2023 Toyota Corolla Cross Hybrid First Test: Quicker and More Efficient Small SUV

Easy to drive, fits everywhere, well-equipped, has all-wheel-drive, and returns solid fuel economy—what's not to like about the 2023 Toyota Corolla Cross Hybrid? Objectively, not much; Toyota's smallest hybrid SUV gets the job done if you're looking for efficient everyday transportation. It's not without things to nitpick, but none of those give reason to avoid this little electrified crossover.

However, there absolutely is a reason to skip it—and you'll see that reason beside it in the Toyota showroom. Read on and see if we can get our point a-Cross.

Toyota builds the Corolla Cross Hybrid in S, SE, and XSE trim levels, those typically reserved for the brand's sporty-looking and driving models. Blacked-out badging, different wheel designs, and Acidic Blast yellow among available two-tone paint schemes give it a relatively performance-y look. A strange front end treatment further distinguishes the Corolla Cross Hybrid from its standard, gas-fed counterpart.

Any actual performance improvements come from the powertrain. Like the non-hybrid Corolla Cross, the Hybrid uses a 2.0-liter I-4 engine and CVT automatic, but gains electric motors that add all-wheel drive and increased total output—196 hp, up from 169 hp. Toyota doesn't list combined system torque, but there's little reason to expect the electric motors aren't contributing their combined 214 lb-ft from rest—a healthy bump up from the gasser's 150 lb-ft.

Of course, improved fuel economy is the main reason for choosing the Hybrid. It's rated at 45/38 mpg city/highway, a considerable jump from the non-electrified AWD model's 29/32 mpg rating. Our track testing and real-world assessments revealed other differences about the Hybrid beyond efficiency.

With more power and some assistance from all-wheel drive traction, it's perhaps no surprise that the Hybrid model is quicker than the standard Corolla Cross. Sure, a 7.4-second 0-60 mph time only seems quick relative to the 9.3- and 8.4-second results posted by AWD and FWD Corolla Cross models.

That's thanks primarily to the Corolla Cross Hybrid's electric motors' abundant low-end twist. See the Hybrid's 0-30 mph time for proof: 2.3 seconds, compared to 3.0 seconds for the FWD Corolla Cross and 3.4 seconds for the AWD variant.

Acceleration is the primary area where the Hybrid finds performance advantages. Its 60-0 mph stopping distance of 125 feet ties the FWD Corolla Cross and trails the AWD version by 5 feet. Despite Toyota's claim that the Corolla Cross Hybrid is equipped with "sport-tuned suspension" it holds onto the skidpad at 0.81 g average, a scant 0.01g ahead of every other Corolla Cross we've tested. On the figure-eight, its 28.0 second, 0.60 g average lap represents a negligible improvement.

A few days driving our Corolla Cross long-term review vehicle prior to hopping in the Hybrid provided a good baseline for feeling out their differences. Ultimately, they drive in a similar, sufficient-yet-uninspiring way, but a few things subtly alter the experience.

As evidenced by its acceleration times, the Hybrid scoots ahead more readily than the standard Corolla Cross; its electric motors add responsiveness missing from the gasoline engine. You'll have more confidence when jumping away from a stop or positioning yourself to merge or pass.

Confidence, however, is lacking from the Corolla Cross Hybrid's brakes. Although stopping distances are comparable under full emergency braking, in normal use the Hybrid's feel worse. They provide little initial bite and then require more pedal pressure than should be necessary to produce the desired reaction. As with many hybrids there's also a noticeable transition from the motors' regenerative deceleration to the friction brakes, albeit a reasonably subtle one here.

Cornering in a Corolla Cross Hybrid is merely acceptable. Its steering is easy, if overboosted, requiring little effort but delivering almost no road feel. Even with its added electric hardware, the Corolla Cross Hybrid is only slightly heavier than the standard AWD model—3,424 to 3,349 pounds—but allows more body roll despite not riding as comfortably as the non-hybrid Cross and transmitting more road chatter into the cabin. Some blame could be assigned to our test vehicle's 18-inch wheels, included on the range-topping XSE test vehicle, which accommodate less cushy tire sidewalls than the 17-inch rims on the mid-range LE model.

Toyota equips the Corolla Cross Hybrid with a respectable amount of standard equipment. In particular, the driver assist and active safety features included with the Toyota Safety Sense suite are oh-so useful—adaptive cruise control and lane keep assist are niceties some premium automakers still charge extra for. However, even in its high-end trim, nothing about the Corolla Cross Hybrid feels premium. Its materials and tech amenities are merely price-appropriate.

If it's in your budget, choosing the Corolla Cross Hybrid over the standard Corolla Cross probably makes sense for its quicker acceleration and better fuel economy. Above the base trims, about $2,000 separates the equivalent all-wheel-drive versions of the Hybrid and non-hybrid Crosses.

However, for the entirety of our test period we couldn't shake the feeling that we'd rather have a different Toyota hybrid—indeed, what seems to be a better Toyota hybrid. The Prius was fully redesigned for 2023, and it's impressed us thoroughly. There aren't many cases where a hatchback might serve as a suitable replacement for a crossover, but this might be one; the 2023 Prius is quicker, stops shorter, and sticks better in our handling tests. Cargo capacity is more similar than you might expect. Its wedge-shaped body produces less wind noise. To our eye, it looks good, and we find it more enjoyable to drive, too.

Then there's the matter of its fuel economy, the ultimate figure for any hybrid. Even when equipped with optional AWD, the new Prius returns 53/54 mpg, making the Corolla Cross Hybrid seem like a gas-guzzling 4Runner in comparison, and pricing starts just under $30,000, a few hundred dollars less than the Corolla Cross Hybrid. Our Corolla Cross Hybrid XSE's $35,565 as-tested price is about $1,400 cheaper than the range-topping Prius Limited AWD, but that Prius comes with a slew of niceties—glass roof, heated and ventilated front seats, a 12.3-inch infotainment touchscreen, and a power tailgate among them—that aren't available on the Corolla Cross Hybrid.

There are situations where the Corolla Cross Hybrid makes more sense than the Prius, but from what we've pondered, they're few. Perhaps you want to go off-roading—sure, the Corolla Cross Hybrid has more ground clearance, and we found the gas model surprisingly adroit at handling bumpy two-tracks. More reasonably, the infrastructure in your area might suit a vehicle that stands farther away from potholes and frost heaves. Some drivers appreciate sitting higher up, and the view from the Corolla Cross Hybrid's helm is less compromised than sitting behind the Prius' drastically angled windshield. With its shorter overall length, the Corolla Cross Hybrid fits in tight parking spaces more easily, too. At the end of the day, most will choose this hybrid because it's SUV-shaped, and a Prius hatchback just won't do. Still, we'd recommend the Prius, as the Corolla Cross doesn't impress as much as other options in Toyota's lineup.