EV buyers could have gotten great fuel efficiency at a fraction of the price with the 2023 Toyota Corolla Cross Hybrid SUV.
American buyers will soon be able to get their hands on the 2023 Toyota Corolla Cross Hybrid, more than a year after Toyota launched its gas-powered sibling in 2022. Toyota’s newest hybrid SUV will be available in American dealerships in the summer of 2023. The hybrid features one of the best mileage numbers in its class for a fraction of the price of an all-electric vehicle.
The non-hybrid version of the Corolla Cross also impresses with a combined up to 32 MPG. Toyota expects the EPA to rate its more frugal Hybrid version at even impressive MPG figures that will make you question the electric that was just purchased!
The Corolla Cross Hybrid Is An Affordable Fuel-Efficient SUV
The 2023 Toyota Corolla Cross Hybrid is the perfect compact SUV for environmentally-conscious buyers on a budget. Even though it isn’t an all-electric vehicle, consumers may prefer the hybrid SUV over similarly sized EVs because of its relative affordability combined with its great mileage. The hybrid SUV boasts an EPA-estimated mileage of 42 MPG combined. For comparison, the gas-powered Corolla Cross has an EPA-estimated of up to 32 MPG combined.
“The Toyota Corolla Cross Hybrid’s efficiency not only helps further Toyota’s commitment to a carbon-neutral future, but it does so in style. Value-priced and packed with features not typically found in a small crossover, Corolla Cross hits the sweet spot with the engaging driving experience of a small car and the functionality of a larger crossover,” wrote Toyota in the 2023 Corolla Cross Hybrid press release.
While its MPG numbers don’t beat the MPGe numbers of all-electric vehicles, the Corolla Cross Hybrid makes up for it in affordability. The 2023 Corolla Cross Hybrid starts at $27,970 when it hits dealerships this summer, giving buyers great value for their money. It is $4,910 more expensive than the gas-powered Corolla Cross, which starts at $23,060.
The hybrid SUV is around $14,000 cheaper than the sole all-electric SUV in Toyota’s line-up, the $42,000 Toyota bZ4X. It is also significantly more affordable than other all-electric compact SUVs like the $41,450 Hyundai Ioniq 5, $45,995 Ford Mustang Mach-E, $48,700 Kia EV6, and the $49,990 Tesla Model Y.
The Corolla Cross Hybrid’s significantly cheaper pricing and respectable mileage make it a great budget alternative to EVs for buyers that want to lessen their emissions.
The 2023 Corolla Cross Hybrid Is Jam-Packed With Modern Features
Despite being a relatively affordable compact SUV, Toyota has filled the Corolla Cross Hybrid with its latest tech and equipped it with quality interior fittings.
The Corolla Cross owes its efficiency to Toyota’s latest hybrid tech. Its hybrid powertrain generates 196 hp combined, giving it an 8-second 0-60 mph time.
To maximize cargo capacity and give the car a low center of gravity, Toyota placed the hybrid’s lithium-ion batteries under the rear seats. The new Corolla Cross Hybrid comes in three trim levels: S, SE, and XSE. All trim levels come standard with all-wheel drive, Apple Car Play, Android Auto, and the Toyota Safety Sense 3.0. The hybrid model also features slightly revised exterior styling, which distinguishes it from its gas-powered sibling.
The new Safety Sense 3.0 was first launched on the 2023 Toyota bZ4X and has enhanced active safety features, including a pre-collision system with pedestrian detection, lane departure alert with steering assist, lane tracing assist, dynamic radar cruise control, road sign assist, and an emergency driving stop system.
Furthermore, the SE trim level has 17-inch alloy wheels, an 8-inch touch screen, a blind spot monitor, rear cross-traffic alert, hill start assist control, privacy glass, roof rails, and paddle shifters. Meanwhile, the XSE trim level has slightly more premium standard features, such as 18-inch alloy wheels, premium LED lights, and heated front seats.
Is The Corolla Cross The Best Hybrid SUV Money Can Buy?
With the market for hybrid and electric vehicles getting more and more crowded, the 2023 Corolla Cross Hybrid faces fierce competition. Toyota itself has 15 electrified vehicles in its lineup in 2023, ranging from its hybrid models to the hydrogen fuel cell-powered Mirai.
The hybrid compact SUV segment is definitely crowded, as buyers have plenty of options from manufacturers like Ford, Honda, and Kia. These manufacturers offer vehicles with a similar size, performance, and price as the Corolla Cross Hybrid. Examples include the Ford Escape Hybrid and the Honda CR-V Hybrid.
The Escape Hybrid offers mileage and pricing similar to the Corolla Cross, boasting 41 MPG combined at a slightly more expensive starting price of $29,170. Meanwhile, the CR-V Hybrid offers 40 MPG combined at a starting price of $32,400.
While the 2023 Corolla Cross Hybrid fully upholds Toyota’s reputation for safety and reliability, the compact SUV is neither the most efficient nor the most affordable vehicle in its class.
But when looking solely at mileage and price, the 2023 Kia Niro Hybrid beats Toyota’s offering. Kia’s hybrid compact SUV brings better mileage and a lower price tag than the 2023 Corolla Cross Hybrid. The Niro Hybrid has a mileage of 53 MPG combined, which is 11 MPG combined more than the Corolla Cross Hybrid, at a slightly lower starting price of $26,490.
