<div id="readability-page-1"><div><p>The Corolla sedan's high-riding sibling sees some updates for 2026. Freshened exterior styling is joined by a larger available center screen inside the Corolla Cross. Powertrains are the same as before, comprising a gas-only 2.0-liter four-cylinder and a more efficient gas-electric hybrid. The gas model again comes with the choice of front- or all-wheel drive. Every Corolla Cross Hybrid includes AWD. None of this really moves the needle; it's a straightforward car with an equally straightforward refresh.</p><h2><strong>Fresh Face, Familiar Fare</strong></h2><p>The most noticeable changes to this small crossover are up front, where the gas and hybrid models now wear distinctively different grilles. Models powered by the unassisted 169-hp 2.0-liter four get a more rugged look with chunkier detailing. The Corolla Cross Hybrid, which packs a total of 196 horsepower, inherits the smoother styling seen on other Toyota hybrids, with a bluff front end marked by lots of smaller holes. The headlights have also been updated, swapping out their chrome housings for a sleeker set of black buckets, while the taillights get a spruced-up design with new LEDs. Again, these aren't huge changes, but they're enough to keep the Cross looking modern in a sea of small SUVs.</p><figure><div><div><p><span><img src="https://imageproxy.pbkrs.com/https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/iIdzQqGixIzoZosQXpF1Vw--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTk2MDtoPTY0MA--/https://media.zenfs.com/en/car_and_driver_us_reviews_580/de627856e3e79cb191fff4e9f757e716?x-oss-process=image/auto-orient,1/interlace,1/resize,w_1440,h_1440/quality,q_95/format,jpg" width="960" height="640" original-src="https://imageproxy.pbkrs.com/https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/iIdzQqGixIzoZosQXpF1Vw--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTk2MDtoPTY0MA--/https://media.zenfs.com/en/car_and_driver_us_reviews_580/de627856e3e79cb191fff4e9f757e716"/></span></p></div></div><p></p><figcaption><span>Corolla Cross Hybrid</span> <span>Toyota</span></figcaption><p></p></figure><p>With no mechanical changes, the Corolla Cross goes over the road just like before. Its ride is relatively comfortable, especially for something with a short 103.9-inch wheelbase, but the handling and powertrains don't beg you to push. Acceleration is leisurely and accompanied by a degree of engine groan, especially on the gas-only model, thanks to continuously variable automatic transmissions that zing up to high rpm when taxed. In our testing, a pre-facelift gas Corolla Cross needed 9.2 seconds to reach 60 mph; a hybrid variant did it in a more acceptable 7.3 seconds. Steering is light and easy but doesn't load up or transmit much information from the road.</p><p>The stop-start system is a bit clunky on the nonhybrid Corolla Cross, requiring what feels like two separate operations to refire the motor and get you on your way. No such issue with the hybrid, which handles mode transitions with way more grace.</p><figure><div><div><p><span><img src="https://imageproxy.pbkrs.com/https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/vXKPpvw.dPDXRxwvI41puw--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTk2MDtoPTY0MA--/https://media.zenfs.com/en/car_and_driver_us_reviews_580/b3e7c95ed9e1751b9737d8207cbcb415?x-oss-process=image/auto-orient,1/interlace,1/resize,w_1440,h_1440/quality,q_95/format,jpg" width="960" height="640" original-src="https://imageproxy.pbkrs.com/https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/vXKPpvw.dPDXRxwvI41puw--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTk2MDtoPTY0MA--/https://media.zenfs.com/en/car_and_driver_us_reviews_580/b3e7c95ed9e1751b9737d8207cbcb415"/></span></p></div></div><p></p><figcaption><span>Toyota</span></figcaption><p></p></figure><p>The hybrid wins again on the efficiency front. The gas-only Corolla Cross with all-wheel drive previously returned 30 mpg in our 75-mph highway fuel-economy test, 2 mpg shy of its EPA highway rating. The Corolla Cross Hybrid managed 36 mpg on that same highway test, a similar amount short of its federal estimate. Like many hybrids, the gas-electric Cross shines in the city, with a 46-mpg EPA number. Considering how mild the vehicle's changes are for 2026, we don't expect these figures to change much, if at all, when we get the refreshed models in for testing.