Subaru Crosstrek vs Toyota Corolla Cross
Small crossovers · head to head, 2022–2027
The Subaru Crosstrek and Toyota Corolla Cross were both sold for 6 model years (2022–2027). Among the Crosstrek's own years, its best bet is 2023; no year to avoid; the newest year rated a good buy is 2025. Among the Corolla Cross's own years, its best bet is 2022; years to avoid: 2023; the newest year rated a good buy is 2025.
Subaru Crosstrek
Crossover · 2013–2027
- Best bet 2023
- Newest good buy 2025
- Avoid none
Toyota Corolla Cross
Crossover · 2022–2027
- Best bet 2022
- Newest good buy 2025
- Avoid 2023
How to read this: each model's verdicts compare that model's own years with each other (serious owner complaints per car on the road against that model's usual year, using New York registrations). They are not a reliability ranking of one model against the other, so a good-buy Crosstrek year says nothing about whether it beats a Corolla Cross. (How we judge.)
Year by year, side by side
| Year | Subaru Crosstrek | Toyota Corolla Cross | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2027 | Not rated | Not rated | Side by side |
| 2026 | TOO NEWOnly 1.1 years of owner reports | Not rated | Side by side |
| 2025 | GOOD BUYSerious complaints 0.9× usual | GOOD BUYSerious complaints 1.1× usual | Side by side |
| 2024 | GOOD BUYSerious complaints 1.1× usual | GOOD BUYSerious complaints 0.9× usual | Side by side |
| 2023 | BEST BUYSerious complaints 0.6× usual | AVOIDSerious complaints 3.6× usual, mostly engine and steering | Side by side |
| 2022 | GOOD BUYSerious complaints 0.7× usual | BEST BUYSerious complaints 0.7× usual | Side by side |
Each chip rates that year against the same model's other years. Tap a chip for the year's details; "Side by side" compares both models that year, trim by trim.
Compare any year, trim by trim
2027: the newest shared year, at a glance
| 2027 Subaru Crosstrek | 2027 Toyota Corolla Cross | |
|---|---|---|
| Our verdict (vs the model's own years) | Not rated | Not rated |
| Starting price (MSRP range) | $26,995 to $35,995 base price by trim, 6 trims | $25,535 to $34,130 base price by trim, 5 trims |
| Engines and horsepower | 2.5L 4-cyl, 162–180 hp | — |
| Fuel economy (EPA combined) | 26–29 mpg | — |
| Seats | 5 | 5 |
| Third row | No | No |
| Cargo behind last row | 19.9 cu ft | 21.5 cu ft |
| Max towing | 3,500 lb | 1,500 lb |
| NHTSA crash rating | 5 of 5 stars | — |
| Recalls · owner complaints (NHTSA) | 0 · 0 | — · — |
Sources: OpenSpec and the makers' equipment guides, NHTSA vPIC, EPA and NHTSA ratings. Cargo, towing and bed length rows appear when we have them. "—": not in our data. Compare every 2027 trim →
Key features: base trim vs top trim
| Crosstrek Base lowest price, $26,995 | Crosstrek Limited Hybrid highest price, $35,995 | Corolla Cross L lowest price, $25,535 | Corolla Cross Hybrid XSE highest price, $34,130 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wireless Apple CarPlay | Wired only | Standard | Standard | Standard |
| Adaptive cruise control | Standard | Standard | Standard | Standard |
| Blind-spot warning | — | Standard | — | Standard |
| Heated front seats | — | — | — | Standard |
| Sunroof or moonroof | — | Standard | — | Optional |
| Power liftgate or tailgate | — | — | No | Optional |
| Remote start | — | — | — | Standard |
"Standard" and "Optional" are for that trim as the 2027 data lists it (a package or option adds an "Optional" item); "—": not verified in our sources, never a guess. The cheapest and most expensive trim of each model; every trim is on the model's 2027 page (Crosstrek, Corolla Cross).
Known fixes and extended coverage
Subaru Crosstrek
7 manufacturer programs on file: 5 extended coverage, 2 repair programs.
- Extended coverage Denso low pressure fuel pump warranty extension. (2017–2020 models)
- Extended coverage As part of Subaru's dedication to customer satisfaction, Subaru of America, Inc. (SOA) is announcing a Warranty Extension of the New Vehicle Limited Warranty coverage for the CP1 & Gen 3.1 Infotainment head units for the models listed. (2021–2023 models)
- Extended coverage Subaru of America, Inc. (SOA) is extending the Warranty coverage time period for the fuel pump impeller to 15 years. (09-129-24, 2018–2020 models)
- Extended coverage This letter provides information regarding the warranty extension for the Telematics Data Communications Module (DCM). (2017–2018 models)
Toyota Corolla Cross
3 manufacturer programs on file: 0 extended coverage, 3 repair programs.
From manufacturer bulletins filed with NHTSA, counted per program. A count is how many programs exist, not how good or bad a model is: a maker that extends coverage is paying for a known problem. A dealer can look up whether a car has had the work done or is still covered.
Which should you buy?
- Buying used, years both are rated a good buy: 2022, 2024–2025. In those years, choose on price, size and features.
- Shopping around 2023: the Crosstrek is rated best buy (serious complaints 0.6× usual), while the Corolla Cross is rated avoid (serious complaints 3.6× usual, mostly engine and steering). Each against its own other years.
- Years to skip: Corolla Cross 2023.
- Newest year rated a good buy: Crosstrek 2025; Corolla Cross 2025.
- Third row: neither has one in 2027.
- Lower starting price in 2027: the Corolla Cross, from $25,535 against $26,995. Prices are the maker's listed base prices, not what dealers charge.
- Towing: up to 3,500 lb for the Crosstrek in 2027, against 1,500 lb for the Corolla Cross.
- Before you buy either: run the VIN for open recalls and ask the dealer whether the extended-coverage repairs above were done.
Rules applied to the data on this page: no overall winner is declared, because our verdicts compare each model with itself.