Overview
With its cute pug-dog styling and available hybrid powertrain, the 2022 Toyota Corolla Cross appears ready to take on mini-SUVs in the fierce American crossover sales war. A 169-hp four-cylinder lies under the hood and can be mated to either a front- or all-wheel-drive setup; a hybrid powertrain is offered in other markets, but Toyota hasn’t said if that will come to North America. The Corolla Cross slots into the Toyota SUV lineup between the smaller C-HR and the larger RAV4, which puts it in a familiar in-between category with rivals such as the Kia Seltos, the Jeep Compass, and the Nissan Rogue Sport. The interior borrows heavily from the Corolla and Corolla Hatchback models, but we expect slightly more cargo space, and obviously the Cross will offer a taller driving position. Look for the Corolla Cross to appear at your local Toyota dealer by the end of 2021.
What’s New for 2022?
Although it wears the familiar Corolla name, the Cross is definitely not a variation of the current-production Corolla sedan or hatchback; it will be an all-new model for the Toyota brand when it arrives in American showrooms.
Pricing and Which One to Buy
Toyota has not released any information on pricing, but the new SUV will be available in three trim levels. Toyota has not released official pricing, nor has the company said what standard and optional features will be available on any of the Corolla Cross’s trim levels. When we find out more, we’ll update this story with that information.
Engine, Transmission, and Performance
All Corolla Cross models will come with a 169-hp 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine and a continuously variable automatic transmission; front-wheel drive is standard, but all-wheel drive will be available as an option. This doesn’t strike us as the most thrilling powertrain, but it should deliver adequate performance and decent fuel economy. Although the Corolla Cross is offered with an optional hybrid powertrain in global markets—which adds two electric motors to the mix—for now it appears to be sticking with this nonhybrid powertrain in North America. Given Toyota’s penchant for hybrid vehicles, we wouldn’t be surprised if a hybrid variant made its way stateside later in the Corolla Cross’s life cycle. Toyota says the Corolla Cross is capable of towing up to 1500 pounds.
Fuel Economy and Real-World MPG
The EPA has not released fuel-economy ratings for the Corolla Cross yet, but Toyota is estimating a 32-mpg combined rating for front-wheel-drive models and 30 mpg combined for all-wheel-drive ones. When we get a chance to test-drive the Corolla Cross, we’ll subject it to our 75-mph highway fuel-economy test and update this story with results. For more information about the Corolla Cross’s fuel economy, visit the EPA’s website.
Interior, Comfort, and Cargo
We haven’t had a chance to sit inside the Corolla Cross, but its exterior dimensions are larger than the C-HR and Corolla Hatchback models, which should help with passenger and cargo space. From photos we can see a dashboard wrapped with faux leather, the interior’s ambient lighting, and what looks like a partially digital gauge display. A sunroof will be optional, as will a power-adjustable driver’s seat, automatic climate control, and heated front seats.
Infotainment and Connectivity
Out of the Corolla Cross’s dashboard sprouts a square infotainment display flanked by shortcut buttons. This same setup is used in several current Toyota models, which offer 7.0- and 8.0-inch displays. The Corolla Cross uses the current version of Toyota’s infotainment interface, which isn’t particularly modern but is fairly straightforward in its operation. Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and SiriusXM satellite radio will all be standard, but wireless smartphone charging, rear-seat USB charging ports, and a JBL stereo system are optional extras.
Safety and Driver-Assistance Features
With the Corolla Cross, Toyota will continue its current trend of standardizing driver-assistance features by offering a suite of systems on all trims that includes adaptive cruise control, automated emergency braking, and lane-departure warning. For more information about the Corolla Cross’s crash-test results, visit the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) websites. Key safety features will likely include:
- Standard automated emergency braking with pedestrian detection
- Standard lane-departure warning
- Standard adaptive cruise control
Warranty and Maintenance Coverage
New Toyota models come with a fairly basic standard warranty package, but the company throws in two years of complimentary scheduled maintenance to sweeten the deal. Rivals such as the Kia Seltos or the Hyundai Kona may offer more value for high-mileage drivers with their 100,000-mile policies.
- Limited warranty covers three years or 36,000 miles
- Powertrain warranty covers five years or 60,000 miles
- Complimentary maintenance is covered for two years or 25,000 miles
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