The 2022 Toyota Corolla Cross L 4dr SUV is the model with the lowest price (2.0L 4cyl CVT). Its Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price (MSRP), including destination fee, is roughly $22,445. L 4dr SUV (2.0L 4cyl CVT), starting at $22,445, is another variation.
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A SUV is the Toyota Corolla Cross?
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Update: We’ve completed our testing of the Corolla Cross since this initial drive was first published in September 2021. Review the Toyota Corolla Cross road test in its entirety.
A brand-new option for those looking for a compact, fuel-efficient SUV that is stocked with important safety features is the 2022 Toyota Corolla Cross.
It might be viewed as the reincarnation of the boxy Corolla Wagon from the 1990s and sits between the popular RAV4 and sporty-looking Toyota C-HR.
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.
Does Corolla Cross exceed Corolla in size?
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:
How Fast Is the Corolla Cross?
. We evaluate automobiles in the real world, where situations might be unpredictable and, quite plainly, hostile, unlike on a track where the road conditions are perfect and can produce predictable results. .. Learn More
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.
It’s no Cross fitter.
The Corolla Cross insists on using only the first portion of its name. It earns a 5 because it does what it does well and is firmly mediocre.
The 169-hp 2.0-liter inline-4 in the Corolla Cross is sourced from the Toyota parts bin. It’s not moving very swiftly with 150 lb-ft of torque and a curb weight of between 3,125 lb and 3,325 lb.
Although its engine makes noticeable noise off the mark and is held in its midrange by its CVT, you’ll want to step on it and keep it there. The CVT can be held manually at preset ratios using a shift mode and drops-ships power to the front or all four wheels, but it cries out for help while going uphill with only the driver in the car. Despite the rough excellent appearance, this has pure economy car motivation.
Technically, the Corolla Cross can tow up to 1,500 lb and has a lower ground clearance of up to 8.2 inches than a RAV4.
The twist-beam rear suspension on front-drive cars is ostensibly less complex than the rear multi-link suspension on AWD variants. The turn? It has a twist. The Corolla Cross can relax into its commuter duties with the front-drive variants, but the heavier, more complicated configuration imposes more control over wheel motion, which, when coupled with the larger 18-inch wheels, isn’t always the ideal choice on city streets. We would omit the fundamental all-wheel-drive arrangement and its associated expense and complexity. AWD models lock their knees more and skitter over larger pavement ripples, but the L and LE variants’ smaller 17-inch wheels help the Corolla Cross ride smoothly on the interstate despite this predilection.
At parking lot speeds, the electronic power steering in the Cross is light and without much feedback, but on interstates, it gains enough weight to maintain the car’s center of gravity. Its understeer is unrelenting in tight corners when it has built up a head of steam and there is little that can be done to stop it.
Toyota has all-wheel drive, right?
The 2.0-liter Dynamic Force Engine in the 2022 Toyota Corolla Cross produces 169 horsepower and is available in front-wheel drive (FWD) and all-wheel drive (AWD) to power both your regular life and adventurous outings.
Corolla Cross L, LE, and XLE are the three available variants. Each will offer the set of cutting-edge, high-quality features that is ideal for you. A higher line of sight is provided by the TNGA-C platform’s high strength. The Corolla Cross sports a prominent black grille, LED lighting on either side, and black body highlights. It also has an integrated rear spoiler and LED lighting in the back. Choose from 17-inch steel wheels on the L to 18-inch alloy wheels on the XLE. A height-adjustable hydraulic liftgate is an optional feature for added convenience. A roof rack with crossbars and an activity mount for hauling objects like bikes are further accessible accessories.
The inside is remarkably roomy while still feeling comfortable for Corolla sedan and hatchback drivers. A power moonroof lets you enjoy the great outdoors. Comfortable single- or dual-zone automatic climate control with vents for backseat passengers will keep you and your traveling companions happy. Additionally available are seats with SofTex trim, heated front seats, and a 10-way power driver’s seat with lumbar support. All-weather floormats shield your Corolla Cross and the pice de rsistance in back. Rear seats that can be folded 60/40 and are standard across all grades to maximize storage capacity. Two cupholders are added to the center armrest on XLE models.