2022 Toyota Corolla Cross vs 2026 Toyota Grand Highlander Hybrid

The 2022 Toyota Corolla Cross presented a conservative design approach, pulling back from the daring styles Toyota had recently embraced. Its snub nose was reminiscent of the Toyota Tundra, and it featured the obligatory tall ride height and plastic fender flares typical of SUVs. However, the overall look was understated, seemingly to ensure it didn't overshadow its larger sibling, the RAV4. The Corolla Cross was notably compact, being 5.3 inches shorter than the RAV4, yet larger than the Toyota C-HR, offering more interior space. Subtle styling details included scalloping around the rear door handles and hidden Corolla Cross logos throughout the vehicle. The interior mirrored the Corolla sedan and hatchback, with oversized door handles akin to the RAV4. Material quality was perceived as below that of the Corolla sedan and hatch, with the base L model feeling basic, though the XLE trim offered SofTex leatherette upholstery and a leather-wrapped steering wheel.

The 2026 Toyota Grand Highlander Hybrid pursued a conservative and familiar design, drawing inspiration from the previous-generation RAV4. This approach resulted in a vehicle that resembled a larger RAV4, offering seating for up to eight and ample cargo space. The interior emphasized function over form, with a layer of luxury in the Platinum trim. Glossy hard plastics and unlined storage surfaces were present, but the controls were logically laid out. The climate system was simple, with large knobs for temperature adjustment, though the infotainment interface had a tiny volume knob and lacked a tuning knob. The Grand Highlander Hybrid Max Platinum, in particular, featured a Storm Cloud paint and a smart, upscale Portobello interior with leather and artificial suede upholstery. The vehicle offered comfortable seating across all three rows, though the rear doors were long and could be cumbersome for parents with small children.

The 2022 Toyota Corolla Cross was equipped with a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine producing 169 horsepower and 150 pound-feet of torque, paired with a continuously variable transmission (CVT). This CVT included an actual first gear for improved acceleration, though transitions to normal CVT operation were abrupt. At higher speeds, the powertrain exhibited typical CVT issues like engine droning and rubber-banding. While the Corolla Cross managed highway speeds without feeling like a liability, the engine worked hard to maintain pace. The optional AWD system, shared with the Toyota Camry, could send 10% to 50% of torque to the rear wheels and engaged during hard cornering on dry pavement. Despite its SUV-like ground clearance of 8.2 inches (8.1 inches for XLE models), the Corolla Cross wasn't designed for off-roading and had a towing capacity of 1,500 pounds.

The 2026 Toyota Grand Highlander Hybrid Max focused on performance with a turbocharged 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine and electronic full-time AWD, producing 362 net horsepower. This setup allowed the Grand Highlander to accelerate swiftly, with a traditional six-speed automatic transmission avoiding the droning common in CVTs. The Hybrid Max traded some fuel efficiency for power, achieving 27 mpg compared to the Grand Highlander Hybrid's 36 mpg. It also offered a towing capacity of 5,000 pounds. During testing, the Hybrid Max averaged 23.3 mpg on a mountainous route and 26 mpg on a level city-highway route. The powertrain provided rewarding acceleration, with electric motors negating turbo lag. The ride quality was soft and isolating, though undulations in the road could cause vertical bounding and lateral rocking. Handling was secure up to a point, with early tire scrub and squeal, but the vehicle felt confident at slower speeds. Visibility was excellent, aided by front, rear, and top-down cameras, though the front camera's frequent takeover of the infotainment screen was intrusive.

The 2022 Toyota Corolla Cross offered more passenger and cargo space than the Corolla hatchback, with an extra 2.1 inches of rear legroom and 1.4 inches of rear headroom. Rear climate-control vents were standard, and XLE models featured dual-zone automatic climate control. Cargo space was 26.5 cubic feet with FWD (25.2 cubic feet with AWD) and expanded to 66.8 cubic feet with the rear seats folded. Despite being spacious for its segment, the Corolla Cross's interior was not particularly comfortable, with hard and unsupportive seats. The tall, upright driving position felt SUV-like, but not ideal for long trips. Storage spaces were minimal.

The 2026 Toyota Grand Highlander Hybrid offered comfortable seating across all three rows, with nearly 100 cubic feet of maximum cargo space. The Platinum trim featured a Portobello interior with leather and artificial suede upholstery, and heated and ventilated front and second-row seats. The second-row captain’s chairs allowed for easy access to the third row. The Grand Highlander provided 20.6 cubic feet of cargo space behind the third row, expanding to 57.9 cubic feet with the third row folded, and 97.5 cubic feet with the second row folded. The rear doors were long and could be cumbersome for parents with small children, and the mid-height corners of the rear doors were sharp, posing a risk of dents to neighboring vehicles.

The 2022 Toyota Corolla Cross featured a standard 7-inch touchscreen on the base L model, with LE and XLE models receiving an 8-inch touchscreen. The XLE also had a 7-inch digital instrument cluster. Standard features included Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Bluetooth, WiFi, Amazon Alexa compatibility, and SiriusXM satellite radio. The infotainment system was user-friendly but not fancy, with plain graphics and slow boot-up times. The optional digital instrument cluster was cluttered, and the smaller display in lower-level models showed redundant information. Two front USB-A ports were standard, with a third port for rear-seat passengers and wireless charging available on the LE trim. Only the LE and XLE models had pushbutton start.

The 2026 Toyota Grand Highlander Hybrid featured a 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system across all trims, with a 12.3-inch digital instrumentation panel on Limited, Nightshade, and Platinum trims. The system included wireless Apple CarPlay, wireless Android Auto, SiriusXM satellite radio, and access to Apple Music and Amazon Music accounts. Toyota Connected Services offered features like a Wi-Fi hotspot, automatic collision notification, SOS emergency response, and a digital voice assistant. The infotainment system was easy to use, though it lacked the ability to display multiple main-menu screens simultaneously. The digital voice assistant responded quickly and accurately to commands. The Platinum trim included a color head-up display, a camera-based digital rear-view mirror, and a surround-view camera system. The JBL premium audio system delivered impressive sound quality.

The 2022 Toyota Corolla Cross came with Toyota Safety Sense 2.0, offering standard features like forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, adaptive cruise control, automatic high beams, traffic-sign recognition, and Lane Tracing Assist. The LE trim added blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert, while the XLE included rear automatic braking and front and rear park assist with automatic braking. Crash-test ratings from the NHTSA and IIHS were not available at the time of review.

The 2026 Toyota Grand Highlander Hybrid was equipped with Toyota Safety Sense 3.0, featuring a comprehensive suite of safety features and driver-assistance technologies. Standard features included lane-keep assist, adaptive cruise control, and Proactive Driving Assist (PDA). The PDA system was found to be irritating and was often turned off. The Grand Highlander received a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA but did not achieve the IIHS Top Safety Pick rating due to "Acceptable" ratings for headlight performance and small overlap frontal-impact protection. The safety tech operated with accuracy, though the lane-keep assist system occasionally strayed too close to lane markers.