© Toyota Motor Sales USA
What Is It?
An all-new compact crossover based on the popular Corolla sedan, the 2022 Toyota Corolla Cross joins the automaker’s lineup as a smaller option below the top-selling RAV4 and alongside the C-HR. Although very similar in size to the C-HR, the Corolla Cross offers a smart alternative thanks to a much more conservative, traditional upright SUV design as opposed to the aggressive design, sharp angles and sloping roofline of the C-HR. Corolla Cross also has available all-wheel drive in addition to standard front-wheel drive, while the C-HR is front-drive only.
© Mike Meredith, Automotive Content Experience
Test Vehicle
Toyota provided us with a 2022 Corolla Cross XLE AWD finished in Celestite Gray Metallic — the top trim level — at a starting MSRP of $27,625. The test vehicle also arrived equipped with an Audio Plus package featuring an 8-inch touchscreen and JBL speakers; a tilt and slide moonroof; a power liftgate; an auto-leveling adaptive front lighting system; cross bars and other options for a total cost as tested of $33,679 including a delivery, processing and handling fee of $1,215.
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Design
Toyota designers have been more aggressive with the styling of the current Corolla sedan and hatchback, and in contrast the Corolla Cross follows more traditional SUV styling with an upright stance and flat roofline. Key elements of Corolla Cross include a black grille flanked by slim LED headlights, an integrated rear spoiler, prominent fender bulges and black fender and lower body cladding.
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Right Sized
The Corolla Cross is built on the same high-strength TNGA-C platform as the Corolla sedan and C-HR, and it shares the same 103.9-inch wheelbase with C-HR although it’s larger in every other exterior dimension. At 175.6 inches in overall length, Corolla Cross is 3.0 inches longer than C-HR, as well as 1.2 inches wider and 3.2 inches taller with total ground clearance of 8.1 inches — a 2.2-inch increase over C-HR.
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Assembled in America
The all-new 2022 Corolla Cross is assembled in the U.S. at the new Mazda Toyota Manufacturing plant in Huntsville, Alabama — a brand-new facility that will has the capacity to produce up to 150,000 Corolla Cross vehicles per year.
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Under the Hood
The 2022 Toyota Corolla Cross features a 2.0-liter engine producing 169 horsepower and 150 lb-ft of torque, combined with a Direct Shift CVT. The test vehicle was equipped with all-wheel drive and dynamic torque control, which can direct up to 50 percent of the torque to the rear wheels when needed based on road conditions.
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Inner Space
The 2022 Toyota Corolla Cross has a familiar interior, since it is nearly identical to the Corolla sedan with a few minor detail changes. The XLE tester we drove had synthetic leather SofTex-trimmed seats; a 10-way adjustable power driver’s seat with lumbar adjustment; heated front seats; as well as an available moonroof. In the second row, the Corolla Cross XLE adds a center armrest and two additional cupholders. Compared to the Corolla sedan, Corolla Cross possesses additional second-row passenger room and additional cargo capacity.
© Mike Meredith, Automotive Content Experience
Corolla Cross Appeal
Designers created the 2022 Toyota Corolla Cross to look more like an SUV so it would appeal to U.S. consumers infatuated with utility vehicles. Essentially this variant is a more practical version of Toyota’s long-running nameplate. With SUV styling cues and a higher ride height, this Corolla crossover could be a great choice for many mainstream buyers.
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Adequate Power
A smart addition to the Corolla lineup, the new version sports a 2.0-liter engine that provides adequate power for most situations. However, when pushed under aggressive acceleration, the Corolla Cross engine and CVT strain at their limits, although the setup is fine for most everyday driving conditions.
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Versatile
The versatility of the Corolla Cross will undoubtedly be a plus for many consumers, underscored by the attractive crossover styling. And even though American consumers tend to gravitate toward aggressive designs and the off-road capabilities of SUVs, those traits are not practical nor necessary for everyday use, so a vehicle such as the Corolla Cross will serve the needs of many buyers.
© Toyota Motor Sales USA
Responsive and Safe
The 2022 Toyota Corolla Cross will deliver what consumers need on a daily basis, and with the XLE trim level and AWD even more than most will need. The Corolla Cross drives well with responsive steering and decent suspension tuning since it’s based on the same high-strength steel platform as the Corolla sedan. The crossover also includes the Toyota Safety Sense suite of advanced active safety systems, including blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert standard on the LE and XLE, as well as front and rear parking assist with automatic braking standard on XLE.
© Mike Meredith, Automotive Content Experience
Rating: 8.0
Not too flashy and not too fast, the 2022 Toyota Corolla Cross offers everyday usability, good looks and a comfortable ride, so it should appeal to a wide swath of American consumers. Although Toyota already has a stellar lineup of crossovers and SUVs, it’s easy to see how the Corolla Cross adds functionality not found in the rest of the Corolla lineup, making it a practical choice for many buyers.
