Could a Corolla Cross Be Your Next Great Vehicle?

The Corolla sedan is beloved for a reason: it’s affordable, efficient, and has great driving dynamics. One thing it lacks, however—simply by virtue of being a sedan—is interior space. SUVs have plenty of space for passengers and cargo, but traditionally, they’re not as fun to drive and tend to eat up fuel more quickly. This may seem like a situation where you just have to settle for one or the other, but thanks to the Corolla Cross, you can eat your cake and have it, too.

As your Toyota dealer near Dunwoody, we here at Marietta Toyota are excited to teach you about this great new model that gives you the best of both worlds. The Corolla Cross debuted for the 2022 model year, expanding the Corolla family and bringing a sleek new option into Toyota’s lineup of SUVs. If you haven’t heard of it before or aren’t quite sure what it has to offer, you’ve come to the right place. We’re going to let you know all the highlights of this vehicle and why Dunwoody drivers should have it on their radar.

Car-Like Attributes

Classified as a subcompact SUV, the Corolla Cross is easy to maneuver in tight spaces, which is good news for Dunwoody drivers who want to be able to see the sights and park in downtown Atlanta every now and then. Like the Corolla, the Corolla Cross has lively driving dynamics that make it fun on a joy ride down the open highway. And whether you’re circling city blocks or breezing down the road at high speeds, you don’t have to worry about regretting it later when you see the total at the gas station. With its base powertrain, the Corolla Cross is nearly as efficient as the Corolla sedan and far more efficient than the average 2024 vehicle.

You don’t have to take our word for it; you can get the numbers straight from the mouth of the EPA. According to this agency, the average 2024 vehicle gets 28 MPG combined. The Corolla Cross is rated at 32 MPG combined, getting 31 MPG in the city and 33 MPG on the highway. The more lightweight Corolla sedan does do better, but only by a bit, with a combined city/highway rating of 35 MPG. Wherever you drive, you’ll be sipping fuel and saving money behind the wheel of the Corolla Cross.

You won’t just save money at the pump, either: because the Corolla Cross is so compact, it’s remarkably affordable compared to other SUVs. With a starting price of just $23,860, this model has a car-like sticker price to match its car-like on-road feel. This makes it a good fit for drivers on a budget who want to get a brand-new vehicle.

SUV-Like Attributes

While it may have more in common with the Corolla than just its name, make no mistake: the Corolla Cross is absolutely an SUV and is quite versatile and capable. The cabin is roomier than you might guess, looking at it from the outside, and it has plenty of space for passengers in the front and back rows to stretch out and get comfortable. If you need to carry cargo rather than people, it’s easy to make the switch, as the rear seat can fold flat to expand the volume of the open rear cargo area, with a 60/40 split that lets you strike a balance between room for passengers and room for stuff. If you run out of interior space, don’t panic because the Corolla Cross has a 1,500-lb towing capacity.

Great Array of Standard Features

Even if you opt for the most bare-bones trim level, you’ll get plenty of great standard features. The Corolla Cross L has a well-appointed interior, with an 8.0-inch touchscreen display, two USB-C outlets for keeping your devices charged, and a tilt and telescoping steering wheel with built-in controls that let you use the vehicle’s infotainment system without taking your eyes off the road. Backseat passengers will appreciate the dedicated rear-seat climate control vents, and everyone will enjoy the audio system, which features six speakers throughout the cabin. With wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, it’s easy to connect a device to the SUV’s interface without even reaching for a cord.

In addition to comfort and convenience features, there are plenty of features that are designed to keep you safe behind the wheel. While it doesn’t snow much here in the Atlanta area, it’s worth having heated side-view mirrors in your back pocket to stave off frost during freak cold snaps. LED low- and high-beam headlights can cut through darkness in the most rural of areas, and automatic headlights let you set and forget the light settings so you can focus on the road ahead.

The Corolla Cross also comes standard with the Toyota Safety Sense 3.0 suite of advanced driver assistance technology, which includes a Pre-Collision System with Pedestrian Detection, Proactive Driving Assist, Full-Speed Range Dynamic Radar Cruise Control, Lane Departure Alert with Steering Assist, Automatic High Beams, Lane Tracing Assist, and Road Sign Assist.

Choose Your Own Adventure

The base trim level of the Corolla Cross is great, but it’s not the only option on the table. There are plenty of ways to make this vehicle your own so you can get something that’s just right for your needs and your budget. Upgrade to the LE trim to get a wireless charging pad for cord-free power and extra driver assistance features like a blind spot monitor and rear cross-traffic alert. With the XLE trim, you’ll get unique styling elements inside and out, plus a 7.0-inch fully digital gauge cluster behind the wheel that can be customized to your liking.

In addition to the traditional gas-powered Corolla Cross, there’s also a hybrid version, which ups the fuel economy to 42 MPG combined and brings the total driving range on a single tank of gas up from 397 miles to 554 miles, which means you could drive from Dunwoody all the way to St. Louis on a single tank of gas. And since it’s a traditional hybrid, there’s no need to look for a charging station: you don’t need to plug it in. Its hybrid trims run from the sporty S and well-appointed SE to the unique Nightshade (which sports black trimming and a red/black interior) and the top-tier XSE.

Whichever trim you opt for, you can get all-wheel drive. Non-hybrid models come standard with FWD, but all can be upgraded to AWD. This gives you extra traction, which can come in handy on surfaces like gravel and snow, but it does drop the overall fuel economy down to 30 MPG (although this is still above average). Hybrid models come standard with AWD, so you don’t even need to upgrade, and the electric power of the hybrid setup more than makes up for the extra energy required for all-wheel drive.

A Great Spin on a Classic Nameplate

Since the Corolla has been a beloved vehicle for years, it makes sense that Toyota has decided to expand this model’s family tree and make it available to a wider audience of drivers. While not everyone can fit their life into the space of a sedan, everyone deserves the elevated experience of driving a Corolla or Corolla Cross. This just-right SUV is perfect for Dunwoody drivers who want to cruise around town, commute to Atlanta, or even explore the whole country on a road trip. It’s a well-rounded and versatile vehicle that’s ready for anything.