</p><figure><div><div><p><span><img src="https://imageproxy.pbkrs.com/https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/Xn7og_Ti.Zk7Eh1T1rTAfw--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTk2MDtoPTY0MA--/https://media.zenfs.com/en/car_and_driver_us_reviews_580/89120b5b87fae9d15d48d09b52163a29?x-oss-process=image/auto-orient,1/interlace,1/resize,w_1440,h_1440/quality,q_95/format,jpg" width="960" height="640" original-src="https://imageproxy.pbkrs.com/https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/Xn7og_Ti.Zk7Eh1T1rTAfw--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTk2MDtoPTY0MA--/https://media.zenfs.com/en/car_and_driver_us_reviews_580/89120b5b87fae9d15d48d09b52163a29"/></span></p></div></div><p></p><figcaption><span>Toyota</span></figcaption><p></p></figure><h2><strong>Bigger Screen, Small Details</strong></h2><p>The only spec that increases for 2026 is the size of the center touchscreen—10.5 inches instead of last year's 8.0, standard on the top trim levels and optional one step down. While we can appreciate the extra real estate, its native interface doesn't take advantage of the additional space. For example, it requires a couple of taps to show full song info for satellite radio, and even then the text is small and thin. There is no overview or home screen that can show both navigation and audio details simultaneously, which is something we'd appreciate. Like the standard 8.0-inch display, the larger setup includes wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, which make up for what the built-in system lacks.</p><figure><div><div><p><span><img src="https://imageproxy.pbkrs.com/https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/rFnD0n4UswjZjfQEj9f8TQ--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTk2MDtoPTY0MA--/https://media.zenfs.com/en/car_and_driver_us_reviews_580/5f7d173cd88ee4224d1c11c081afd7e4?x-oss-process=image/auto-orient,1/interlace,1/resize,w_1440,h_1440/quality,q_95/format,jpg" width="960" height="640" original-src="https://imageproxy.pbkrs.com/https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/rFnD0n4UswjZjfQEj9f8TQ--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTk2MDtoPTY0MA--/https://media.zenfs.com/en/car_and_driver_us_reviews_580/5f7d173cd88ee4224d1c11c081afd7e4"/></span></p></div></div><p></p><figcaption><span>Toyota</span></figcaption><p></p></figure><p>There are more reasons to rely on a tethered smartphone. The Toyota system is slow to boot and occasionally gets hung up when switching between views. It also prevents us from entering a destination until the voice control function has initialized. And for whatever reason, the default navigation voice can't say 19, instead saying &#34;nine-een&#34; like it's practicing a bad British accent.</p><hr/><p>➡️ Skip the lot. Let Car and Driver help you find your next car.</p><p>Shop New Cars Shop Used Cars</p><hr/><p>Other changes around the interior include a new Portobello upholstery color on the top gas trim. The forward portion of the center console has been cleaned up as well. A 7.0-inch digital gauge display is now standard, growing to 12.3 inches on the top trims.</p><p>Toyota kindly avoids overlap in trim names between the two versions. The gas Corolla Cross is available in L, LE, and XLE grades, while the Corolla Cross Hybrid offers the S, SE, and XSE. Equipment levels are pretty close between the low, mid, and high specs of both; the main difference is styling, with the hybrid adopting a sportier, more monochromatic look. Pricing for the gas model starts at $26,085 with front drive and $27,385 with all-wheel drive. The AWD-only Corolla Cross Hybrid has a base price of $30,445. Those are modest increases from the 2025 models to go along with the minor changes for the new model year.</p><figure><div><div><p><span><img src="https://imageproxy.pbkrs.com/https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/kIIV71MEdwch0G.eehAxSQ--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTk2MDtoPTY0MA--/https://media.zenfs.com/en/car_and_driver_us_reviews_580/d8e8c6fb46f04f121d9a8919428fd1cc?x-oss-process=image/auto-orient,1/interlace,1/resize,w_1440,h_1440/quality,q_95/format,jpg" width="960" height="640" original-src="https://imageproxy.pbkrs.com/https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/kIIV71MEdwch0G.eehAxSQ--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTk2MDtoPTY0MA--/https://media.zenfs.com/en/car_and_driver_us_reviews_580/d8e8c6fb46f04f121d9a8919428fd1cc"/></span></p></div></div><p></p><figcaption><span>Toyota</span></figcaption><p></p></figure><p><strong>You Might Also Like</strong></p><ul><li>Car and Driver’s 10 Best Cars through the Decades</li><li>How to Buy or Lease a New Car</li><li>Lightning Lap Legends: Chevrolet Camaro vs. Ford Mustang!</li></ul></div></div>

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<p>The no-nonsense small SUV's mid-cycle refresh brings a touch of modernity but little else.</p>

Barely Moving the Needle (in Multiple Ways): 2026 Toyota Corolla Cross, Driven