Toyota Canada has confirmed the new Corolla Cross Hybrid will arrive in dealerships this June, with two trims available starting from $33,985.
Following the launch of its ICE counterpart in 2022, the Corolla Cross Hybrid will be available in entry level ‘SE’ trim, priced from just under $34K (or an estimated $37,616 when dealer and transport fees, taxes, etc, are factored in), and the higher-spec ‘XSE’ starting from $36,755 (closer to $40,386). Both editions will be built at Mazda-Toyota’s Huntsville facility in Alabama in the US.
2023 Toyota Corolla Cross Hybrid
Both the SE and the XSE are built atop Toyota’s updated TNGA-C platform – a version of which also underpins the Prius – and feature the Japanese brand’s fifth generation Toyota Hybrid System, said to be both more powerful yet more efficient than its predecessor thanks to improved engine calibration, and lighter, more compact electric motors.
2023 Toyota Corolla Cross Hybrid
Though Toyota Canada doesn’t mention this specifically, both trims will feature the same drivetrain, a 2.0-litre four-cylinder (borrowed from the Prius Prime) mated with an electric motor and a “more compact and lighter” lithium-ion battery that’s now mounted under the rear bench to increase cabin space. An identical 196 hp is produced in both the SE and the XSE.
While this hybrid drivetrain produces a comparatively pedestrian 8.2-second 0-100 km/h sprint time – in fairness, nobody was expecting Nio-levels of acceleration from Toyota’s answer to the Honda HR-V and Mazda CX30 – the Japanese brand has confirmed an estimated fuel consumption rating of 5.6 L/100 km for both trims.
In terms of individual trim levels, the SE comes as standard with 17-inch alloy wheels, roof rails, sport-tuned suspension, paddle shifters and an eight-inch infotainment touchscreen. The higher-spec XSE bumps this up to 18-inch alloys, premium LED headlamps, a seven-inch ‘Multi-Information’ display, and Softex-trimmed power seats, and also throws in dual-zone air-conditioning, a power trunk door, and a power moonroof. Two-tone paint combinations are also available for an additional cost.
This being Toyota, both the SE and XSE are positively awash with the marque’s ‘TSS 3.0’ updated driver-assist systems, with a pre-collision system, lane departure warning, road sign assist and lane-keep assist, among others, available as standard.
Alongside the bz4x we reviewed last year, the Corolla Cross Hybrid is earmarked as a key player in Toyota’s “diverse approach” to reaching carbon neutrality, with 15 electrified models – including 11 PHEVs and the hydrogen-powered Mirai – already on the books. Unlike many of the auto industry’s other big players however, Toyota has opted against going the full-EV route, with former CEO Akio Toyoda explaining late last year that the most effective approach to a sustainable future was a blend of hydrogen, electric and hybrid technology.
