Which Years Of Used Toyota Corolla Cross Vehicles Are Most Reliable?

Published June 21, 2023 by Patrick Gumban
Updated September 23, 2024 in Reliability

Toyota Corolla Cross by Alexander Migl - CC-BY-SA-4.0

As one of the longest-running and best-selling car models in history, the Corolla is the best testament to Toyota’s legendary reliability. The Corolla is such an iconic nameplate that Toyota had to relaunch it as a compact SUV, the Toyota Corolla Cross.

Imagine the Toyota Corolla, a popular, reliable, and economical sedan many consumers know and love. Now picture it as a slightly larger, taller, and more rugged vehicle ideal for drivers with active lifestyles.

This is essentially what the Corolla Cross is.

Designed to slot between the Toyota C-HR (now phased out in the U.S.) and RAV4, the Corolla Cross is a compact SUV that combines the convenience and fuel efficiency of a small car with the versatility and roominess of an SUV. The Corolla Cross also provides more capability and flexibility than a standard sedan without sacrificing too much fuel economy or ease of driving.

THE TOYOTA COROLLA CROSS YEARS TO AVOID

Given the dominance of SUVs in today’s automotive marketplace, it was only a matter of time before Toyota produced a utility vehicle with a Corolla nameplate. Hence the Corolla Cross. But are there Toyota Corolla Cross years to avoid?

If you’re looking to buy a Toyota Corolla Cross, you have two model options since it’s a brand-new lineup. So today, we look at the current model years of the Cross and determine the most reliable Toyota Corolla Cross year so far.

2022-Present Toyota Corolla Cross (1st Generation)

As mentioned, the Toyota Corolla Cross was meant to fill the gaps between the C-HR and RAV4. Available in front and all-wheel drive, the Corolla Cross has two engine options: a 1.8-liter inline-four and a 2.0-liter inline-four. The Corolla Cross is by no means a speed demon but instead focuses on adequate acceleration for day-to-day activities like city driving and highway cruising.

In terms of reliability, the Toyota Corolla Cross is a new model, and it doesn’t have an extensive reliability history available yet. However, with Toyota’s reputation for producing reliable vehicles and the Corolla nameplate itself having a long history of dependability, it’s fair to expect good reliability from this model.

THE BEST USED SUVS UNDER $10,000

We looked into price, reliability, features, and more to create this list of the best used SUVs under $10k on the market today. Take a look - some of the best used SUVs have gone mostly overlooked or forgotten.

2022 Toyota Corolla Cross Reliability Ratings

Based on various expert reviews, the 2022 model is on track to offer long-term reliability and stands as the most reliable Toyota Corolla Cross. The Corolla Cross was built on the TNGA-C platform developed by Toyota and is designed with a strong emphasis on quality and reliability. However, while the platform is designed for long-term reliability, individual components and specific models can still be subject to unique factors that may impact reliability.

Consumer Reports Ratings for 2022 Corolla Cross

Consumer Reports, a nonprofit consumer organization dedicated to independent product testing, scored the 2022 Corolla Cross a perfect 5.0 out of 5.0 rating in reliability. This verdict is based on the vehicle’s “predicted” reliability and how models have performed in the past. Impressively, the 2020 Corolla Cross scored “green” in many major trouble spots, including:

Engine minor and major
Engine cooling
Transmission minor and major
Drive system
Fuel system/emissions
Suspension
Brakes
Body hardware

The Corolla Cross only stumbled a bit in the In-car Electronics category but still scored a high 4.0 out of 5.0 rating. However, CR has a disclaimer that it didn’t receive a large enough sample size to provide in-depth data for this model, so take the above information as you will.

THE BEST USED LUXURY CARS ON THE MARKET

Buying a used or CPO luxury car is one of the smartest buys you can make - you can get a lot of car for not much money. You can pick up a three-year-old luxury car for about half of what you’d pay new. Check out this list of the best used luxury cars on the market to find the best deals.

