While the Toyota Corolla has been around since, well… forever. The Corolla Cross is a surprising version thats completely new for 2022. Capitalizing on the growing popularity of the sub-compact SUV segment, the Corolla Cross slides in somewhere between the small Honda CH-R, and more spacious RAV4. In many ways, the Corolla Cross has pulled from the parts bin of the standard Corolla. The interior is straight from the Corolla sedan. Same SofTex-trimmed seats, 7” infotainment display and various plastic panels and finishes. Comfortable, decently quite and roomy up front, with less legroom in the back than others in this car category.
The engine is the same 169 hp 2.0L 4-cylinder found in the standard Corolla as well. As expected, acceleration won’t raise any heart rates, but at least it’ll net 30 mpg’s. It’s around here that the similarities between the familiar Corolla and the Cross quickly drop off. Toyota, with a stroke of long-overdue brilliance, decided to keep all the affordability and reliability that made the Corolla an obvious choice for many families, and developed it for that small crossover SUV market. Adding more ground clearance, cabin room and general utility to the already attractive Corolla package.
The exterior design won’t necessarily thrill, but little touches like a black front grille and roof rails, LED lighting and 18” alloy wheels help to pump up the rugged aesthetics. The Cross is also the only way into a Corolla that has all-wheel drive. There’s a towing capacity of 1,500 pounds, which is perfect for small moving trailers or a couple water toys. All with the added ride height needed to get over rocks and navigate rugged trials. It also comes with lots of driving aides like radar cruise control, lane departure alert, lane tracing assist, cross traffic alert and blind spot monitors. As has always been the case, the Corolla is packed full of practicality and value. With the new Corolla Cross, you can now add lots of utility too.
Price as tested: $32,993.00
