When it comes to the Toyota Corolla Cross, it is the kind of vehicle for those that think a car is just a form of transportation – a tool to get you to point B. And that is perfectly fine, its styling is conservative, and its primary objective is to provide value for those stepping out of their Corolla sedan and into something a little higher riding. However, after testing their gas-powered version last year, it left us feeling saddened by the dismal fuel economy and lack lustering performance. Thankfully, there is a solution, and it comes in the form of its new Hybrid powertrain.  

New Heart, New Life 

Since the Toyota Prius has been making headlines with its newfound life of sportiness and clever engineering, Toyota has taken this Prius energy and implanted it into the Corolla Cross. Now, instead of being 169-horsepower from its gas-powered engine, the Cross ponies up 196-horsepower from a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine paired with three-electric motors and a lithium-ion battery. Three electric motors, two at the front and one at the back may sound like the start of a dirty joke, but paired together they make up 151-electric horses and a surefire start to making the Corolla Cross a far improvement.  

Now that the Cross has a new beating heart, things are looking up. For starters, it’s quicker, now requiring just over 7-seconds to achieve 60-mph whereas the non-hybrid needed nearly 10-seconds. And much like many of Toyota’s all-wheel drive hybrids, the system is there as a booster system that comes engaged when traction deems it necessary. So what we end up having in return is ample acceleration from any given speed that provides all the confidence needed to overtake a slower driver. Fuel economy is also a huge improvement as we averaged just short of 45-mpg’s during our week. During our non-hybrid test, we returned a disappointing 27-mpg combined.  

Sorta Sporty 

Because Toyota sees the hybrid alternative as the sportier version of the bunch, it only comes available in S, SE, XSE and a new special edition Nightshade. With the sportier nameplate brings in sportier 18-inch wheels, a sport-tuned suspension and firmer steering. Not that the average customer would notice these subtle changes – the ride is firmer but not annoying and steering is stiffer but ever so lightly that it adds to the driver’s characteristics.  

With a sportier side, the extra weight of the batteries and hybrid system gives the Corolla Cross a better sense of driving dynamics. Our experience in the non-hybrid felt like it needed more structural support, feeling insipid. But with the hybrid system, things felt more evenly distributed, it felt more controlled with better rigidity and the tighter steering gave it a better feeling. It is what we expected the non-hybrid to be like.  

Same Corolla Interior 

If you are stepping out of a Corolla sedan and into the Cross, you might be disappointed to find it’s the same interior. Overall, it is an attractive interior that is not overwhelming or intimidating with overbearing screens – it is simple with a nice 8-inch display with Toyota’s latest software that is far more intuitive than its previous Entune system that also features wireless phone pairing of Apple CarPlay & Android Auto.  And the seats are of their own kind of sporty flair with red accents and slightly more aggressive bolstering that holds you snuggly in place. 

Of the four available trims, the entry level S starts at $27,970 and comes standard with all-wheel drive and Toyota’s fantastic Safety Sense 3.0 system that uses semi-autonomous driving features like adaptative cruise control with traffic assist. But if want nicer features like wireless phone charging, heated front seats and a power driver seat, you have to step up to the XSE starting at $31,155. And if you really want the luxury lifestyle, tack on an additional $2,665 for a power lift tailgate, moonroof, JBL Surround sound system, and adaptive LED lighting.  

Cons: Expensive at $35,670 in XSE with options – CVT Transmission drone 

Pros: Standard All-Wheel Drive – Excellent Fuel Consumption of 44.9-mpg combined 

To see Toyota taking the Prius transformation and injecting it into their other products is a wonderful thing to see. Considering the general competition is not offering a fuel-sipping hybrid alternatives, this puts the Toyota Corolla Cross at the top of pack for those looking for a small crossover that can get to point B in not only a more fuel-efficient matter but in a quicker more enjoyable way.