2023 Toyota Corolla Cross Hybrid gives entry point for fuel-sipping crossovers

CARLSBAD, Calif. — When it arrives in U.S. dealerships in June, the new 2023 Toyota Corolla Cross Hybrid won't be the cheapest new Toyota with a fuel-saving hybrid powertrain.

But it will be No. 2 — and the least expensive one that's not a sedan.

Starting at $29,305 including shipping, the 2023 Corolla Cross Hybrid crossover comes standard with on-demand all-wheel drive and is expected to deliver a combined 42 mpg fuel economy from its fifth-generation hybrid system, the same system underpinning the redesigned 2023 Toyota Prius.

The crossover comes standard with a hybrid 2.0-liter engine paired with a continuously variable transmission, allowing it to deliver up to 196 combined hp.

Sharing the TNGA-C platform with similarly sized Toyota vehicles including the Corolla, the Corolla Cross Hybrid comes in three trim levels — the base S, the SE starting at $30,625 and the XSE starting at $32,400, all with shipping.

All trim levels come standard with Toyota's touch screen-operated Audio Multimedia systems and Toyota Safety Sense 3.0, the automaker's latest suite of driver-assist and safety technology.

Toyota expects to sell about 14,000 Corolla Cross Hybrids this year, ramping up to an estimated 34,000 in 2024, said Mike Tripp, Toyota vice president for vehicle marketing and communications, at a media event here.

Sales of the nonhybrid Corolla Cross started in late 2021. Through the first quarter, Toyota reported sales of 14,514 vehicles, up 43 percent.