The Toyota Corolla Cross was supposed to help the Corolla nameplate enter uncharted territory with the CUV attempting to lure in budget-minded utility buyers while also giving the Corolla lineup a broader presence in the marketplace. This seemingly simple strategy has helped give the Corolla Cross a strong start in sales with the hybrid model providing buyers an affordable gateway into the hybrid lifestyle. Is the 2025 Corolla Cross still rolling strong in the new model year?
Corolla Cross is classic case of substance over style
The exterior styling of the Corolla Cross continues to be a classic presentation of function with our tester continuing to have a compact profile. The front-end styling is still stylish with the large front grille being accented by handsome-looking headlights. The rear end is as bland as it gets but our tester is a classic case of how certain colors can make a difference with the bold yellow giving the styling some pop. Our tester was an XSE model with these versions getting blacked-out trim accents and bigger alloy wheels when compared to lesser versions of the Cross.
Toyota isn’t making too many updates for 2025 and that’s a good move in the long run since the Corolla Cross’s core formula remains firmly intact and Toyota wants consumers to be able to get used to the Cross’s virtues before it goes in for more extensive updates in the subsequent model years ahead. This approach is also valuable since rivals like the Hyundai Kona and the Kia Seltos are all benefitting from more extensive updates with the Kona in particular getting a full revamp in 2024.
Corolla DNA makes Cross interior inviting
If you’re a fan of the default Corolla chances are you’ll like what you see in the Corolla Cross. The interior is simple and well laid out with many of the controls being within easy reach of occupants. The passenger dashboard is a large swath of plastic but the Corolla Cross makes up for it by offering passengers more cargo space and room. The second-row seats in the Corolla Cross offer a healthy amount of room for passengers but they are better off folded down to help haul cargo since the space back there is pretty tight with the seats up.
Base models are pretty basic but buyers that move up to higher trim levels like the range-topping XSE get goodies like heated front seats, a leather-wrapped shift knob, and a flip-down center console armrest. An 8.0-inch infotainment system is standard with the screen being equipped with the latest version of Toyota’s software. Our tester arrived with the optional JBL sound system but in our opinion, it’s not worth the upgrade here since the base system does a good job playing the tunes and the JBL speakers don’t offer enough of a noticeable difference to justify the upgrade.
Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard but the Corolla Cross loses ground when it comes to overall standard equipment with the Hyundai Kona offering a larger list of standard goodies which was beefed up as a result of its 2024 updates. This discrepancy also puts the Corolla Cross firmly in the crosshairs against other rivals like the Kia Seltos and the Dodge Hornet.
Hybrid model punches the MPG ticket
Performance for the 2025 Toyota Corolla Cross comes from two powertrains with a traditional gasoline engine being the base powertrain. However, our tester arrived with the optional hybrid powertrain which pairs the 2.0-liter four-cylinder with three electric motors to produce a combined system output of 196 hp. The addition of the electric motors may seem like this version of the Cross has beefier performance behavior but that’s not the case. These electric motors are solely for fuel efficiency and as a result, our tester had moribund acceleration and it’s far from the most exciting thing on the planet to drive with the sprint to 60 mph being completed in a relaxed 7.3 seconds.
However, the Corolla Cross makes up for this by offering a decent amount of fuel economy with the EPA saying a Corolla Cross Hybrid like our tester is rated at 45/38 mpg in city/freeway driving with these figures being 16 mpg and 7 mpg better than the non-hybrid model. The hybrid is in a unique place in the market since it’s one of the few CUVs in its segment to offer a hybrid model. This advantage is slowly melting away with the recently unveiled Subaru Crosstrek Hybrid adding a new dimension to the hybrid CUV wars. Subaru hasn’t released data about its final fuel economy numbers just yet but look for the Crosstrek Hybrid to be very competitive against the Toyota in that regard.
Value Quotient
Pricing for the 2025 Toyota Corolla Cross Hybrid starts at $28,395 for the base S model with the full pricing not including fees and destination. The four-rung trim ladder is simple to climb with the SE and Nightshade firmly in the $30,000 range. A range-topping XSE like our example is still a strong value with the base model starting at just over $31,000. Our tester had some optional extras and it ended up having a final price of just over $32,000 when options and fees are blended in.
This pricing is very affordable for a hybrid and it gives the Corolla Cross Hybrid the ability to lure in budget-minded buyers who are looking to stretch their fuel dollar. It will be interesting to see how the Corolla Cross can hang with the competition as more customers move to hybrids due to changing market conditions and growing resistance to EVs both from customers and the government with President Donald Trump signing executive orders to eliminate EV credits.
Carl Malek has been an automotive journalist for over 10 years. First starting out as a freelance photographer before making the transition to writing during college, his work has appeared on numerous automotive forums as well as websites such as Autoshopper.com.
Carl is also a big fan of British vehicles with the bulk of his devotion going to the Morgan Motor Company as well as offerings from Lotus, MG, and Caterham. When he is not writing about automobiles, Carl enjoys spending time with his family and friends in the Metro Detroit area, as well as spending time with his adorable pets.