The 2022 Toyota Corolla Cross is bigger than the front-wheel-drive Toyota C-HR and taller than the Corolla sedan that inspired the project. It also borrows stylistic elements from another Toyota, the RAV4, and offers all-wheel drive as an option. Customer demand for SUVs has been voracious over the last decade, and automakers have responded by designing crossovers to fit every buyer’s price range and expectations.

Exterior

The boldface of the Corolla Cross is an attempt to make the car more aggressive and SUV-like. Its headlights flow from the grille like liquid, with blue accents hinting at the hybrid drivetrain. For the Cross trim level, the brow that holds the emblem on the Toyota logo has been replaced by a wide grille.

The Corolla Cross appears more industrial and rugged than the Corolla sedan. The high ground clearance completes the look and is sure to persuade many consumers to select this model. The weak link might be the back end, which contrasts with the appealing face. It has little influence on the overall look, though.

It’s compensated for by 18-inch dual-tone alloy wheels, bi-LED projector headlights, and LED combination taillights. When compared to its beautiful sedan and hatch siblings, the huge inverted grille is extremely unattractive.

Interior

Despite having a nearly identical dashboard layout, the crossover features its own distinct instrument panel design. The speedometer takes center stage, with an analog tachometer on the left and a 4.2-inch color multi-info display on the right flanking it.

Leather upholstery (exclusively black with perforation) comes standard, as is a calf leather-wrapped multifunction steering wheel. The cockpit, center tunnel, and other top surfaces are mostly made of hard polymers, although key touch areas like the center armrest and door rests are covered in soft leather.

The nine-inch touchscreen infotainment panel is quick and easy to use, and it supports Apple CarPlay, Android Auto (both wired and wireless), Miracast, and WiFi. It has a single-zone automated climate control system, an eight-way power-adjustable driver seat (no memory function; front passenger seat is manual), front and rear compartments, a foot parking brake, rear air vents, and twin USB Type-A charging ports (2.1 A). The cabin is designed with a focus on simplicity and practicality, with few frills.

The back seat is about what you’d expect from a crossover of this size, with adequate room for two people but a tight fit for three. Two outside seats offer a surprising amount of spatial flexibility, with more than enough legroom to stretch out on long flights. The rear seatbacks tilt by six degrees, which is both useful and gimmicky because it is only comfortable when completely reclined rather than upright. They are divided 60:40 and may be folded flat to conserve space in the boot.

Engine, Transmission, and Performance

The 2022 Toyota Corolla Cross will be available with a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine producing 169 horsepower and a continuously variable automatic transmission. This isn’t the most thrilling engine, but it should deliver adequate performance and fuel economy. The Corolla is offered in global areas with an optional hybrid engine that includes two electric motors. For the time being, the firm looks to be sticking with its nonhybrid powertrain.

The more powerful 2.0-liter inline-four is the enthusiast’s choice since it has more power than Toyota’s excellent CVT Direct Shift. It is unquestionably one of the highlights of the Cross, as it is in the sedan, providing significantly more response off the line. The Corolla Cross reached 100 kilometers per hour in 10.1 seconds (62 miles per hour).

The ride quality is on the plush side, as expected, and the car handles nicely on undulations. It’s well-sprung, handles road imperfections well, and is surprisingly chuckable. The Corolla Cross replaces the double-wishbone rear suspension with a less complex torsion beam arrangement.

Fuel economy

The Corolla Cross, on the other hand, is anticipated to earn a combined rating of 32 mpg for front-wheel-drive vehicles and 30 mpg for all-wheel-drive versions.

Conclusion

The Corolla Cross has a lot to offer if you cut through the noise and scratch a little deeper. It’s a Toyota, therefore it’ll sell. More significantly, it indicates Toyota’s genuine desire to compete in what is maybe the most competitive industry in this part of the world.