2022 Toyota Corolla Cross Road Test and Review

2022 Toyota Corolla Cross Front Quarter ・ Photo by Nicole Wakelin

The 2022 Toyota Corolla Cross is an all-new compact crossover based on the popular Corolla sedan. It’s an affordable, well-equipped vehicle with pricing that starts at just $22,195. There’s a choice of front-wheel or all-wheel drive and a responsive engine that is engaging and fuel efficient.

Compact crossovers offer the versatility to carry cargo and people like their larger SUV counterparts, but with smaller dimensions that make them ideal for city life. The challenge can be finding just the right balance with enough room for passengers to get comfortable without making the vehicle too large. The Corolla Cross has a surprisingly spacious interior and great cargo capacity despite its small size. Let’s take a closer look at the all-new 2022 Toyota Corolla Cross to see if this new addition to a crowded segment is the right choice for you.

Three Affordable Trims

The Toyota Corolla Cross is available in a range of three trims. The base L starts at $22,195 with a 7.0-inch infotainment touchscreen, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, pre-collision with pedestrian detection, and lane departure alert. The LE adds an 8.0-inch infotainment touchscreen, Qi wireless charging, leather-wrapped steering wheel, automatic climate control, and blind-spot monitor with rear cross-traffic alert at $24,545.

The top trim is the XLE with a price of $26,325. It adds synthetic leather seating surfaces, 10-way power driver’s seat with lumbar, heated front seats, dual-zone automatic climate control, leather shift knob, tonneau cover, blind-spot monitor with rear cross-traffic braking, and front and rear parking assist with automatic braking. All three trims have the option for all-wheel drive for an additional $1,300. It’s a well-equipped lineup with good standard features and only a modest price increase for those who want the added capability of all-wheel drive.

Photo by Nicole Wakelin

Only One Powertrain Option

The full Corolla Cross lineup is powered by a 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine with 169 horsepower and 150 lb-ft of torque that’s paired to a continuously variable automatic transmission. This is a small vehicle, so it doesn’t need a monstrous engine with huge amounts of power. Although the numbers aren’t impressive on paper, it’s responsive with surprisingly brisk acceleration.

Press on the gas and power arrives quickly to make highway merges easy. There’s also ample power in reserve should you need to pass slower vehicles once you get up to speed. It accelerates smoothly and quietly with a well-mannered transmission. Power delivery is managed nicely without excessive noise intruding into the cabin as can often be the case with a continuously variable automatic. Instead, the powertrain in the Corolla Cross delivers solid performance for the driver with a pleasant ride for passengers.

Photo by Nicole Wakelin

Fuel Economy That Keeps You on Budget

One of the benefits to getting a compact crossover rather than something larger is its improved fuel economy. It has the versatility for cargo, room for people, and higher ride height of a full-size SUV without a budget-busting gas bill when it comes time to fill up. This makes the Toyota Corolla Cross a great choice for long daily commutes and weekend road trips.

Equipped with front-wheel drive, it gets an EPA-estimated 31 mpg in the city, 33 mpg on the highway, and 32 mpg combined. Those numbers drop slightly with all-wheel drive to an EPA-estimated 29 mpg in the city, 32 mpg on the highway, and 30 mpg combined. It’s a modest drop in fuel economy that makes keeping the tank full easy on your budget no matter which configuration you choose.

Photo by Nicole Wakelin

A Quiet and Relaxing Ride

The ride in the Toyota Corolla Cross is smooth and quiet. The worst of a road’s imperfections are well masked so only the odd pothole makes itself known. Uneven road surfaces including pebbled and broken pavement won’t rattle passengers, and they won't cause undue noise in the cabin. It’s a relaxing and accommodating crossover that prioritizes passenger comfort.

This isn’t a sporty vehicle, so it has responsive yet easy handling. If you’re looking for a more performance-focused drive, then move along. If you’re looking for something that is engaging, but won’t grow tiresome during long daily commutes, then the Corolla Cross is a good fit. It provides a nice balance so passengers stay comfortable while the driver enjoys his time behind the wheel.

