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.
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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:
Toyota Corolla Cross: Is it an SUV?
Corolla Cross Fuel Economy With front-wheel drive, this crossover achieves an EPA-estimated 31 mpg in the city and 33 mpg on the interstate. For the subcompact SUV category, those are outstanding ratings.
What other car is comparable to the Corolla Cross?
In terms of value, the Toyota Corolla Cross triumphs over the Nissan Rogue Sport handily. Although the Corolla Cross starts off almost $3,000 cheaper than the Rogue Sport, the Toyota SUV comes standard with features like Road Sign Assist and LED lighting that are not features of the Nissan SUV.
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.
Does the backseat of a Corolla Cross allow for sleeping?
Just something to keep in mind: even when folded, the back seats do not offer a flat, smooth, and continuous surface from the cargo compartment. They ascend from the cargo area with a “step. By adding a homemade or temporary base, you might be able to make your little mattress lie flat from end to end.
What does the name Corolla Cross mean?
The Corolla is a small sedan that comes in both a hatchback and a regular sedan body style. In the subcompact SUV segment, the Corolla Cross is a crossover that actually lives up to its name.
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.
Is the RAV4 smaller than the Corolla Cross?
The Corolla Cross is more maneuverable than the RAV4 for the second reason to choose it over the latter vehicle. The turning radius of the Corolla Cross is 17.7 feet because to its slightly smaller size. In contrast, the RAV4’s turning radius varies depending on trim from 18.05 to 18.7 feet.
The Corolla Cross is better at weaving in and out of city traffic due to its increased mobility and slightly smaller size. Additionally, it makes parking the car simpler, especially in small parking spaces.
Corolla Cross is it 4×4?
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.
How Fast Is the Corolla Cross?
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Everyone is familiar with the Toyota Corolla and what to anticipate from it: hassle-free, effective, and safe motoring at a price that is easy on the wallet. Although other vehicles may be more attractive or faster, the Corolla has a reputation that has stood the test of time for 55 years. This well-known moniker is extended to a new shape, a tiny crossover, with the 2022 Toyota Corolla Cross. The ‘Cross presents the well-known Corolla value proposition: a wealth of safety features, decent fuel economy, and simplicity, but it also falls short in a number of crucial respects.
It makes sense that Toyota would apply part of the Corolla brand magic to a small crossover given that this market is now hotter than compact sedans. The Corolla Cross uses the basic components of the sedan while adding optional all-wheel drive (AWD) and a roomy crossover body, much like the RAV4 of the 1990s. The ‘Cross largely mimics the interior design and feature set of the higher-trim Corolla sedans, sharing the same 169 horsepower 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine and continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT), but it is also larger, heavier, and slower.
The Corolla Cross fits comfortably between the larger, best-selling RAV4 and the Scion-like, front-drive-only C-HR. Its overall length of 175.6 inches puts it nearly on par with the Volkswagen Taos and around 5 inches shorter than the Toyota RAV4, although several of its main rivals are C-HR-sized, including the Hyundai Kona, Mazda CX-30, Kia Seltos, and Chevrolet Trailblazer. Although the Corolla Cross may appear larger from the outside, this isn’t always the case inside, and several of these less expensive competitors deliver superior performance across a range of metrics.
Although the Corolla Cross gets good mileage for its class, it is clumsy and slow to drive. It can take almost 10 loud seconds to accelerate to 60 mph since there are around 300 more pounds to move around than in a sedan. While other motorists won’t give a damn, many will be speeding through every signal. Although the ride is smooth and the handling is fairly agile, there is a lot of roll due to the soft suspension. Additionally, the AWD system’s good ground clearance doesn’t really translate into any true off-road prowess.
The ‘Cross has the most cramped back seat in its class, aside from the even worse C-HR, with only 32 inches of rear legroom inside (31.7). Although the cargo amount is respectable, it is still smaller than in the Taos or Seltos. The cabin is very similar to the Corolla sedan’s, but it isn’t nearly as luxurious as the CX-30 or Seltos’. The ‘Cross is fortunate to receive excellent ratings from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) and has a larger selection of standard active safety features than most competitors.
Corolla devotees are fiercely devoted and enjoy the sedan’s tried-and-true formula. Many people won’t mind the Corolla Cross’ flaws because it gives the same fundamental flavor and its tried-and-true mechanical components predict a comparable ownership experience. It excels at a lot of things, and a hybrid version for 2023 is being developed (expected to be quieter and more potent). In the interim, as always, it pays to compare your options.