla and Corolla Cross, the former measures 106.3 inches while the latter measures 103.9 inches. As a result, the Corolla really has a wheelbase that is 3 inches longer than the Cross.
Is the hybrid Corolla Cross a reliable vehicle?
The Corolla Cross Hybrid has adequate utility and cargo space, as well as appropriate ground clearance for off-road driving over rocks and ruts. It’s generally a good thing that the cabin is fairly comparable to the non-hybrid vehicle’s cabin. The controls are simple, and getting in and out is simple.
A SUV is the Corolla Cross?
Cross Corolla Engine This SUV only has one engine, a 2.0-liter four-cylinder with 150 pound-feet of torque and 169 horsepower. The basic transmission is a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT). In some circumstances, the engine feels underpowered, and acceleration is sluggish, especially on the interstate.
The Corolla Cross has parking assistance, right?
The new 2022 Toyota Corolla Cross has a broad and extensive range of cutting-edge safety features and driver-assistance technology that help it achieve the highest safety grade for passenger protection. The 2022 Toyota Corolla Cross is the ideal choice if you’re looking for a safe new car because it boasts a wide range of accessible safety features thanks to the Toyota Safety SenseTM 2.0 suite of driver-assistance technologies.
The new 2022 Toyota Corolla Cross is available with a number of high-tech safety technologies, including the Lane Departure Alert with Steering Assist, Full-Speed Range Dynamic Radar Cruise Control, Automatic High Beams, Lane Tracing Assist, and Road Sign Assist. Vehicle stability control, traction control, anti-lock brakes, electronic brake-force distribution, brake assist, and Smart Stop Technology are additional safety features offered in the 2022 Toyota Corolla Cross. If you feel like there are still missing safety features, the 2022 Toyota Corolla Cross delivers much more than those. Other amenities include a tire pressure monitoring system, a backup camera, front and rear parking assist, a blind spot monitor, rear cross-traffic alert, hill start assist control, and many others.