Toyota Corolla Cross Hybrid: Ideal millennial car for the U.S.? [Update]

Update: ‘Release Date & Price’ section updated.

We’re certain that every regional Toyota office in the world has been paying attention to the Toyota Corolla Cross Hybrid since it was announced in Thailand in July 2020.

If you think of it, the Toyota Corolla Cross is the perfect overlap of a Venn diagram: the most popular vehicle nameplate (more than 150 countries and regions around the world have experienced a Corolla) with the trending body style of a crossover. Plus, Toyota has offered it internationally as a hybrid right from the start.

After being available in other markets for nearly two years, the Toyota Corolla Cross Hybrid finally premiered the U.S. on June 1, 2022. Here’s everything you need to know about the next Toyota hybrid car:

Design

The Toyota Corolla Cross is a compact SUV positioned between the C-HR and RAV4. It features a crossover-like silhouette that’s softer than the RAV4, but it does look tougher than the C-HR. At the front, the Corolla Cross puts on an imposing look with a double-trapezoid grille. Moreover, it features curvy headlamps that get slimmer as they flow inwards to meet the radiator grille and a skid plate.

On the sides, flared fenders, a convex surface on the door panels, and strongly defined curves give the Corolla Cross a sense of toughness and a confident stance. At the rear, the compact SUV features a slanted windscreen, wide combination lamps, and a roof spoiler. Expect the hybrid variant to differ with new badges and wheels.

The Toyota Corolla Cross Hybrid features unique styling at the front and rear. Toyota has repositioned, enlarged, and sharpened the black grille and made the upper portion of the front-end look cleaner. The bumper is smoother and adds to the more aerodynamic appearance at the front. Instead of the typical blue brand logo for hybrids, Toyota has used a black brand logo at the front and rear, and it has applied a gloss black surround around the brand logo at the front. The communication is very clear—hybrid does not translate to weird or boring looks. However, the color coding and styling may vary as per the grade.

Interior

The interior design of the Corolla Cross is the same as that of the rest of the Corolla range – plain and simple. While the Euro-spec Corolla Cross gets a unique dashboard layout with a 12.3-inch fully digital instrument cluster and a 10.5-inch touchscreen, the U.S.-spec Corolla Cross settles for the more straightforward dashboard layout with a 7-inch MID and an 8-inch touchscreen. Even the Hybrid variant doesn’t get the virtual instrument cluster or the 10.5-inch touchscreen in the States.

Variants & Features

On the feature front, the U.S.-spec Toyota Corolla Cross includes nine airbags and a raft of safety aids, LED headlights, 17- or 18-inch alloy wheels, sunroof, 10-way electrically adjustable driver seat, 7-inch MID, powered tailgate, dual-zone climate control, and an 8-inch Audio Plus touchscreen infotainment system with Remote Connect. Similar equipment to the regular Corolla will be available on the hybrid version.

The Hybrid variant is available in LE, XLE, S (new), SE (new), and XSE (new) grades. The S and SE grades get 17-inch alloy wheels, a sport-tuned suspension, LED head and tail lamps, an 8-inch Toyota Audio Multimedia system, and smart key access. Additionally, the SE grade includes even roof rails, privacy glass, and paddle shifters. The sportiest, XSE grade offers an upgrade to 18-inch wheels, premium LED headlamps, tail lamps, and fog lamps, Softex-trimmed seats, front seat heating, and electric driver’s seat adjustment.

On the safety front, Toyota Safety Sense 3.0 is standard across the Corolla Cross range. Pre-Collision System with Pedestrian Detection, Dynamic Radar Cruise Control, Lane Departure Alert with Steering Assist, Automatic High Beam, and Rear Seat Reminder are some of the TSS 3.0’s main features. Other standard safety features include Blind Spot Monitor, Rear Cross Traffic Alert, and Hill Start Assist Control.

First impressions

The American media has seen the Toyota Corolla Cross Hybrid in person. Pickup Truck Plus SUV Talk’s Jill Ciminillo says in her first look video (watch on YouTube) that the Corolla Cross Hybrid is like a mini-RAV4. It looks attractive, has nice features and options to get it really well-equipped, and is an exceptional package overall. Ciminillo makes an interesting observation while showing the trunk. Unlike the gas-powered Corolla Cross, which has a spare tire, the Corolla Cross Hybrid has a tire inflator kit due to the lack of space.

