2023 Toyota Corolla Cross Performance

The Corolla Cross utilizes the same 2.0-liter naturally-aspirated inline-4 engine used in its sedan sibling, and it makes 169 horsepower and 151 lb-ft of torque. The sedan is already a bit of a slouch, and the additional weight doesn't help with acceleration. Toyota doesn't claim 0-60 or top speed figures, but independent testing has shown that the AWD needs a slow 9.5 seconds to get to 60 mph. As is often the case, the CVT does not play well with the low-torque naturally aspirated engine and the lack of power means the engine is often sent revving high to extract performance - which it does in a noisy and unrefined way. Rivals like the Kia Seltos offer turbocharged power and significantly more torque, so there are better choices if you like your crossover to have a bit of poke. The Toyota's maximum towing capacity is also just 1,500 lbs.

All trim levels are available in FWD and AWD. The AWD models come with Dynamic Torque Control, meaning that 50% of the available power can be sent to the rear axle once the front loses traction. It's a basic system, but perfectly fine given the audience Toyota is targeting. The Cross can be ordered with several accessories aimed at adventurous types. You can strap a bicycle to the roof and head to the nearest adventure farm located on the other side of a well-groomed gravel road. In that scenario, a rudimentary AWD system is all you need. A hybrid model is expected shortly, and it will likely be the model to go for if you require more power. If you're a relaxed driver, the standard Corolla Cross should be good enough.

The Corolla Cross is currently only available with a naturally-aspirated 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine. It delivers 169 hp at 6,600 rpm and 151 lb-ft of torque from 4,400 rpm. It's mated to Toyota's Direct-Shift CVT transmission, as found on certain Corolla sedans.

As expected, it's not a racer off the line, although the Direct-Shift CVT transmission features a first gear for acceleration before it switches to the CVT part of the transmission. That gives the Corolla Cross a bit of zing around city streets, but joining fast-moving traffic requires a heavy right foot before the drivetrain becomes comfortable at around 60-70 mph.

In FWD guise, the Corolla Cross delivers EPA estimates of 31/33/32 mpg city/highway/combined. These figures decrease to 29/32/30 mpg with an AWD system, which is still quite good. The Kia FWD Seltos achieves best figures of 29/35/31 mpg, making it more efficient than the Toyota in highway driving but less efficient in the city.

FWD models are equipped with a 12.4-gallon tank, while AWD models get a larger 13.2-gallon tank. That gives the FWD model an estimated driving range of 397 miles, while the AWD can cover an almost identical 396 miles thanks to its larger tank.