Toyota's Cross is a small SUV with minimal swagger - just function. It's proudly the cheapest Corolla in the company's lineup and it's also economical to drive at 45-plus highway miles per gallon, depending on your driving habits. Let's take a look.
Leaving a good thing alone, changes to the Cross Hybrid this year are mostly limited to new colors. My tester, for example, XSE, was "Soul Red" with a Midnight Black Metallic roof treatment. There's also a Polymetal Gray and a Beyond Zero badge in the rear. Prices start at $29,945 and rise to about $33,130 depending on options and trims, comprised of the S, the SE and the top-of-the line XSE.
Tinted windows, roof rails, blind-spot monitoring, and paddle shifters are standard, as is all-wheel drive. My XSE brought faux leather upholstery, heated front seats and a power driver's seat.
My week's tester was fiery red, a plus for any vehicle, especially those on the lower end of the spectrum price-wise. The vehicle is also compact, making it suitable for urban driving. It has an 8.1-inch ground clearance, offering a decent view above traffic.
The Corolla Cross Hybrid mirrors the Corolla sedan inside -- basic, functional, and nearly identical in layout, with the same dash, instrument panel, and features. But when it comes to style, it's about as exciting as a city bus.
Where the Cross stands out is cargo space, offering offers 21.5 cubic feet behind the second row, compared to the sedan's 13.1 and the hatchback's 17.8. Lower trims keep it simple, but the top-tier XSE adds some flair with faux-leather upholstery, heated front seats, a sunroof, ambient lighting and a rear-seat center armrest.
For example, I have a pretty large mountain bike that got a front flat which I had neither the time nor the desire to fix that week. With the back seats folded down, the bike fit well enough to transport it to the bike shop and quickly fix the tire.
The Corolla Cross Hybrid's powertrain is comprised of a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine and three electric motors making a combined 196 horsepower. All-wheel drive is standard. Not only dramatically more fuel efficient than the standard Corolla Cross, the hybrid version is also quicker (but not by much.) The hybrid also features a slightly sportier suspension tune.
The sound system was better than average, and it had no problem mating with my droid in less than 10 seconds.
An 8.0-inch square infotainment display runs Toyota's latest software interface. Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and SiriusXM satellite radio are standard but wireless smartphone charging, rear-seat USB charging ports, and a JBL stereo system are optional. If you've got the coin and you live for music, the upgraded sound system is worth it.
At 0-60 in about 7 seconds, acceleration is not the Cross's strong suit. There's a pleasing amount of connection between your hands and the tires despite the lack of power, and the brakes stopped me when I wanted them to. Parking was simple, and the camera in the back accurately placed me in between white lines in parking lots so it was never a big production to make sure I was straight before locking up the vehicle. It is what it is, and it isn't fast. It would make a great vehicle for a new driver, or a timid one.
It's hard to pick on a car in this price range and you already know the Cross is pokey as hell. But I wondered why, when I parked, locked and walked away, that the car beeped furiously at me. Figuring there must be something wrong, like the ACC being active, I'd walk back and take a look through the window to see if something was still on, but no; the vehicle was dark. 2025 auto manufacturers love to assign anonymous beeps to everything, like a dog barking at nothing, and the Cross is one of the most noisy, beep-wise.
Toyota continues its trend of standardizing safety features with the Corolla Cross, equipping all trims with a full suite of driver-assistance systems. These include automated emergency braking with pedestrian detection, lane-departure warning, and adaptive cruise control -- all standard. For crash-test results, visit the NHTSA and IIHS websites.
New Toyota models come with a fairly basic standard warranty package, but the company throws in two years of complimentary scheduled maintenance as well as a limited warranty covering three years or 36,000 miles and a powertrain warranty covering five years or 60,000 miles. Hybrid components are covered for ten years or 150,000 miles, and complimentary scheduled maintenance is covered for two years or 25,000 miles.
Conclusion: There's no getting around its uninspired driving characteristics, but if you need to get there with a wee bit of style and a price tag that won't break the bank, the Cross is your ride.