Crowd-Pleaser Toyota’s Corolla Cross is boring, but its buyers won’t mind�
The fact that Toyota is calling its latest
crossover-looking thing the Corolla Cross tells us exactly what the automaker is trying to do here. The new entry aims for the eponymous Toyota compact’s combination of reliability, practicality, and efficiency. And given the current craze for anything with an SUV shape, it’s only logical for Toyota to add this raised version. In Toyota’s seven-SUV lineup, the Corolla Cross carves out a niche between the funky C-HR and the bestselling RAV4, a gap the automaker reckons to be worth about 100,000 sales per year. To find buyers, Toyota has given the Corolla
Cross things the C-HR lacks: an inoffensive design, decent cargo space, and optional all-wheel drive. A pug-dog face and a few creases in the body sides attempt to liven up the Corolla Cross’s appearance, but its design breaks no new ground. An attractive instrument panel is nearly identical to what you’ll find in a Corolla sedan or hatchback, and the easy-to-use controls include real buttons and knobs. While a vinyl seat option convincingly imitates leather, the vibe inside isn’t as special as what you’ll find in the more upscale Hyundai Kona and Mazda CX-30. Rear-seat space is adequate, and the 26-cubic-foot cargo area is way bigger than the CH-R’s 19 cubic feet. All-wheel drive, a $1300 option, necessitates a higher cargo floor that reduces space by two cubes. Under that raised cargo floor is a multilink rear suspension that replaces the front-driver’s torsionbeam setup. Both versions enjoy similar handling, with the allwheel-drive model slightly more buttoned-down in corners. Either way, the suspension is tuned to
CROSSOVER SANDWICH
Toyota slices its white bread pretty thin these days� Just two inches of wheelbase separates these three loafs�
Wheelbase Length/Width/Height Passenger Volume Cargo Volume Base Price *2021 pricing
76
Toyota C-HR
Toyota Corolla Cross
Toyota RAV4
103�9 in 172�6/70�7/61�6 172 6/70 7/61 6 in 84 ft 3 19 ft 3 $22,910*
103�9 in 175�6/71�9/64�8 175 6/71 9/64 8 in 89 ft 3 26 ft 3 $23,410
105�9 in 180 9/73 0/67 0 in 180�9/73�0/67�0 99 ft 3 38 ft 3 $27,565*
THE RUNDOWN
the numbers Vehicle Type: front-engine, frontor all-wheel-drive, 5-passenger, 4-door wagon Base ����������������� $23,410–$24,710 Engine: DOHC 16-valve inline-4, aluminum block and head, port and direct fuel injection Displacement ������� 121 in3, 1987 cm3 Power ����������������� 169 hp @ 6600 rpm Torque ������������ 150 lb-ft @ 4400 rpm Transmission: continuously variable automatic Dimensions • Wheelbase ��������������������������� 103�9 in • L/W/H ����������������� 175�6/71�9/64�8 in • Curb Weight ������������� 3200–3350 lb Performance (C/D est) • 60 mph ��������������������������� 9�0–9�2 sec • 1/4-Mile ����������������������� 16�8–17�0 sec • Top Speed ���������������������������� 115 mph EPA Fuel Economy (C/D est) • Comb/City/Hwy ������ 30–32/29–31/ 32–33 mpg
tackle bumps, not corners. Further eroding any fun ideas you might have are overassisted steering and significant body roll. A naturally aspirated 169-hp 2.0liter inline-four paired with a CVT isn’t much fun either (although— get excited—a more powerful hybrid version is coming). Throttle response is lazy, the engine is buzzy, and merging onto highways requires patience. Shoppers wanting more power will find it in the quicker but pricier turbocharged versions of the Kona and CX-30. Those more expensive SUVs aside, the Corolla Cross’s $23,410 base price lands it in a segment that isn’t as cutthroat as the next level up. While we find the Corolla Cross a bit dull, it offers just enough refinement, space, and value to bank on 100,000 sales. A nice start on the next 50 million Corollas. NOV EMBER 2021 ~ CAR AND DRIV ER
ILLUSTRATIONS BY CLINT FO RD
2 02 2 T OYO TA C O R O L L A C R O S S ~ BY J O E Y C A P PA R E L L A
