Toyota Adds Hybrid to Corolla Cross Family, Ups MPG

Toyota is expanding the Corolla Cross family by adding the 2023 Corolla Cross Hybrid — based on the Corolla sedan — to provide more options for entry SUV customers. Announced in a statement, the vehicle made its U.S. debut last week. The vehicles, along with the gas model launched in 2021, will be assembled in the U.S. at the Mazda Toyota manufacturing plant in Huntsville, Alabama — a new facility that will have the capacity to roll out up to 150,000 Corolla Cross vehicles per year. 

Available with all-wheel drive (AWD), the Corolla Cross Hybrid maximizes the potential of the high-strength TNGA-C platform, and boasts added cargo capacity, according to the statement. The fifth generation Toyota hybrid system, coupled with the Electronic AWD system carries 194 horsepower, an 8.0 second 0-60 time, and manufacturer-estimated 37 combined miles per gallon for all grades. 

The 2023 Corolla Cross Hybrid will be available in three new grades: S, SE and XSE, as well as the existing LE and XLE grades. The S and SE grades come standard with 17-inch Alloy wheels, 8-inch touchscreen, a sport-tuned suspension, LED head and tail lamps, and smart key access. The SE grade adds privacy glass, roof rails and paddle shifters — standard Blind-Spot Monitor (BSM) and Rear Cross Traffic Alert (RCTA). When moving up to the XSE grade, the Corolla Cross Hybrid builds on the features of the SE and gains standard 18-inch Alloy wheels, premium LED head lamps, taillamps and fog lamps, Softex-trimmed seats with the addition of heated front seats, and a power driver’s seat.

All 2023 Corolla Cross models come standard with Toyota Safety Sense 3.0, Toyota’s suite of active safety systems, which includes improved detection capability.

Also announced, Toyota is expanding the Corolla brand for 2023 including four new Hybrid grades, an evolved version 3.0 Toyota Safety Sense technology, and available electronic on-demand all-wheel drive (AWD), making this the only compact hybrid passenger car available with AWD. 

On the gas side of the Corolla family, the LE now has the 169-horsepower 2.0-liter Dynamic Force four-cylinder engine used in all other gas grades, with a manufacturer-estimated 31 city/40 hwy./34 combined MPG.

The Corolla Hybrid LE FWD gains four new siblings: the LE AWD grade, sporty SE and SE AWD grades, and a premium-focused XLE grade.

Corolla has been and will continue to be assembled at Toyota Motor Manufacturing Mississippi (TMMMS), where there are 1,500 Toyota team members. Additionally, the Corolla Cross is assembled at the new joint-venture manufacturing plant with Mazda in Huntsville, Alabama. The new manufacturing facility represents a combined investment of $1.6 billion by the two companies. There are 4,000 team members and an annual assembly capacity of 300,000 vehicles. Corolla Hybrid is assembled in the Takaoka plant in Japan.

Originally posted on Automotive Fleet