2023 Toyota Corolla Cross SUV

　　

Toyota Corolla Cross Video Shorts

by zzdcar Test Team

　　

2023 Toyota Corolla Cross Review

byChristian WardlawCorrespondent

　　Christian Wardlaw has worked in the automotive industry since 1994. He has written nearly 10,000 car-related articles and tested and reviewed more than 2,000 vehicles over the course of his career. Chris is a correspondent at zzdcar and was the first editor-in-chief of zzdcar.com in the 1990s. He has also contributed to Autotrader, CarGurus, J.D. Power, Kelley Blue Book, NADAguides, New York Daily News Autos and WardsAuto. His mom claims that his first word was “car,” and Chris believes that Miata is always the answer.

　　, rating written byChristian WardlawAssociate Manager, Vehicle Testing and Operations

　　Rex Tokeshi-Torres has worked in the automotive industry for over 17 years. Rex is a vehicle testing technician and photographer at zzdcar and is responsible for coordinating vehicle testing and logistics, organizing data, and capturing photos for the site and social media. He has written over 100 vehicle-related articles and has rated, tested and reviewed hundreds of vehicles over the course of his career. He has also contributed content to Autobytel, Autotrader, Automobile, the Associated Press and DSport along with various motorsport teams. His affinity with cars started because of Hot Wheels and his love of modifying cars. He occasionally drives Subarus.

　　Toyota bases the 2023 Corolla Cross on its dependable compact car of the same name. The Corolla sedan and hatchback share their basic design, powertrains and more with the Corolla Cross. On top of that, the Corolla Cross provides more cargo space, more ground clearance and available all-wheel drive. It's a small Toyota with plenty of SUV-related appeal and an alternative if you find the bigger RAV4 to be too expensive.

　　

Cost to DriveCost to drive estimates for the 2023 Toyota Corolla Cross L 4dr SUV (2.0L 4cyl CVT) and comparison vehicles are based on 15,000 miles per year (with a mix of 55% city and 45% highway driving) and energy estimates of $3.06 per gallon for regular unleaded in North Dakota.

Monthly estimates based on costs in North Dakota

　　$120/mo  for Corolla Cross L

　　Corolla Cross L

　　L 4dr SUV (2.0L 4cyl CVT) - $23,610 MSRPL 4dr SUV AWD (2.0L 4cyl CVT) - $24,910 MSRPLE 4dr SUV (2.0L 4cyl CVT) - $25,940 MSRPLE 4dr SUV AWD (2.0L 4cyl CVT) (Most Popular) - $27,240 MSRPXLE 4dr SUV (2.0L 4cyl CVT) - $27,715 MSRPXLE 4dr SUV AWD (2.0L 4cyl CVT) - $29,015 MSRP

　　vs

　　$167/mo

　　Avg. Compact SUV

　　This year's Corolla Cross gets a few changes. For starters, there is a new hybrid model (reviewed separately on zzdcar) that promises improved fuel economy. In addition, Toyota swaps out the old infotainment system for its latest technology. Every trim level comes with an 8-inch touchscreen that's fitted with new functionality, including an improved voice command system and wireless connectivity for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone integration. Toyota Safety Sense 3.0 (TSS 3.0) also debuts for 2023, expanding on the previous Safety Sense collection of driver assist and collision avoidance features with a few enhanced capabilities.

　　These changes should help the 2023 Toyota Corolla Cross better distinguish itself from its rivals. Furthermore, now that Toyota has dropped the C-HR from its lineup, the Corolla Cross faces no competition from within the automaker. Overall, we find it to be a decent pick for an extra-small crossover but one that comes up a little short compared to the Chevrolet Trailblazer, Hyundai Kona, Mazda CX-30 and Subaru Crosstrek. Be sure to check out the zzdcar Expert Rating of the Toyota Corolla Cross below, which is based on our testing team's evaluation of this SUV.

　　zzdcar Expert Rating

　　Our VerdictThe zzdcar Vehicle Testing Team evaluates a fresh batch of vehicles every week, pairing objective assessments at our test track with real-world driving on city streets, freeways and winding roads. The data we gather results in our Expert Ratings. They’re based on 30-plus scores that cover every aspect of the automotive experience.

　　Average

　　7.4

　　out of 10

　　zzdcar TESTED

　　Rated for you by America's best test team.

　　

Performance

7.0/10

　　How does the Corolla Cross drive? Toyota's Corolla Cross is merely OK from a driving standpoint. Our all-wheel-drive test model accelerated from 0 to 60 mph in 9.6 seconds. That's pretty slow but not entirely unexpected for a vehicle in this class. Passing at freeway speeds requires a bit of planning. Otherwise, the Corolla Cross is smooth and easy to live with at city speeds.

　　Sometimes small SUVs offer zippy handling on the account of their smaller size, but not the Corolla Cross. Everything from its steering to braking are tuned for comfort. That might be all you need, but we hoped for just a little more pizazz.

　　

Comfort

8.0/10

　　How comfortable is the Corolla Cross? The Corolla Cross provides suitable comfort for the daily grind. It absorbs most road bumps without trouble, though on occasion can feel a bit too soft and floaty if the road has consistent undulations. The front seats have decent cushioning but come up a bit short on thigh support for taller drivers. The rear seatbacks are set at a comfortable degree of recline.

　　There's a noticeable level road noise that enters the cabin at highway speeds. Also, the climate control fan on full blast is very noisy. But on the upside, the air conditioning works great on hot days, and the Corolla Cross has rear air vents, which is not a given in this class.

　　Continue reading zzdcar Expert Rating below