2023 Toyota Corolla Cross Hybrid: Three’s Firm Too

The Toyota Corolla Cross is the SUV for individuals who select the “no spice” choice when ordering Indian. It is a supremely inoffensive conveyance targeted on worth and familiarity over standing out. That is okay, however its internal-combustion powertrain is as weak as pre-spinach Popeye, and its gas financial system does not inform such a cheerful story both. That is the place the 2023 Toyota Corolla Cross Hybrid is available in, including a trio of electrical motors for some much-needed horsepower and netting higher gas financial system too.

As a substitute of creating do with the 169 horsepower of the Corolla Cross, the Hybrid bumps that determine to 196 ponies. As within the all-wheel-drive 2023 Toyota Prius, a 150-hp Atkinson-cycle 2.0-liter inline-four pairs with three electrical motors: two up entrance that mix for 111 horsepower and a 40-hp motor on the rear axle that allows commonplace all-wheel drive. There is a small lithium-ion battery underneath the rear seats, and front-axle torque arrives by way of a repeatedly variable automated transmission.

Even with its newfound energy, the Corolla Cross Hybrid guarantees much better gas financial system than the nonhybrid mannequin. Toyota estimates 45 mpg within the metropolis, 38 mpg on the freeway, and 42 mpg mixed, versus 29, 32, and 30 mpg (respectively) for an all-wheel-drive Corolla Cross. Acceleration is improved too; Toyota’s estimate of 8.0 seconds to 60 mph would slice greater than a second from our check outcomes with a nonhybrid variant.

However you do not want a Racelogic VBox to know the Corolla Cross Hybrid is the faster horse within the barn. A delicate throttle and immediate electrical torque mix for extra off-the-line snappiness than earlier than, and the hybrid does not quit the ghost on inclines just like the gasoline model does. The brand new mannequin is way extra acceptable for becoming a member of freeway site visitors, though as we have seen in lots of hybrids, efficiency suffers with a depleted battery.

Because the hybrid has extra vim than some other Corolla Cross variant, Toyota noticed match to shove in a bunch of sporty parts into the hybrid—and it is obtainable solely within the jauntier S, SE, and XSE trims, forgoing the extra pedestrian LE and XLE. This consists of a normal “sport-tuned” suspension, which provides a barely flintier trip than what we have skilled on the Corolla Cross’s non-S trims. Fortunately, it isn’t too sharp; aiming for mass enchantment retains issues comparatively mushy, and the steering is overboosted to a fare-thee-well.

The cabin is sort of the identical as in the usual Corolla Cross and barely completely different from that of the Corolla. There’s a number of unused area atop the dashboard, however in any other case, it is a cozy inside with greater than sufficient hidy-holes to retailer no matter tchotchkes fall out of your pockets. Visibility is strong on all sides. The S and SE provide some comfy material seats that sadly lack warmth. If you’d like seat heaters, you may need to step all the way in which as much as the XSE, which provides frippery akin to LED headlights, 18-inch alloy wheels, and an influence driver’s seat.

Toyota additionally gave the 2023 Corolla Cross Hybrid its newest and best infotainment system, which is nice, as a result of the previous Entune setup left a lot to be desired. Toyota Audio Multimedia is a snappier, snazzier piece of software program that features commonplace wi-fi cellphone mirroring, over-the-air updates, and—with a subscription—cloud-based navigation. It resides inside an 8.0-inch touchscreen on all three fashions.

Toyota’s driver-assist programs are mixed underneath the banner of Toyota Security Sense 3.0. This commonplace little bit of package consists of automated emergency braking, adaptive cruise management, lane-keeping help, automated high-beams, lane-departure warning, and traffic-sign recognition. Blind-spot monitoring and rear-cross-traffic alert are added to the combo on SE and XSE grades.

Whereas the Corolla Cross Hybrid is dearer than its gasoline counterparts, it is nonetheless a number of thousand beneath equally outfitted RAV4 Hybrid fashions. The bottom S Hybrid sneaks in beneath the 30-grand mark (at $29,305). Bumping as much as the better-equipped SE raises the window sticker to $30,625, whereas the XSE tops out at $32,400.

Count on the hybrid to make its approach to dealerships this summer time. Given that the majority SUVs this small do not provide hybrid variants, the 2023 Toyota Corolla Cross Hybrid might make a large splash with consumers who need the identical thrifty expertise as a Corolla Hybrid however in a taller bundle.