YouTube channel Raiti’s Rides’ Joe Raiti says that Toyota has borrowed a lot of design cues from the RAV4 for the Corolla Cross Hybrid. This commonality is especially visible on the large front grille of the new hybrid SUV. Raiti doesn’t like the way Toyota left the exhaust pipe half-exposed. The company could have given it a sporty treatment and made it fashionably visible on the XSE trim or just completely kept it out of sight.

As for the interior, Raiti is impressed with the display of the new infotainment system, which he says has a super-clear resolution. The digital instrument cluster also has nice, clear graphics, in his opinion. There’s good headroom for a six-feet tall person in the back. Alex on Autos’ Alex L. Dykes says in his first look video on YouTube that the lithium-ion battery pack under the rear seats doesn’t appear to have compromised space. However, the Corolla Cross Hybrid’s cabin space is not as good as in some of the other models.

Specifications

The 2023 Toyota Corolla Cross rides on the TNGA-C platform, which is already well-scaled for the Corolla and C-HR. The Corolla Cross shares the 103.9-inch wheelbase with the C-HR. However, measuring 175.6 inches in length, 71.9 inches in width, and 64.8 inches in height, it is a larger and boxier SUV that is even more practical for small families. The Corolla Cross is 3.0 inches longer, 1.2 inches wider, and 3.2 inches taller than its platform-mate.

The Corolla Cross Hybrid could be a big step for Toyota. With high fuel efficiency and a crossover appeal, it can easily outdo the standard variant and bring many young customers to the brand who prefer a raised seating position and higher ground clearance.

Toyota has employed its fifth-gen THS under the hood and linked it to an electronic all-wheel drive system. The Corolla Cross Hybrid’s powertrain produces 194 horsepower and takes 8 seconds for a 0-60 mph sprint. Toyota is expecting the new hybrid SUV to deliver a combined fuel economy of 37 mpg irrespective of the grade chosen.

Aspect	2023 Toyota Corolla Cross Specification
Length/Width/Height	175.6 in./71.9in./64.8 in.
Wheelbase	103.9 in.
Ground Clearance	8.1 in.
Cargo Volume	26.5 cu. ft. (FWD)/25.2 cu. ft. (AWD)
Passenger Volume (with moonroof)	93.8 cu. ft.
Passenger Volume (w/o moonroof)	94.9 cu. ft.
Towing Capacity	1,500 lbs.

50 million Corollas

The Toyota Corolla reached a new sales milestone of 50 million units in July 2021. In its twelfth generation and fifty-sixth year of production, Corolla is Toyota’s one of its top-selling cars. From 1966 through 2023, it’s offered in many different styles and configurations, and now it’s also an SUV!

Release Date & Price

Looking ahead, this year we’re launching the all-new Prius, all-new Crown, Corolla Cross hybrid and the Grand Highlander, which will make its debut in Chicago next month.

David Christ, Group Vice President and General Manager – Toyota Division, Toyota Motor North America, on January 4, 2023

The Toyota Corolla Cross Hybrid is running behind schedule and should start reaching U.S. dealerships by mid-2023. According to discussions on Corolla Cross groups on the internet, interested customers have been told by some dealers that May or June 2023 could be the month it hits showrooms.

Note that the above dates are unofficial estimates. While Toyota Motor North America has confirmed 2023 as the launch year, it has not issued a specific ETA. The company has listed the upcoming model on toyota.com, where prospective customers can sign up for updates. It’s the same case in Canada, with just 2023 being the officially confirmed launch timeline and a dedicated model page available on the local website for potential customers to receive updates.

The gas-powered Corolla Cross ranges from USD 23,060 to USD 28,465. If we predict based on these values, the Hybrid model could launch at a base price of around USD 27,000.

We’ll keep an eye on developments, and revise this section when there is more info.

Manufacturing

The production of the Toyota Corolla Cross began in September 2021 at the Mazda Toyota Manufacturing (MTM) plant in Huntsville, Alabama. This plant has an annual capacity of 150,000 Toyota vehicles. Toyota will assemble the 2023 Corolla Cross Hybrid alongside the conventional Corolla Cross in Huntsville.

TopElectricSUV says

The new Corolla Cross variant could be just what the automaker needs to appeal to a younger demographic in the United States. It comes with the proven hybrid drivetrain from the Corolla sedan and resembles a traditional SUV with its modest styling and enhanced practicality.

The Toyota Corolla Cross Hybrid should provide excellent value for money, packing all the essential features, delivering a high fuel economy, and costing well under USD 30,000. It could be suitable for customers who don’t need or cannot afford a model as big or capable as the RAV4 Hybrid.

Toyota Corolla Cross Hybrid FAQs

Featured image: Toyota