Toyota Axed Its Least Popular SUV, Here’s Why Most Drivers Don’t Care
Toyota’s lineup is formidable. The brand produces several popular nameplates and has recently redesigned many of its models, like the Toyota Tundra, Sequoia, and Prius. More redesigns could be on the way. Its newest addition, the Corolla Cross, seems to fit into its lineup just fine. You could hardly tell that the Corolla Cross replaced an unpopular Toyota SUV in the subcompact segment.
Does anyone remember the Toyota C-HR?
Subcompact SUVs can be tough nuts to crack for automakers. Toyota is far from the only brand that struggled to produce a popular subcompact SUV. After years of criticism, Honda recently breathed new life into the Honda HR-V nameplate. Toyota took a different approach with the C-HR, and consumers seem to be just fine with the brand’s decision.
For those who have already forgotten, the Toyota C-HR was a funky-looking (for better or worse) subcompact SUV that didn’t make a huge impact in its segment. Like older Honda HR-V models, the Toyota C-HR just didn’t cut the mustard for rankings and many consumers.
Car and Driver called the 2022 Toyota C-HR’s acceleration “tortuously slow.” Its rear seat isn’t very roomy. MotorTrend criticized its blind spots, powertrain, and lack of cargo space.
The Toyota C-HR wasn’t nearly as popular as other Toyota SUVs like the RAV4. While some drivers may remember it fondly, it wasn’t an industry favorite overall.
The Toyota Corolla Cross’s timing couldn’t be better
The Toyota Corolla Cross is the brand’s newest subcompact SUV. It’s a crossover that borrows many defining characteristics from the popular Toyota Corolla small passenger car. The Corolla Cross is a great sedan alternative for consumers looking for a vehicle with more cabin and cargo space than a small car.
Toyota’s new small SUV is affordable, has great driver assistance features, and provides great value for the money. Critics and reviewers gave the Corolla Cross higher overall scores than the C-HR. It’s already getting a warm reception from consumers, largely because it’s closely related to the popular Corolla nameplate.
The Toyota Corolla has become synonymous with value and longevity. Naturally, the Corolla Cross embodies many of the same traits and puts a modern twist on a classic Toyota nameplate. The Corolla Cross’ timing couldn’t be better because Toyota desperately needed a new subcompact SUV nameplate to compete in the segment.
Now, both Honda and Toyota have subcompact SUVs that are much more competitive than in recent years. The Toyota Corolla Cross and Honda HR-V may not be the best in their segment, but they’re certainly disrupting rankings.
Should you get a 2023 Toyota Corolla Cross?
The 2023 Toyota Corolla Cross starts at $23,060. It uses a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine to make 169 horsepower and 151 lb-ft of torque. The Corolla Cross gets 31 miles per gallon in the city and 33 miles per gallon on the highway.
The subcompact SUV comes in three different configurations: the L, LE, and XLE. The LE starts at $25,370. Toyota’s final Corolla Cross configuration starts at $27,165. The brand is also producing a hybrid version. The Corolla Cross hybrid produces more horsepower and has superior gas mileage to the internal combustion engine version.
