I’ve owned a Toyota Corolla for nearly 17 years now. It’s ancient in the world of cars, and I told myself that I’d never buy one again in my lifetime, mainly because of how basic it is and how I deserve something larger in size.
But after testing out the Toyota Corolla Cross Hybrid for a week, I’m now convinced that a Corolla could yet again be in my future. While it may not have the premium features and polarizing looks that make many of the best electric cars I test stand out, the Corolla Cross Hybrid has them all beat in one area — its price.
The $28,495 starting cost of the Corolla Cross Hybrid S is far more obtainable than any of the cheapest EVs you can find. For example, two of the most affordable EVs I’ve tested in the last year are the Hyundai Kona Electric and Chevrolet Equinox LT, which start at $32,975 and $35,995 respectively.
Not only does the 2025 Toyota Corolla Cross Hybrid S beat them on price, but there’s no range anxiety concerns with the kind of range it gets thanks to hybrid power.
2025 Toyota Corolla Cross Hybrid: Specifications
2025 Toyota Corolla Cross Hybrid: Testing summary
I drove a total of 215.4 miles in my week’s worth of testing the 2025 Toyota Corolla Cross Hybrid, reaching an average combined fuel economy of 45 mpg. That actually is better than the 42 mpg combined average it’s rated for, which means it could get as much as 477 miles of range with a fuel tank of gas.
While the non-hybrid powered version of the Corolla Cross sells for less at $24,135, you’ll end up paying more in the long run in gas because of its 32 mpg rated fuel economy. For the difference in price between the two trims, I would recommend paying extra for the better fuel economy that comes with hybrid power.
What’s also surprising about this subcompact SUV is that it has a rather small 10.6 gallon fuel tank. Other hybrid SUVs have larger capacities, like the Mazda CX-50 and Hyundai Tucson Hybrid, but they don’t get as good fuel economy as this.
2025 Toyota Corolla Cross Hybrid: What I Like
Outstanding fuel economy
When I bought my Toyota Corolla sedan ages ago, it was getting about 30 mpg from a full tank of gas. Of course, father time has caused that to dwindle tremendously — so imagine how I felt after getting 45 mpg out of the 2025 Toyota Corolla Cross Hybrid S.
Considering the volatility of gas prices, the Corolla Cross Hybrid’s outstanding fuel economy will continue to save you money in the long run over other all-gas powered vehicles. I would also go far to say that it offers just as much long term savings over electric cars because of its price.
Affordable on any budget
When price is one of the biggest deterrents preventing people from buying EVs, one cannot help but look at the $28,495 starting cost of the Corolla Cross Hybrid and think that it’s far more obtainable. In fact, it’s the most affordable hybrid car I’ve tested all year.
Equally as important is the cost of gasoline. Let’s just say that the cost of regular unleaded gasoline remains at $3.09/gallon, it would cost you $4,120 to drive the hybrid 1,000 miles per month over the course of five years. In contrast, if you were to go with the non-hybrid version of the Corolla Cross, which is rated for 32 mpg, you’d end up spending $5,793.75 to travel the same amount of distance.
EV mode
Strangely, there’s a dedicated EV mode button next to the shifter — which catches me off guard because it’s not a PHEV (plug-in hybrid). Usually PHEVs can let you run off the all-electric power from their dedicated battery, instead of relying on just traditional hybrid power.
With this EV mode enabled, it gives drivers a small taste of all-electric power because it runs much like an electric car. Not only does it operate quieter in this mode, but the acceleration is continuous, too. However, EV mode is limited to lower speeds — generally no more than 25 mph. Once you exceed that, the car goes back to its normal hybrid power. Despite this, it’s nice to get a sample of EV power.
Sport mode adds more power and response
I wasn’t expecting much power out of the Corolla’s 2.0L 4-Cyl. Hybrid engine. Hybrid cars aren’t known for their performance, but switching over to spot mode injects the kind of response that will satisfy the speed demon in you.
On top of getting to cruising speed faster, I really like the response the engine offers with its peak 196 hp performance. Overtaking cars becomes much easier in sport mode.
Sporty, two-tone design
The Corolla Cross Hybrid may be what’s practically a “basic” car, but Toyota adds a bit of flair to its design. I really like the two-toned color, which complements the lustery red pain job with black accents all around.
This results in a stronger contrast that gives the vehicle a sporty look, especially when you look at its aggressive front grill. In some ways, it takes some of the characteristics from the much larger RAV4 in its lineup.
Wireless CarPlay and Android Auto support
I really wasn’t expecting a vehicle this cheap to come with wireless CarPlay and Android Auto, but it does. My initial expectation was to support them with a wired connection, so it’s another extra treat that gives more value to the Corolla Cross Hybrid.
Access to wireless CarPlay and Android Auto is important because it means you don’t have to pay for extra services to access navigation and other connectivity features. Plus, the extra convenience of wireless connectivity is that information seamlessly loads up on the 8-inch main touchscreen display.
2025 Toyota Corolla Cross Hybrid: What I Don’t Like
Poor backup camera quality
Not surprisingly, the footage from the Corolla’s backup camera looks awfully like a cell phone from the 2000s with pixelated images and soft details. While I appreciate that a camera is included, the quality makes it really tough to see if a car’s coming from my blind spots.
Manual seats everywhere
Just like my 17 year old Corolla, there’s no powered seats whatsoever with the 2025 Toyota Corolla Cross Hybrid S. I’m not saying it’s a deal breaker, but I was hoping for the base hybrid trim to at least offer a powered driver’s seat — it doesn’t. I’m perfectly okay if the passenger seat is manual.
Instead, you’ll have to settle for all manual seats with this trim, unless you pony up the extra to get the Hybrid XSE trim, which starts at $31,680. However, I do like its bucket-styled seats.
Tight legroom in back
Since it’s a subcompact SUV, the Corolla Cross Hybrid compromises on the legroom in the back seats. That makes it tight for adults to sit in them, but it should suffice for children.
Even when I move the driver and passenger seats as much as I can, the legroom is still pretty tight for those passengers. At least there’s ample trunk space, which I think could’ve been shortened to add a bit more space for the rear seats.
Struggles in first gear when you floor it
Hybrid vehicles aren’t known for their performance, which explains why the 2025 Toyota Corolla Cross Hybrid S struggles in first gear in hybrid power mode. Of course, it’s not a problem when I switch into sport mode, but it feels like a chore in ECO mode. I really have to slam down hard on the pedal to get it to accelerate, but this is expected from all hybrids.
Cruise control can be jarring with acceleration
Although it lacks the automatic steering control that I see in the adaptive cruise control systems in other vehicles, the Corolla Cross Hybrid’s cruise control at least applies the necessary acceleration and braking to maintain its cruising speed. However, I don’t like the jarring nature of its acceleration. It has a habit of applying a lot of acceleration to get up to cruising speed.
2025 Toyota Corolla Cross Hybrid: Bottom Line
The Corolla has been around for ages, so it’s wonderful that Toyota’s added a subcompact version that still undercuts a lot of the electric vehicles out there. If you’re looking for that Toyota reliability paired with the cost savings of hybrid power, the Corolla Cross Hybrid S is an excellent choice — plus you gain the utility of an SUV.
It’s way cheaper than any EV on the road, and if you’re really generous with your driving, you might actually end up spending less on fuel costs. After driving this car for a week, it’s making me reconsider my thoughts about buying another Corolla.
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