Photo by Nicole Wakelin

An Attractive and Comfortable Cabin

The Corolla Cross is an affordable compact crossover, but Toyota didn’t give it a down market interior. Standard features include a 7.0-inch infotainment touchscreen and rear air vents with fabric-trimmed seats. The top XLE trim adds leatherette seating surfaces along with a 10-way power driver’s seat and heated front seats. Available options include a moonroof that brightens the cabin and an upgraded audio system.

There’s room for five people with comfortable and supportive front seats. They easily fit passengers of all sizes with good adjustability. While there is room for three adults in the rear seats, they’re not spacious. It’s best kept to two, but three are fine for shorter trips. Two are okay for long drives with ample headroom and legroom, so even taller passengers have enough space to spread out and get comfortable.

Photo by Nicole Wakelin

Room for All Your Stuff

The Corolla Cross is a great choice for those who put a priority on passenger comfort. It’s also a great choice if you need a vehicle that handles cargo as easily as it handles people. There are 26.5 cubic feet behind the rear seats, so it easily manages average daily cargo needs. Adding to its versatility are 60/40 split-folding rear seats. This lets you add a bit of extra cargo capacity and accommodates longer items while still having a rear seat passenger. Fold them completely for up to 66.8 cubic feet for cargo with front-wheel drive or 65.5 cubic feet with all-wheel drive.

The tailgate has a wide rear opening for stowing larger, bulky items and there’s a low load for that makes lifting heavy cargo less of a strain. The Corolla Cross can even tow up to 1,500 pounds of additional cargo when properly equipped.

Photo by Nicole Wakelin

Infotainment That’s Simple and Easy to Learn

Standard infotainment in the Corolla Cross includes a 7.0-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Amazon Alexa. There’s also Wi-Fi connectivity and two USB ports, including one in the center console storage box. The LE and XLE both get an 8.0-inch touchscreen, Qi wireless charging, and two rear USB ports instead of the port in the center console storage box. A JBL premium 9-speaker audio system is optional on all but the base trim.

It’s a comprehensive offering with a large touchscreen and smartphone connectivity even on the base trim. The availability of upgraded audio on all but the base L is a nice bonus. The system is easy to use with a responsive touchscreen and logical menus. It takes little time to learn and is just as easy for passengers to operate — even those unfamiliar with the system.

Photo by Nicole Wakelin

Safety Comes Standard

The Toyota Corolla Cross has not yet been crash-tested by either the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety or the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. It does, however, come with an extensive suite of standard advanced safety features as a part of Toyota Safety Sense 2.0 to set your mind at ease.

It includes pre-collision with pedestrian and cyclist detection, lane departure alert with steering assist, lane tracing assist, road sign assist, full-speed range dynamic radar cruise control, and automatic high beams. Available features include front and rear parking assist with automatic braking, blind spot monitor with rear cross-traffic alert, and blind spot monitor with rear cross-traffic alert and braking. It’s a solid offering with key features standard rather than available as options only.

Photo by Nicole Wakelin

Final Thoughts

The 2022 Toyota Corolla Cross is a solid addition to Toyota’s lineup of crossovers and SUVs. This is the just-right option between the smaller C-HR and larger RAV4. It has a roomy and comfortable interior with attractive trims and plenty of room for cargo. You can even tow along larger items, which makes the Corolla Cross a versatile choice.

It comes at an affordable price across a range of three well-equipped trims. The engine is powerful enough to make the Corolla Cross an engaging drive while providing a smooth, quiet interior for passengers. While some affordable compact crossovers are a study in compromise with subpar interiors, underpowered engines, and harsh rides, the Corolla Cross suffers none of those challenges. This is a compact crossover for modest budgets that’s still a vehicle you’ll like to drive. The 2022 Toyota Corolla Cross is sure to appeal to compact-crossover shoppers.

Photo by Nicole Wakelin