2026 Toyota Corolla Cross Review, Dimensions, Price

2026 Toyota Corolla Cross Review, Dimensions, Price   –   The Corolla’s mild refresh includes reworked front and rear styling, and all trims now have LED daytime running lights. The small upper grille and larger lower one bear resemblance to other Toyota vehicles, such as the Venza and Sienna.  2026 Toyota Corolla Cross Review

It looks a bit heavy on this smaller model, but the profile is smooth and the rear end looks tidy, with horizontal body lines tying the taillights together. Inside, the cabin design is unchanged from last year, and it’s simple but handsome with the standard eight-inch centre touchscreen rising from the dash.

2026 Toyota Corolla Cross Redesign and Update Plan

Exterior and Interior

The Corolla’s 371-L trunk is easy to load, and it easily managed an oversized grocery haul. The rear seats fold 60/40 to handle long items, but the opening doesn’t span the full width of the trunk. Small-item storage up front is adequate but not spectacular; there’s an open cubby in front of the gear selector, which is where the optional wireless charger goes.

During a two-hour hike, the Corolla’s front seats remained comfy and supportive. The top-tier XSE is the only model with a motorized driver’s seat, which is what I would have wanted. Because of the limited legroom and flat seat cushions in the back, it’s more difficult for passengers. Surprisingly, the ride stays calm and very smooth over all but the worst road irregularities, despite the suspension’s tendency to make noise over bumps.

2026 Toyota Corolla Cross Specs

The entry L trim is fairly basic, coming with the aforementioned safety features plus manual air conditioning, 15-inch steel wheels, and the eight-inch multimedia touchscreen, which now includes wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto (they were wired before), satellite radio, and a connected services trial including an emergency assistance button and stolen vehicle locator. The LE adds heated front seats, automatic climate control, 16-inch steel wheels, an electric parking brake, and a wiper de-icer. The optional LE Upgrade package ($2,050) further tacks on alloy wheels with locking nuts, push-button start, a heated steering wheel, wireless charger, and power sunroof.

Engine and Performance

Prior to this year, this LE tester would have had a 1.8L four-cylinder engine that made 139 hp and 126 lb-ft of torque. Now it gets the same 2.0L four-cylinder as SE and XSE trims, making 169 hpand 151 lb-ft of torque. It’s a welcome upgrade, giving this little sedan better acceleration and more passing power on the highway. It’s still not a sports car, and the engine can be growly, but it’s fine for everyday driving. This one, dubbed a direct-shift, includes a first gear that engages when you first take off; it then goes to the more fuel-efficient gearless CVT pulley system. This gives the car a snappier and more conventional feel when taking off from a stop.  2026 Toyota Corolla Cross Review

2026 Toyota Corolla Cross Fuel Economy

The Corolla LE with its new 2.0L engine is rated by Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) at 7.4 L/100 km in the city, 5.7 on the highway, and 6.7 when driving in combination. During my week with it, I averaged 7.1 L/100 km on 87-octane fuel. With ratings of 6.7 L/100 km combined for the Hyundai Elantra, 6.9 for the Honda Civic, and 7.6 for the Mazda3, all of which have 2.0L engines, its competitors are pretty similar.  2026 Toyota Corolla Cross Review

2026 Toyota Corolla Cross Safety Features

All trims receive updated driver-assist safety technologies, including emergency front braking with pedestrian detection, lane departure warning with steering assist, adaptive cruise control, lane-tracing assist, road sign recognition, and automatic high-beam headlights. The second-from-base LE includes blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert along with 10 airbags and the back-up camera that’s mandatory on all new vehicles sold in Canada.  2026 Toyota Corolla Cross Review

2026 Toyota Corolla Cross Price and Release Date

The gas-only Corolla lineup starts at $24,450 and runs to $32,150, which puts it about midrange with competitors. The Hyundai Elantra is the least expensive, at $22,224 to $31,674; while the Mazda3 starts slightly lower than the Corolla at $24,260 but tops it at the highest trim at $34,460; and the Honda Civic runs between $28,115 and $35,180, all prices including destination.

At $27,500, the Corolla LE with its optional Upgrade pack might be the sweet spot for many buyers for its price and features list. The next-step-up SE adds such items as upgraded seat fabric, premium headlights, fog lights and a sportier suspension, but to get my tester’s sunroof, heated steering wheel, and wireless charger, along with 18-inch wheels, you must add the SE Upgrade package. Once you do, you’ve moved up $2,300 above my tester.  2026 Toyota Corolla Cross Review