2022 Toyota Corolla Cross

The Corolla Cross takes full advantage of Toyota's still-new TNGA-C platform shared with the sedan and hatchback. The ride is smooth and compliant to the point of being faultless for its price point. The suspension isn't tuned to be sporty, but the Corolla Cross is willing to change direction quickly at lower speeds and has a tight turning circle that makes it ideal for city dwellers. The steering is light and breezy, which is, again, ideal for cities. FWD models make do with a rear torsion beam suspension setup, and at higher speeds, the Corolla Cross is less confident. The fully independent rear suspension setup on AWD models is more sure of itself, but we barely noticed the difference in ride comfort. Comfort and ease of driving day-to-day are definitely the main keywords in the design brief.

The Corolla Cross crossover is certainly a good car and we won't be surprised to see it become a best seller for Toyota. If you're looking for a small crossover that will cart around friends or family, it's sure to be as robust and useful as any other small Toyota. That sounds like we're damning it with faint praise, but there's a lot to be said for a dependable, comfortable, and feature-packed package that will serve its owner well for years to come. The 2.0-liter engine won't set your pants on fire and the same goes for the generic styling. For buyers craving more of an emotional connection with their vehicle, something like the turbocharged Kia Seltos proves to be a more appealing prospect. But for the purposes of getting from point A to point B without any fuss, the Corolla Cross will be tough to beat.

For nearly the same amount as a top-spec Corolla Cross, you can get into a base RAV4. Toyota is quite good at separating its crossovers and SUVs, with little overlap between them. The RAV4 seems like the obvious choice. It has a more potent 2.5-liter NA four-cylinder engine providing 203 hp and 184 lb-ft. The Corolla Cross only has 169 hp/150 lb-ft, and you can only have it with a CVT transmission. In the RAV4, you get a better eight-speed automatic transmission. The RAV4 also looks better, whereas the Corolla Cross is just 16 feet of generic SUV. The RAV4 even has a bigger trunk, providing over 37 cubes of space - over ten cubes more than you get in the Corolla Cross.

It seems like the RAV4 is the obvious choice, but we think the average Corolla Cross owner is looking for something simple, reliable, and unassuming. They don't know much about the automotive world, but they know the words "Toyota" and "Corolla" are bywords for reliability. Previous versions of the Corolla were also extremely dull, but Toyota sold millions to people who simply wanted a reliable set of wheels.

Mazda uses the same formula to ensure the continued existence of the 3. They took the 3, lifted it a bit, and added an "X" to the name to make it sound crossover-y. It also retails at an affordable price, and it has a reliable Mazda badge pasted to the front. The Corolla Cross has a trunk offering up to 26.5 cubes, while the CX-30 only offers 20.2 cubes.

In almost every other department, the CX-30 is in the lead. Its naturally-aspirated 2.5-liter engine provides 186 hp and 186 lb-ft and is mated to an old-school six-speed automatic transmission. It's so much better to drive, though not nearly as frugal as the Toyota. The Mazda also has a much nicer minimalist interior, not to mention an exterior that can be described as handsome. We'd happily sacrifice the additional trunk capacity for the Mazda's style and driving experience.