AutoTrader SCORE
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STYLING9/10
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Safety9/10
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PRACTICALITY8/10
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USER-FRIENDLINESS8/10
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FEATURES6/10
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POWER7/10
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COMFORT8/10
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DRIVING FEEL7/10
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FUEL ECONOMY8/10
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VALUE7/10
There’s no way to sugarcoat it – when it comes to everyday performance, the gas-powered Toyota Corolla Cross is among the most underwhelming vehicles on the market.
It’s not as if little crossovers like this should be capable of breakneck speeds, but its engine-transmission combination leaves a lot to be desired in the sort of scenarios you might encounter on the daily commute. Now factor in the available all-wheel drive system, and what precious little torque there was to work with in the first place is robbed in the name of traction.
The 2024 Toyota Corolla Cross Hybrid solves all those problems and then some. Is it efficiency you’re after? Then look no further. How about the kind of confidence only all-wheel drive brings to the table? It has that, too – and it’s standard. And when it comes to usable power, it’s got all the guts it needs.
Add it all up, and this little crossover is the total package. Well, mostly.
Power: 7/10
While hybrids have a reputation for prioritizing efficiency at the expense of performance – mostly because they do – this gas-electric Corolla Cross manages to make the most of both. It uses the same 2.0L four-cylinder gas engine as the conventional version, but adds dual electric motor-generators up front, and another electric motor in the back that’s dedicated to driving the rear wheels.
Combined output comes in at 196 hp – not an eye-popping amount by any stretch, but more than enough in this application. The big boon is the extra output provided by the electric portion of the powertrain, which fills in the gaps that exist without it. In particular, it’s the 152 lb-ft of all-electric torque that helps most, making up for what the four-cylinder is missing.
It’s not as if the Corolla Cross Hybrid is especially swift. Instead, it’s as quick as its conventional sibling should have been from the start, pulling off stress-free passing and merging manoeuvres and reaching highway speeds in reasonable fashion.
Comfort: 8/10
The automatic continuously-variable transmission (CVT) is a bit unbecoming during generous bouts of acceleration, leading the engine to wind out with what seems like endless annoyance as it buzzes incessantly; but then it’s much more civilized under moderate throttle load while helping this Toyota move along with the right amount of urgency.
Ride quality is good given this crossover’s budget-friendly beginnings – not that the Corolla Cross Hybrid is inexpensive, but some of its siblings certainly can be. The suspension soaks up most of what it encounters, while body motion is managed well.
The cabin is even relatively quiet, beyond the noise generated by the buzzy engine. The bigger issue inside is all the low-grade materials Toyota has turned to, including the plastics used for the upper dashboard, rear door panels, and even the sun visors.
User-Friendliness: 8/10
The interior is an approachable one otherwise, with a simplified interface that features a smattering of proper buttons and switches, and a straight-forward infotainment system that boasts Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity – both of which are wireless. Follow the prompts and you’ll have access to your messages, music, and more through the eight-inch touchscreen and corresponding voice control.
Buttons and dials are used to manage the climate control system, which is automatic – and of the dual-zone variety in the range-topping XSE trim tested here – and features a dedicated LCD display. Meanwhile, the heated front seats and steering wheel that are standard in both hybrid trims get separate switchgear down below.
Practicality: 8/10
Outward visibility is good, with the relatively tall greenhouse and power-adjustable driver’s seat in this top trim making it easy to fine-tune your sightlines from behind the wheel. (The driver’s seat in the cheaper SE version is manually manipulated.) Climbing in and out of either front seat is easy, with low sills and wide door openings. Unfortunately, the latter isn’t true of the back doors, which swing open narrowly and can be awkward to squeeze through.
The back seats aren’t especially spacious, but they’re roomy enough for a couple of kids (just mind those back doors when you’re loading little ones into their car seats). There’s 609 L of cargo space behind them – less than what’s in the redesigned Hyundai Kona (723 L), but not noticeably so. The space expands to 1,750 L with the 60/40 split-folding bench stowed, which is equally competitive for the class.
Styling: 9/10
While this hybrid version shares its basic look with the conventional Corolla Cross, a few styling cues tell of its unique powertrain. Most prominent among them is the fascia, while a handful of two-tone paint jobs are exclusive – and inexpensive – options offered on both gas-electric trims. Either way, it’s a well proportioned crossover that has just enough character to stand out from its competitors.
The cabin is where it most closely resembles compatriot Corolla offerings, with a nearly identical dashboard that bulges its way towards the front seats. Those are the same as the ones in the Corolla hatchback, albeit with different upholstery offerings; and indeed, the combination of synthetic leather and striped cloth in the Corolla Cross Hybrid XSE adds a touch of personality to the otherwise understated space.
