The 2022 Toyota Corolla Cross is all the rage these days. This hot new compact SUV is turning heads and driving off the lots, and there’s plenty to love about everything it has to offer. Still, there’s always a critic or two out there, ready to point out a few flaws that car buyers should know before making a purchasing decision. As it happens, Consumer Reports weighed in with its evaluation of the Corolla Cross, with four key points they disliked. Here’s what Corolla lovers need to know about this new compact SUV.
1. It’s noisier than you’d think
2022 Toyota Corolla Cross | Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc.
Consumer Reports says consumers will love the fuel economy, with an estimated overall 28 mpg, and the braking on the 2022 Toyota Corolla Cross. However, when you punch the gas, hoping to experience that burst of acceleration, you might be turned off by the excessive noise. In fact, CR says it almost “becomes too noisy” of a ride in the “cheap-looking cabin.”
2. Underpowered is an understatement
Consumers might agree with the CR road testers in the performance department. Giving this compact SUV some gas doesn’t translate the driving dynamics you might hope for, and it feels downright “underpowered.” The team goes on to say you might be better served by the driving experience from behind the wheel of a Subaru Crosstrek instead, for the same price.
The 0 to 60 mph run wasn’t bad for the Toyota Corolla Cross, clocking a time of 9.3 mph. However, it was the regular driving that felt lackluster to the CR testers. They say the 169-hp 2.0-liter engine with its four cylinders feels like it struggles to handle average driving scenarios. They say it sounds sluggish, too.
3. It lacks the agility you’d expect from a Toyota
The 2022 Toyota Corolla Cross doesn’t have the agility you’d expect from a Toyota. Earning an overall score of 67 from Consumer Reports is not terrible. However, the more impressive road testing and ratings from the 2022 Chevy Trailblazer (76,) the 2022 Nissan Rogue Sport (77,) and the 2022 Subaru Crosstrek (86) prove there are others with better agility in this segment.
You might love the Toyota Corolla, but don’t expect the 2022 Toyota Corolla Cross to feel like a bigger version of your favorite little sedan. CR cites the compact SUV’s “clumsy” and “uninspiring” feel, despite performing well in the avoidance maneuver test. Additionally, buying this model may mean enduring a yawn-worthy daily driver experience more often than you’d like.
4. A mediocre fit and finish
The fourth significant drawback for the Toyota Corolla Cross, at least according to Consumer Reports, is the mediocre fit and finish overall. Expect a lot of hard plastic surfaces and some rough edges. The armrests feel underpadded, and the center console, also plastic, creeps in on the driver’s side knee area. Rear seated passengers will have plenty of room above the shoulders but won’t have much in the way of cushioned leg support. There’s just more “meh” to this new compact SUV than there is star power.
Again, it’s important to recognize that there is still plenty to be excited about with the new compact SUV with Corolla flavor. Don’t take these four critical points to heart if you had your mind made up about loving the new 2022 Toyota Corolla Cross. Still, at least take these mild setbacks from Consumer Reports into consideration, just in case noise, power, agility, and finishing touches do matter in your final decision. Lastly, based on their final recommendations, the team says the best version to get is the XLE trim, adding in some of the extras that might make up for some of these dislikes.
Keyword: 4 Things Consumer Reports Doesn’t Like About the 2022 Toyota Corolla Cross