Subaru Crosstrek vs. Toyota Corolla Cross: Which Is Better?
The 2022 Toyota Corolla Cross is super affordable, but the Subaru Crosstrek offers a stronger engine and better off-road capabilities.
Written by Jacqulyn Graber
Reviewed by Jessica Barrett
The 2022 Toyota Corolla Cross is highly affordable and chock full of safety features, but the 2022 Subaru Crosstrek has much stronger powertrain options and some serious off-road chops.
If you’re a fan of small but versatile SUVs, then you probably already know a bit about the Subaru Crosstrek—a favorite among outdoorsy drivers since 2013. But the compact SUV market has exploded with some exciting new options in recent years, including the all-new 2022 Toyota Corolla Cross, an SUV version of one of Toyota’s best-selling sedans.
Here to provide an in-depth comparison of the two models is
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If your main concern is affordability, you have to go with the Corolla Cross—even its highest trim level is priced below $30,000. Fortunately, the Crosstrek isn’t much more expensive—just a few hundred dollars more when you compare trim to trim.
Subaru does offer a bit more versatility with higher trim levels, though, including a hybrid model.
Take a look at how the MSRPs break down:
Model | MSRP | Model | MSRP |
|---|---|---|---|
2022 Toyota Corolla Cross L | $23,780 | 2022 Subaru Crosstrek Base | $24,320 |
2022 Toyota Corolla Cross LE | $26,130 | 2022 Subaru Crosstrek Premium | $24,720 |
2022 Toyota Corolla Cross XLE | $27,910 | 2022 Subaru Crosstrek Sport | $27,920 |
2022 Subaru Crosstrek Limited | $29,420 | ||
2022 Subaru Crosstrek Hybrid | $36,770 |
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Ownership costs
When it comes to the cost of ownership, the Corolla Cross only beats out the Crosstrek by a couple of thousand dollars. According to Edmunds, the five-year ownership costs for the Corolla Cross are estimated at around $32,108. This includes things like maintenance, repairs, financing, and even insurance (but more on that later).
On the other hand, the Crosstrek should cost you about $35,954 for five years.
Insurance costs
One of the biggest ownership expenses is car insurance, and the Corolla Cross helps you save by being the cheaper car to insure.
Subaru Crosstrek insurance costs
average around $2,646 per year, or $220 per month. That’s significantly more than the average Toyota Corolla Cross insurance costs
, which are $1,310 per year, or around $109 per month. Several factors dictate your car insurance rates, but the Corolla Cross will generally be cheaper to insure thanks to its low price tag, high safety ratings, and long list of standard safety features.
Winner: Toyota Corolla Cross
There’s no question about it: the Toyota Corolla Cross is cheaper to buy, cheaper to own, and much cheaper to insure.
However, that doesn’t mean that the Subaru Crosstrek is a highly unaffordable vehicle. If you have your heart set on a Subaru, you should still be able to find one at a decent price. Plus, the added perks might just be worth the extra cash. Let’s explore them a bit closer.
Subaru Crosstrek vs. Toyota Corolla Cross: in-depth comparison
When it comes to shopping for a new vehicle, price is just one of the factors to consider. After all, who cares if you saved a bunch of money on a new car if it doesn’t meet all of your needs?
Below we compare some of the essential specs of the Subaru Crosstrek and Toyota Corolla Cross, so you can decide which compact SUV is best for you.
Body style and size
The Crosstrek’s rugged exterior is exactly what you’d expect from a Subaru, while the Corolla Cross is a bit cuter in terms of styling.
Looking at them side by side, you wouldn’t think that the two SUVs are very different in terms of size—their respective wheelbases are only off by a single inch. However, the interior layout of each vehicle differs significantly, making their dissimilarities evident as soon as you open the doors.
The Crosstrek offers ample passenger space, meaning that all five of your passengers will have comfortable amounts of legroom, even if sitting in the rear. Cargo space is sacrificed, however, with only 20.8 cubic feet of space behind the second row of seats.
The Corolla Cross has the opposite orientation. You’ll find that cargo space is ample at the expense of passenger legroom (especially in the rear).
Another significant difference? The Crosstrek has much better ground clearance, meaning it will do better off road than its competitor.
Dimensions | 2022 Subaru Crosstrek | 2022 Toyota Corolla Cross |
|---|---|---|
Wheelbase | 104.9 inches | 103.9 inches |
Passenger volume | 100.9 cubic feet | 88.4 cubic feet |
Headroom (front/rear) | 39.8/38 inches | 38.6/39.0 inches |
Legroom (front/rear) | 43.1/36.5 inches | 42.9/32.0 inches |
Cargo volume w/ seats up | 20.8 cubic feet | 25.2 to 26.5 cubic feet |
Cargo volume w/ seats down | 55.3 cubic feet | 65.5 to 66.8 cubic feet |
Ground clearance | 8.7 inches | 8.1 inches |
Base curb weight | 3,188 lbs | 3,637 lbs |
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Engine and performance
If you’re looking for power and performance, the Subaru Crosstrek is the obvious choice. Its base 152-horsepower four-cylinder engine goes from 0 to 60 mph in 9.2 seconds. That isn’t exactly speed racing but is respectable for a family-friendly and economical SUV.
