2023 Toyota Corolla Cross Hybrid Review

The Corolla Cross Hybrid's four-cylinder engine and hybrid system combine to produce a total of 196 horsepower. This is the same hybrid powertrain that Toyota is putting into its redesigned 2023 Prius. The all-wheel-drive version, which is standard on the Corolla Cross Hybrid, has an additional electric motor that drives the rear wheels when necessary to provide extra traction in slippery conditions or even help the Corolla Cross Hybrid feel a little sportier when going around corners.

As with the Prius, getting 196 hp from a hybrid is pretty impressive. It's more than the regular Corolla Cross, which has just 169 hp. Toyota estimates that the Corolla Cross Hybrid will accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in a respectable 8 seconds.

The Corolla Cross Hybrid offers a reasonable amount of cargo space. The cabin is very similar to that of the non-hybrid, which is generally a good thing. It's easy to get in and out, and the controls are straightforward.

In the back seat, taller passengers will notice the lack of legroom relative to other small SUVs, though headroom is still pretty good. And backseat passengers get air vents standard, something you won't find on its namesake Corolla sedan/hatchback.

For 2023, all Corolla Cross models, including the Hybrid, receive a new center touchscreen interface. It has a lot more features than the prior system, such as available navigation powered by Google, more robust voice command capabilities for many of the car's features and controls ("Hey, Toyota" is the prompt), and the ability to receive over-the-air updates for new features and upgrades. It also supports wireless connectivity for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone integration.

The Corolla Cross Hybrid also comes equipped with Toyota Safety Sense 3.0, the latest driver assistance software suite from the automaker. This is a step forward from what Toyota had on the regular 2022 Corolla Cross. Feature sets are similar, but Toyota says the 3.0 system is better at detecting hazards. In our limited driving opportunity with the Corolla Cross Hybrid, we found the various features, such as adaptive cruise control and lane keeping, worked well and were unobtrusive.