![]() ![]() That’s not something you’ll find in the regular Corolla Cross. The Hybrid doesn’t wallow about, but nothing about the experience says “sporty.” The inert responses from the steering certainly don’t help, though at least putting the car in Sport mode adds a dollop of extra weighting. I admittedly have not driven a standard Corolla Cross, so I cannot comment on the difference, but “sport-tuned” is a relative term. A sport-tuned suspension is the only mechanical upgrade that comes with these trims, besides the performance upgrade. These aren’t available in the regular Cross. The Corolla Cross Hybrid is exclusively available in what traditionally have been considered sporty Toyota trim levels – SE and XSE – as well as a new S base trim level pictured above. The Corolla Cross actually has more sound deadening to remove some particularly unpleasant frequencies, but it’s quite obviously not enough to fully compensate. ![]() We suspected the Corolla Cross simply had less sound deadening, but Prius chief engineer Satoki Oya said the noise difference is really the result of the otherwise equal Prius engine having an extra balancing shaft that reduces noise and vibration. It was one of the reasons the new Prius impressed so much. Interestingly, the new Prius does not do this, or rather, the sound seems buried deep within the engine bay. Unfortunately, the engine’s engagement might be smoother than past Toyota hybrids, but the omnipresent drone whenever you get back on the throttle is still there, and it gets old quickly. It also benefits from that improved, fifth-generation hybrid system’s extra electric motor application off the line and smoother gas engine engagement. But it certainly gets up to speed with greater urgency than a Honda HR-V or 2.0-liter Crosstrek, and acceleration is sufficient for the segment. If you want that, a turbocharged Kia Seltos or Mazda CX-30 is the way to go. Of course, “quicker” is not the same as genuinely quick. That’s the difference between the Corolla Cross being one of the slower vehicles in the segment and the Cross Hybrid being one of the quicker ones. Like the all-wheel-drive Prius, total system output is 196 horsepower, which is up from 169 in the gas-only Cross. Specifically, the all-wheel-drive version that adds a third motor to power the rear axle. The Cross Hybrid comes with Toyota’s fifth-generation hybrid powertrain also found in the impressive 2023 Toyota Prius. ![]() You’ll also be getting a significant performance advantage, at least compared to the regular Cross. According to EPA fuel cost estimates, you could save about $500 every year by opting for the Cross Hybrid. ![]() That’s up from the regular, all-wheel-drive Cross’ estimate of 30 mpg combined, which was already tied with the 2.0-liter Subaru Crosstrek for class-leading – most competitors are admittedly only 1 or 2 mpg behind. EPA-estimated fuel economy is 45 mpg city, 38 mpg highway and 42 mpg combined. It could benefit from having its own thing, and crushing its competitors’ fuel economy does just that. Well, that changes with the 2023 Toyota Corolla Cross Hybrid.Īs the name implies, it is based on the rather unremarkable 2023 Corolla Cross that doesn’t satisfy any niche beyond attempting to woo people who had positive associations with a Toyota Corolla. With one imperfect exception, which we’ll get to later, there has yet to be a proper hybrid-powered entry. The growing segment of small SUVs we dub “midcompact” covers all sorts of niches, including outdoor adventuring, sporty driving, family-friendly and more. ![]()
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