We got an up and close look at the new 2022 Corolla Cross during the U.S. presentation in Texas today, with officials confirming that sales will start towards the end of the year. Toyota also hinted at a new variant coming next year, which we were led to believe is a hybrid model. [Updated]
The compact crossover segment is booming and Toyota is responding by bringing the Corolla Cross to America.
Billed as the “crossover you didn’t know you needed,” the model follows in the footsteps of the RAV4 and features a prominent grille which is flanked by LED headlights. It also sports plastic body cladding, chiseled bodywork and a contrasting black accent at the base of the windscreen.
Continuing down the sides, the Corolla Cross has a gently sloping roof and an upward sweeping beltline. It comes as standard with 17-inch steel wheels, with the range-topping XLE variant boasting 18-inch alloys.
Last but not least, the rear end has slender taillights and an available power liftgate. We can also see a black plastic rear bumper and a faux body-color skid plate.
Also Read: New Toyota Corolla Cross Blurs The Lines Between Hatches And SUVs
In terms of size, the Corolla Cross measures 175.6 inches (4,460 mm) long, 71.9 inches (1,825 mm) wide and 64.8 inches (1,646 mm) tall with a wheelbase that spans 103.9 inches (2,640 mm). This makes it slightly larger than the C-HR, but smaller than the RAV4.
A familiar look in the cabin
Moving into the cabin, the crossover follows in the footsteps of the Corolla and features a three-spoke steering wheel, metallic accents and a freestanding infotainment system.
The base model comes sparsely equipped but features air conditioning, a 4.2-inch cluster display, and a 7-inch infotainment system with Amazon Alexa, Android Auto and Apple CarPlay compatibility. Upgrading to the mid-level LE trim rewards buyers with a leather-wrapped steering wheel, a wireless smartphone charger, an automatic climate control system and a larger 8-inch infotainment system.
If that’s not luxurious enough, the range-topping XLE has Softex upholstery and heated front seats with 10-way power adjustment on the driver’s side. It also gets a dual-zone automatic climate control system, an auto-dimming rearview mirror and a larger 7-inch digital cluster display.
Speaking of equipment, the Corolla Cross comes standard with driver assistance systems such as full-speed range dynamic radar cruise control, lane trace assist and a pre-collision system. The LE and XLE build on this by adding a blind spot monitor and rear cross-traffic alert, while the XLE adds front / rear parking assist with automatic braking.
Power comes from a familiar 2.0-liter Dynamic Force four-cylinder engine that produces 169 hp (126 kW / 171 PS) and 150 lb-ft (203 Nm) of torque. It is connected to a Direct Shift continuously variable transmission, which features a physical first gear for improved acceleration.
That brings us to one of the most important features of the Corolla Cross: the optional all-wheel drive system. That’s something you won’t find on the C-HR and officials have already admitted the lack of all-wheel drive has hampered sales.
That won’t be a problem for the Corolla Cross as its optional all-wheel drive system can send up to 50 percent of the power to the rear wheels. It disengages when not needed and this helps the crossover return an estimated fuel economy rating of 30 mpg combined. That’s only 2 mpg less than the front-wheel drive variant.
The Corolla Cross, which we will be checking out shortly, rides on the TNGA-C platform and has a towing capacity of up to 1,500 lbs (680 kg). Furthermore, front-wheel drive variants have a torsion beam rear suspension while all-wheel drive models have a fully independent rear suspension.
Pricing details remain elusive, but the Corolla Cross will likely start in the low $20,000 range.
Live photo credits Mike Gauthier for CarScoops
![](https://www.carscoops.com/wp-content/themes/carscoops/assets/images/icons/arrow.png"){kind=icon}