2022 Toyota Corolla Cross XLE AWD

The Corolla Cross is Toyota’s newest compact SUV, settling between the Honda C HR and Toyota RAV4.

Corolla Cross is a hard worker that will ferry you 400 miles on a tank of gas. It stands 7.7 inches taller and 3.6 inches longer than the Corolla Hatchback.

This four-door 5-passenger AWD SUV is powered by a 2-0-liter inline-four with Dual VVT-i, mated to a continuously variable transmission. It delivers 169 horsepower at 6,600 rpm and 151 lb-ft of torque at 4,400 rpm. Fuel economy is rated at 29 mpg city and 32 mph highway, for a combined average of 30 mpg. The FWD powertrain is a little more frugal, rated at 31/33/32.

As much as I loved my Corolla Cross there were some minuses. The engine was simply too noisy, made worse by bad road conditions. There was also a bit of body lean on curves and sharp turns. My Corolla Cross was not the fastest car on the block, doing 0-60 in 9.3 seconds, but it showed great drivability on sand and gravel.

Standard Toyota Safety Sense 2.0 brings a whole catalogue of safety features like Pre-Collision System with Pedestrian Detection, Full Speed Range Dynamics Radar Cruise Control, Road Sign Assist, Lane Departure Alert with Steering Assist, and Lane Tracing Assist, to name a few.

The exterior is most attractive. LED headlights and tail lights with automatic on/off assisted by LED fog lights make your comings and goings attractive and safe.

The 8-inch (wish it were larger) touchscreen infotainment system with six speakers features Android Auto and Apple CarPlay support, SiriusXM, and wireless smartphone charging.

I felt the screen was a little small, but the 7-inch Multi-Information Display was precisely located and perfect for viewing. Ambient lighting helped in keeping the cabin warmly lit and comfortable.

Push-button start gets you going in a hurry, and the larger vents kept everyone comfortable, whether it needs to be cool or warm. The front dual zone air conditioning with rear seat vents provided great relief from the hot spell that swept through Texas in August. The vents were positioned perfectly.

The interior certainly did not look expensive. The SofTex-trimmed seats and leather trimmed steering wheel made the cabin more attractive. The front seats are heated, and the driver enjoys 10-way power adjustment with lumbar support. The front center armrest is narrow and the cup holders are rather small. However, the power liftgate was a definite plus.

Overall the cabin was comfortable, and offered easy access to the back seats.

The MSRP for the Corolla Cross starts at $22,445 for the base L FWD trim. The XLE AWD starts at $27,875. My test Corolla Cross came with the $1,250 Convenience Package, which adds power liftgate and moonroof.

Warranty
3 years/36,000 miles Basic Warranty
5 years/50,000 miles Powertrain Warranty
5 years/unlimited mileage Corrosion Perforation Warranty

Durhl Caussey writes a car column read around the world. He may be reached at this newspaper or [email protected].