Features: 6/10
The front seats are heated, as is the steering wheel – and that’s the case in both hybrid trims. But the list of features offered here is a little underwhelming, especially at the top of the lineup.
The cheapest trim gets basics like power windows and locks, plus keyless entry and push-button start. It’s also got single-zone automatic climate control, and an eight-inch touchscreen infotainment system that’s about as basic as they get.
Stepping up to the XSE adds stuff like a wireless phone charger, dual-zone automatic climate control, a sunroof, power tailgate, and 10-speaker stereo. And while the subscription-based navigation system is impressive, it’s effectively obsolete thanks to the smartphone-mirroring apps that grant free access to Google (or Apple) Maps or Waze.
Safety: 9/10
In the Corolla Cross Hybrid’s favour is a reasonably robust advanced safety and driver-assistance suite that’s standard and includes forward collision warning with pedestrian and cyclist detection, automatic emergency braking up front, lane departure warning and keeping assistance, blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert, and adaptive cruise control. Meanwhile, the top trim adds low-speed reverse automatic braking.
Driving Feel: 7/10
As a commute-friendly crossover, this Toyota is as good as anything else in the segment. It’s certainly easy to operate, with a relaxed yet purposeful demeanour out on the open road. It’s not tippy or top-heavy despite its upright shape, while there’s just enough steering feel to know what the Corolla Cross is doing in response to your inputs. Ditto the brakes, which react to pedal pressure exactly as they should.
Fuel Economy: 8/10
In fairness, most of those qualities are shared with the gas-only Corolla Cross. What sets this version apart – aside from its proportionate power, of course – is its incredible efficiency. Officially, it’s rated to burn a combined 5.6 L/100 km, considerably less than almost everything else in the segment. That’s not exactly a surprise given there’s only one other entry that’s offered with hybrid power – the Kia Niro. (The Niro Hybrid is rated to consume as little as 4.4 L/100 km combined.)
Real-world testing saw the Corolla Cross Hybrid hover around its Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) numbers all week long, with an indicated consumption rate of 6.1 L/100 km across a total of a little more than 680 km that were mostly racked up on the highway during a chilly week in late November. That’s barely more than AutoTrader Editor-in-Chief Jodi managed in the all-wheel-drive Corolla Hybrid sedan.
In spite of that impressive efficiency, this crossover is held back by what could easily qualify as one of the smallest gas tanks on the market. At 40 L – that’s seven fewer than the one gas-only version gets, and the same size as the one in the redesigned Prius – the Corolla Cross Hybrid will require more frequent fuel stops than its miserly consumption might suggest.
Value: 7/10
Given how sparse the competitive landscape of similarly sized hybrids is, this Corolla Cross has some serious inherent advantages. While the Niro Hybrid is cheaper, with a starting price of $30,595 before freight and tax (plus two other trims that undercut this range-topping Toyota), it comes only in a front-wheel drive configuration compared to the standard all-wheel drive setup here.
The 2024 Toyota Corolla Cross Hybrid SE has a pre-tax sticker price of $34,190, while the top XSE tested here is listed at $37,490. Meanwhile, both can be spruced up with optional paint ($540), plus a handful of interior and exterior accessories. That puts it in similar territory as the tweaked Subaru Crosstrek and its pricier trims, but then that rival is powered by a gas engine only. Then there’s the conventional Corolla Cross that’s anywhere from $27,505 to $32,370 before freight and tax.
The Verdict
Its tiny fuel tank notwithstanding, the 2024 Toyota Corolla Cross Hybrid finds itself at the top of this segment of subcompact crossovers – a characterization not shared by its gas-only sibling. It isn’t exceptionally quick, but that’s sort of the point. It’s as quick as it needs to be, no more or less, which combines with standard all-wheel drive and exceptional efficiency to make this an intriguing entry.
While a few extra creature comforts – ventilated front seats, heated rear seats, or a bigger infotainment display – would help to justify its price tag at the top of the lineup, and a bit more rear-seat space would go a long way in making it more family-friendly, the Corolla Cross Hybrid is a competitive offering that’s only made better by how it’s powered.
| Engine Displacement | 2.0L |
|---|---|
| Engine Cylinders | Hybrid I4 |
| Peak Horsepower | 196 net hp |
| Peak Torque | N/A |
| Fuel Economy | 5.2 / 6.2 / 5.6 L/100 km city/hwy/cmb |
| Cargo Space | 609 / 1,750 L seats up/down |
| Model Tested | 2024 Toyota Corolla Cross Hybrid XSE |
| Base Price | $37,490 |
| A/C Tax | $100 |
| Destination Fee | $1,930 |
| Price as Tested | $40,060 |
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Optional Equipment
$540 – Acidic Blast paint w/black roof, $540
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