2023 Toyota Corolla Cross Hybrid Revealed

This might be the official release for North America, but there have been others previously.

 

Very nice vehicle.

I think this style, size and priced vehicle will check a lot of boxes for people.

If they eventually make this with a plug in option that gets around 30 miles on electric I can see this as a popular option for a lot of families.

For us it would top the list as a replacement for our Plug in Niro. A perfect second vehicle to run around town with.

 

I'm guessing Li-ion has reached the tipping point in price for Toyota to favor it.

The Cross's pack is probably sized for worst case scenario for powering AWD. More capacity means longer operation of the rear motor without having to pull energy from the front drive train.

 

ouch, my eyes!

 

The old one's higher grill has a strong resemblance to the Mazda CX.

 

As expected Toyota announced the hybrid Corolla Cross will be available in North America as a 2023 MY vehicle. Looks good, has more than sufficient power. Reviews suggest the non-hybrid model is comfortable, and so this one should be too. All good stuff. But how to explain the low anticipated MPG numbers: 37 mpg combined. Sure Toyota could be trying to downplay expectations. But that is a significantly lower number than what's found in RAV4 Hybrid. Surely it should match the efficiency of the RAV4, if not exceed it! What gives?

 

Bigger less efficient engine or just loss in MPG due to crossover SUV style? Toyota tried to do this with Prius V and it was discontinued... And with gas prices as high as $8 a gallon in some places? Toyota gets more and more out of touch with what people want in a car every day!

 

The final drive gearing on a v was changed along with slightly less aero body in order to increase its load capacity and rating. That cost about 8 mpg. I imagine the Cross Hybrid has the same issues.

The v also has a higher capacity ac system.

 

I want the 2023 Toyota GR Corolla Morizo Edition in a plug-in hybrid. The two-seaters would work for me with more cargo.

2023 Toyota GR Corolla Morizo Edition Has Extra Torque, No Rear Seats

 

Am I missing something: a 2 seater with 4 doors??

 

It is a shorter car in length. Longer cars have more time to achieve cleaner separation of the air flow at the rear. Forget the Prius v, but look at the Prius c and gen3 Prius for Rav2 to Rav4 comparison. The Prius c was smaller in size and in engine, like the Corolla Cross, and it was rated lower than the Prius in city and highway.

 

Yeah, they just removed the rear seats of a regular Corolla Cross to make it lighter. Addition by substraction. GR models are track-focused performance models. There are two lower trims, Corolla Cross GR Core and GR Circuit edition, but I don't know if the other two editions are also a two-seater as well? From the article title and linked article below, it sounds like Morizo Edition is unique in that it is a two-seater.

2023 Toyota GR Corolla: What We Know So Far


I don't have any interest in the performance aspect of the model, but I would love to own a Corolla Cross in plug-in with larger cargo by removing the rear seats, like what Toyota did on the Collolla to make it a commercial van in EU.

https://www.autoevolution.com/news/toyota-turns-the-corolla-touring-sports-into-a-commercial-van-gives-it-hybrid-power-179396.html#

 

Sure enough, the Cross has a drag coefficient of 0.32. Some googling suggests it's 0.3 for the RAV4. That and the lower gearing ratios might explain a good percent of the difference. It does seem like a case of misplaced priorities (whether of Toyota or of the consumer). They should have aimed for 45 mpg, and it would not have been difficult to design something with a similar form factor had they used the new bipolar batteries. I'd be OK with 1" lower ground clearance and a more tapered roofline.