It feels like sitting in a new Corolla sedan, only taller, with a more upright seating position and a better view over surrounding traffic.

There’s plenty of headroom for all occupants even with an optional moonroof, and outward visibility is top-notch, with no significant blind spots. The seats are comfortable front and rear, and there’s sufficient legroom in any position for four people, though five might be tight with three across in the backseat. It’s easy to look at, relatively simple to use and uncomplicated in what it provides. Again, Toyota’s not breaking any new ground with this interior, but it’s not trying to, either - it’s trying to build on the successful formula that’s made the Corolla a global hit. So the look of the dash, gauges, controls, electronics - all of the bits and pieces of the Corolla Cross - look similar to the successful design of the Corolla. Stepping into the Corolla Cross’ cabin puts you in an immediately familiar environment - the Corolla compact is the bestselling vehicle in the world, with Toyota announcing recently that 50 million of them have been sold over the decades. Overall, however, the styling previews the experience you’re going to have with a Corolla Cross: It’s safe and anonymous, none too exciting but pleasant enough.Ģ022 Toyota Corolla Cross | photo by Melissa Klauda The Comfort of Familiar Surroundings

A high point: LED headlights are standard across the range of trim levels, something that’s starting to become more common. The only distinctive feature might be the more sculpted fenders along the sides, but Toyota’s efforts to make the Corolla Cross more mainstream-appealing than the quirky C-HR are clearly the styling priority. The family resemblance is strong, with a front and rear end that look like a three-quarter-scale Highlander right down to the horseshoe grille and separated horizontal taillights. Related: 2022 Toyota Corolla Cross Up Close: The Corolla of Small SUVs It’s Certainly Toyota-Shapedįrom the outside, it’s not difficult to imagine the new Corolla Cross fitting into the Toyota lineup. Toyota is hoping that this same sentiment will transfer over to this new subcompact SUV - and there’s every reason to think that they’re right. Owning one won’t light your heart on fire, but it may set your mind at ease knowing that your car is very unlikely to ever let you down, drain your wallet or leave you stranded. And while it’s easy to take shots at the Corolla sedan (its reputation is not one of excitement), that car is known instead as a safe, steady, reliable choice. It uses the Corolla name because it uses a lot of Corolla parts: It sits on the same platform as the compact sedan, uses the same engine and transmission, and shares a lot of common interior bits. Well, Toyota has rectified that gap in its lineup with this, the new 2022 Toyota Corolla Cross. Nothing hit that “sweet spot” between the two, nothing sized “just right” for people on a budget who still wanted the high seating, additional cargo space and all-weather capability of an SUV. Until now, if you wanted a small SUV and you went to your local Toyota showroom, your choices were twofold: the RAV4 compact, which has grown to nearly mid-size proportions over the years, or the cramped and quirky C-HR, which features neither significant room inside nor optional all-wheel drive. Versus the competition: There are more exciting competitors, better performing ones, some with nicer interiors, those with better ergonomics and ones with better multimedia systems - but the Corolla Cross’ combination of basic safety, value pricing and reputation for reliability will immediately make it a strong contender. The verdict: Toyota turned the popular Corolla transportation appliance into a roomier, more versatile, even slower transportation appliance - now with optional all-wheel drive.

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