Of course, we recommend upgrading to the 182-horsepower 2.5-liter engine for added power. Or, if an eco-friendly powertrain is your thing, opt for the plug-in hybrid, which shaves 0.9 seconds off of the 2.0-liter’s 0-to-60 time.
As is the case on every Subaru, all-wheel drive is standard (a real rarity among small, economical SUVs). Manual transmission is also standard, but you can upgrade to automatic for a fee. Either way, you’ll enjoy a smooth ride thanks to firm suspension that softens even the largest of road bumps.
The Corolla Cross is significantly less versatile, only offering a single engine option—a 169-horsepower 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine that also takes 9.2 seconds to reach 60 mph. Manual transmission is not available—only a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT). Plus, front-wheel drive is standard; you’ll have to pay extra to access all-wheel drive.
There are whispers of a potential hybrid Corolla Cross in future model years—but for 2022, no such model is available.
In general, we think the Corolla Cross’ performance is agreeable enough but lacks the refinement and versatility of the Crosstrek.
Fuel economy
If fuel economy is your top priority, you absolutely have to go with the Crosstrek Hybrid. The EPA rates the hybrid model for 35 mpg in combined city/highway driving and up to 90 MPGe in hybrid mode.
Interested in a more traditional gas-powered model? The Crosstrek's 2.0-liter engine, when paired with CVT, is rated at 28 mpg city and 33 mpg highway. Opt for manual transmission and you’ll experience a major drop to 22 and 29 mpg, respectively. Or, upgrade to the 2.5-liter engine with CVT and get 27 mpg city and 34 highway.
On the other hand, the Corolla Cross’ front-wheel-drive model will get you 31 mpg city and 33 mpg highway, while adding on all-wheel drive drops those figures to 29 mpg and 32 mpg, respectively.
The verdict? The gas-powered Crosstrek and Corolla Cross are neck and neck—but you’ll definitely get more out of the all-wheel drive Crosstrek, if only by a mile.
MORE: How to save money on gas
Safety
The 2022 Crosstrek earns a 5/5-star
NHTSA safety rating
thanks—in part—to a long list of available (and affordable!) safety features. Regardless of which Crosstrek trim you choose, you can add on automated emergency braking, lane-keeping assist, and adaptive cruise control—all at a very reasonable price.But believe it or not, the 2022 Corolla Cross takes it up a notch thanks to Toyota’s commitment to standardizing safety features across all models. You won’t pay extra for automated emergency braking with pedestrian detection, lane-departure warning, or adaptive cruise control.
MORE: Are Toyotas expensive to maintain?
Tech
In terms of tech, you’ll find similar bells and whistles on both Toyota’s and Subaru’s compact SUVs. The 2022 Corolla Cross comes equipped with your choice of a 7.0- or 8.0-inch display that’s powered by a straightforward infotainment interface.
Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and SiriusXM satellite radio are all standard, while wireless smartphone charging, rear-seat USB charging ports, and a JBL stereo system are optional extras.
The 2022 Crosstrek’s 6.5-inch touchscreen offers Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Bluetooth support, and a USB port as standard. Higher trims upgrade to an 8.0-inch display that’s paired with SiriusXM satellite radio and optional navigation.
Interior and comfort
As we mentioned above, the Crosstrek offers a bit more legroom for both driver and passenger. But physical space isn’t the only thing that makes a vehicle comfortable.
If you’re familiar with the Toyota Corolla sedan, you’ll feel right at home in the Corolla Cross, thanks to an intuitive dashboard layout and convenient features.
Lower trims are a bit basic, prioritizing function over form, but upper trims are made to feel a bit cushier with faux leather upholstery, heated front seats, a leather-wrapped shift knob, and a flip-down center armrest for back-seat riders.
The Crosstrek is similar, in that the lower trims are basic and utilitarian. You’ll have to upgrade to the Limited trim to access faux-carbon-fiber trim, orange stitching on the seats, and leather upholstery.
MORE: How to maintain car organization
Winner: Subaru Crosstrek
Even though the Toyota Corolla Cross is incredibly affordable and extremely safe, we have to side with the Subaru Crosstrek in this competition. Why? It simply offers more power and performance, better EPA ratings, more off-road function, and more versatility.
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