Potential Engine Issue of 2022 Corolla Cross

Being a practically brand-new SUV model, the 2022 Corolla Cross doesn’t have too many complaints, which is only natural when most owners are still on the honeymoon period. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the 2022 Corolla Cross has received seven complaints and one recall.

Based on the NHTSA complaints, one potential future issue of the Toyota Corolla Cross might be its engine, which made up four out of seven complaints. One driver complained about his vehicle shutting off while stopping at a red light. When they stopped at a red light, the car shut off and began making an alarming noise. Then, the monitor displayed a distressing message: “engine failure” and “power steering low.”

We’ve dug around, and this issue may stem from the Corolla Cross’ Start/Stop feature. Several users from the Corolla Cross Forum shared a similar experience as the NHTSA complaint above. Interestingly, based on the accounts of many owners, this problem occurred during rainy and snowy weather. This led us to believe that the culprit might be the intermittent wipers that are drawing too high of voltage and interfering with the auto-stop/start feature.

Toyota was aware of the issue and may have released a DCM (software) update to address the start/stop problem. If you’re experiencing this problem, we highly recommend bringing your vehicle to a nearby dealership. Otherwise, the band-aid fix is to turn off the engine auto start/stop feature, but you must do it each time.

What Reddit Says About the Best Year of the Toyota Corolla Cross:

The general consensus is that the Corolla Cross is an amalgam of old and new, and it certainly resonates with many consumers. But what do people think of its reliability? Some owners from various subreddits have weighed in:

The Corolla Cross is a bit of a hit and miss for this owner:

Comment
byu/Gavato from discussion
inCorollaCross

Short and straight to the point:

Comment
byu/EstroJen from discussion
inCorollaCross

A 2022 owner that seems to be pleased as well:

Comment
byu/chickadee215 from discussion
inCorollaCross

A fairly low-mileage unit with little to no reliability issues:

Comment
byu/Gavato from discussion
inCorollaCross

As it’s a newer model, reliability data for the Corolla Cross is very limited. So far, owners seem to be pleased with their SUV but it has clear flaws like sluggish acceleration and cramped space.

THE BEST USED SUVS UNDER $10,000

Is the 2022 Toyota Corolla Cross Worth Buying?

So far, the most reliable Toyota Corolla Cross year is the 2022 model. It’s a debut production year, but it’s based on an iconic nameplate and benefits from Toyota’s manufacturing prowess. So there’s a good chance it will provide long-term reliability and longevity. Plus, in another vote of confidence, many critics and testers have many positive things to say regarding the vehicle’s reliability.

But is it worth buying?

In a vacuum, the 2022 Corolla Cross is a solid subcompact SUV that offers a spacious interior with comfortable seating and ample cargo space. Also, it provides good fuel efficiency, which can help save on fuel costs over time, and it is designed to be efficient without compromising performance. Its value-oriented pricing is also a great selling point for budget-conscious buyers.

Conversely, the 2022 Corolla Cross is not without its faults. One of the main gripes that people have is the performance. The Cross runs on an unrefined engine that sounds buzzy at high RPMs. However, many people noticed its sluggish acceleration, so it’s not particularly quick or dynamic.

However, compared to the 2022 Toyota RAV4, the Corolla Cross may seem underwhelming. The RAV4 is bigger, faster, and drives better, all for a price difference of about $4,000. We can only recommend the Corolla Cross over the RAV4 if the budget is especially tight.

Get a Curated List of the Best Used Cars Near You

The CoPilot car shopping app is the easiest way to buy a car. Tell us what you’re looking for and we’ll search the inventories of every dealership in your area to make you a personalized list of the best car listings in your area.

Only looking for newer models? CoPilot Compare is the search engine for nearly-new cars. Only see cars five years or newer with low mileage — CoPilot Compare is the best way to find off-lease, early trade-in, and CPO cars.

The best part? CoPilot is built using the same technology that dealerships use to buy and sell their inventories, so we have more info on each vehicle than competitors. CoPilot doesn’t work with dealerships, so there are no sponsored posts or other shady practices — just the most info on the best cars. Check out our About Us page to see how CoPilot works.