2023 Toyota Corolla Cross

Crossovers are big business in the USA and Toyota has such an entry in every market niche, starting with the tiny CH-R. The next step up used to be the RAV4, but since last year, Toyota has inserted the Corolla Cross into the space above the CH-R and below the RAV4 - and it's available in both ICE and hybrid derivatives. In fact, the Corolla Cross will soon have to fill the shoes of the CH-R as well, with that car being discontinued. The Corolla Cross borrows a lot from the Corolla but comes with a higher ride height, more cargo space, available AWD, and the cool factor associated with crossovers. It's a shame, then, that it has to make do with an anemic 169-hp 2.0-liter naturally aspirated engine. Alternatively, there is a more expensive hybrid with a handy 194-hp coupled to standard AWD. The weak and whiny base 2.0-liter engine, forgettable on-road dynamics, and spoil-sport CVT conspire against Toyota's high-riding Corolla, especially as it comes up against tough competition such as the Kia Seltos, Mazda CX-30, and a bevy of Korean rivals.

The price of the 2023 Toyota Corolla Cross starts at $23,060 for the entry-level L in FWD guise, increasing to $25,390 for the mid-range LE and $27,165 for the top-spec XLE. In all cases, upgrading to AWD will add $1,300 to your bill. These prices exclude a destination charge of $1,335.

The Corolla Cross' road manners will not leave a lasting impression on you unless you prioritize comfort and driving ease above all else. It does that well because it's easy to drive and the suspension is set up with an absorbent ride in mind. All the fun has been tuned out of the chassis, and the soft ride can border on floaty - but it certainly does a good job of filtering out road shocks and vibrations. It's not as restful inside as you might expect, with noticeable road roar on course-chip surfaces and quite a din from the ventilation fan when the AC is on full blast. The powertrain does nothing to save the day and the naturally aspirated 2.0-liter engine needs to be revved hard to deliver its 169 hp and 151 lb-ft of torque. A CVT is the only transmission choice and as is often the case with naturally aspirated engines, it makes for an unhappy dance partner for the Corolla Cross' engine. Besides being really slow, the engine is course and noisy when the CVT allows it to rev out to extract some meaningful progress - which is a lot of the time.

If excitement is way down on your list of priorities and all you want is a roomier, higher-riding Corolla that offers you plenty of comfort and peace-of-mind safety, the Corolla Cross is indeed a very good crossover. However, most people want more from their ride than that and if you have a penchant for speed, steer well clear of the Corolla Cross or go for the significantly more punchy hybrid. In this competitive class, no participant can afford to be a one-trick pony and that's exactly what the Corolla Cross is, catering to comfort, but offering little else and being a mostly unfulfilling driving experience. The Toyota Corolla Cross hybrid is a far more compelling prospect but as things stand, most of the players in this class have the standard gas-powered Corolla Cross beat for all-round ability.

As an entry-level model, the L trim has all the necessary features we would want in a car. For $23,060, it's only $95 more expensive than the standard Corolla Hatchback SE, making it a logical choice for most first-time buyers. Toyota thinks so but also knows the LE model will be the volume seller in the range - and rightly so. It has an excellent blend of added convenience features like wireless charging, 17-inch alloys, and additional driver assists for the extra money. The XLE starts questioning the value proposition, but not enough for us to tell anyone they shouldn't go for it if they want to splash out a little extra cash on a car that should last them many, many miles. We would spend some time considering going for the LE, though, and add the nine-speaker JBL sound system and moonroof instead.