The all- new 2022 Corolla Cross doesn’t stray too far from Toyota’s recipe. Anyone who’s driven a Toyota will find it familiar. The new subcompact crossover is more like a smaller RAV4 than its namesake, the Corolla. It’s larger than the C-HR, Toyota’s other subcompact SUV.
Base Price: $27,625
As Tested: $33,679
Horsepower: 169
Mileage: 29 mpg city/32 mpg highway/30 mpg combined
The five-passenger Corolla Cross is offered in three trims: L, LE and XLE. Starting prices range from $22,195 to $27,625. These are competitive prices for the class. Front-wheel-drive is standard and all-wheel-drive is available for $1,300 on any trim.
There’s only one engine, a 2.0-liter four-cylinder that produces 169 horsepower and 150 pound-feet of torque, paired with a continuously variable automatic transmission.
The Corolla Cross is not sporty. While it’s fine for driving around town, it could use more oomph. Acceleration is leisurely, especially when you’re trying to speed up for merging and passing at freeway speeds. And the engine can get loud when pressed. On the plus side, brakes are responsive and the Corolla Cross has little body roll when cornering. The ride is smooth and composed with the suspension doing a good job of soaking up bumps from rough roads and potholes. Visibility is good to the front, but not so good to the rear because of the large pillars.
Fuel efficiency is good for a subcompact SUV. EPA ratings for my AWD tester are 29 mpg city and 32 mpg highway with a combined rating of 30. I got 29 mpg during my week with a mix of city and highway driving. FWD models get 31 mpg city/33 mpg highway/32 combined.
The cabin is similar to what you’ll find in the Corolla. The base trim has a lot of hard plastics, while the higher trims get more soft-touch materials. It’s surprisingly roomy for a subcompact crossover. Passengers up front enjoy comfortable seats and good leg- and headroom. The rear seats are cramped, especially for taller folks, but two average-size adults will survive on shorter drives.
Standard features include rearview camera, cloth upholstery, infotainment system with seven-inch touchscreen, satellite radio, six-speaker audio system, Bluetooth, two USB ports, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Amazon Alexa and automatic high-beam headlights
Available features include proximity keyless entry, push-button start, automatic climate control, dual-zone automatic climate control, synthetic leather upholstery, leather-trimmed steering wheel, heated front seats, 10-way power-adjustable driver’s seat, infotainment system with eight-inch touchscreen, nine-speaker JBL stereo, an additional USB port, wireless device charging, and a moonroof.
Standard driver assistance technologies include forward collision warning, forward automatic emergency braking, lane departure warning, and pedestrian detection.
Available driver assistance technologies include blind spot monitoring, rear cross traffic alert, reverse automatic emergency braking, and front and rear parking sensors.
The Corolla Cross gets Toyota’s Entune infotainment system. The L and LE trims get a seven-inch touchscreen, while the XLE gets an eight-inch touchscreen. This system is not the most up-to-date one offered these days with its low-resolution screen, but it’s user-friendly and responds quickly to voice and touch commands. Physical buttons make it easy to adjust volume and tuning.
The Corolla Cross has a ton of cargo space for the class. There are 26.5 cubic feet with both rows of seating in place, and 66.8 cubes with the rear seats folded. The AWD models have a bit less, at 25.2 and 65.5 cubes, respectively.
The good:
Competitive pricing for the class
Smooth ride
Good fuel economy for the class
Well-equipped with standard tech and safety features
Spacious cabin with lots of room for cargo
User-friendly infotainment system
Standard Android Auto and Apple CarPlay
The not-so-good:
Leisurely acceleration
Cabin not as upscale as some rivals
Pricing info:
My tester starts at $27,625. The Audio plus eight-inch touchscreen system is $1,465 and includes the JBL audio system with nine speakers including subwoofer and amplifier, and SiriusXM satellite radio with three-month subscription. Tilt and slide moonroof and power back door are $1,250. Auto-leveling adaptive front lighting system is $615. Cross bars are $299. Rear bumper protector is $79. Activity mount is $399. Carpet floor mat and cargo mat are 249. Door sill protectors are $179. Frameless HomeLink mirror is $175. Mudguards are $129. Delivery fee is $1,215 bringing the grand total to $33,679.
Bottom line:
The all-new Corolla Cross has a lot of things going for it, including a smooth ride, good gas mileage, lots of cargo space, a user-friendly infotainment system, and many standard features and tech. If you don’t mind sluggish performance, it’s worth consideration.
