Toyota Corolla Cross vs Chevrolet Bolt

The 2022 Toyota Corolla Cross presented a conservative design, pulling back from Toyota's recent daring styles. Its snub nose was reminiscent of the Toyota Tundra, and it featured the obligatory tall ride height and plastic fender flares typical of wannabe SUVs. However, the overall look was understated, seemingly to avoid overshadowing its larger sibling, the RAV4. The Corolla Cross was about 13.5 centimetres shorter than the RAV4, making it a true compact SUV, yet larger than the Toyota C-HR. Its conventional shape offered more interior space than the C-HR, which prioritized style over substance. Subtle styling details included scalloping around the rear door handles and mirrors, and hidden Corolla Cross logos throughout the vehicle. Wheel options varied from 17-inch steel on the base model to 18-inch alloys on the top XLE AWD. Inside, the layout mirrored the Corolla sedan and hatchback, with oversized door handles akin to the RAV4. Material quality felt below that of the Corolla sedan and hatch, with the base L model feeling basic, and even the XLE trim, despite its SofTex leatherette upholstery and leather-wrapped steering wheel, felt fairly standard.

The 2027 Chevrolet Bolt retained a familiar look with slight styling changes, making the front end resemble a conventional gas-powered car more than an EV. The 2027 model continued from where the 2023 version left off, maintaining its position between a large hatchback and a subcompact SUV, now only available in the EUV body style. Its tall and narrow design prioritized utility and interior space over a sporty stance, with the RS model adding minimal gloss black exterior trim. The interior saw a more dramatic makeover, featuring a larger digital instrument panel and infotainment touchscreen. The push-button gear selector was moved to the steering column, freeing up centre console space. Despite the hard plastic surfaces reinforcing its budget feel, the Bolt offered thin padding at elbow touch points. The base LT trim came with cloth upholstery, while the RS trim upgraded to Evotex synthetic leather with red stitching. The rear seating area, though dominated by hard plastics, provided adequate space and support.

The 2022 Toyota Corolla Cross was equipped with a 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine, delivering 169 horsepower and 150 pound-feet of torque. It featured a continuously variable transmission (CVT) with an actual first gear for better acceleration. While the initial response was impressive, the transition to normal CVT operation was abrupt, and at higher speeds, typical CVT issues like engine droning and rubber-banding were noticeable. The engine worked hard to maintain highway speeds, but the interior remained quiet, and the ride quality was solid. The optional AWD system, similar to that in the Toyota Camry, could send 10% to 50% of torque to the rear wheels, engaging without wheel slip and during hard cornering. However, body roll was evident, and the Corolla Cross wasn't designed for off-roading, with a 680-kilogram towing capacity.

The 2027 Chevrolet Bolt featured a new 65-kilowatt-hour lithium-iron phosphate battery pack, reducing costs and reliance on rare earth minerals. A motor from Chevy's Equinox EV provided 210 horsepower and 169 pound-feet of torque, achieving a 0-100 km/h time in the low seven-second range. While not the fastest by EV standards, it was quick compared to gas-powered subcompact SUVs, with immediate pedal response. One-pedal driving was available, with medium or high brake regeneration settings. The ride was firm but not overly stiff, and road noise was more noticeable due to the absence of an internal combustion engine. The Bolt was agile on curvy roads, thanks to its low centre of gravity. On a full charge, it offered up to 422 kilometres of range, with a Tesla-derived NACS charge port standard on all models. Charging speed increased to 150 kW, allowing a 10% to 80% recharge in 25 minutes.

The 2022 Toyota Corolla Cross offered more passenger and cargo space than the Corolla hatchback, with nearly identical front headroom and legroom but an extra 5 centimetres of rear legroom and 3.5 centimetres of rear headroom. Rear climate-control vents were standard, and XLE models featured dual-zone automatic climate control. The Corolla Cross provided 750 litres of cargo space with the rear seats up and 1,890 litres with them folded. It compared well to rival crossovers in interior space, though legroom was slightly below average. Despite its spaciousness, the interior wasn't particularly comfortable, with hard and unsupportive seats and a tall, upright driving position.

The 2027 Chevrolet Bolt had an upright driving position with ample space for larger occupants, though taller drivers might have wished for more telescopic steering wheel extension. The rear seats were also upright, offering plenty of headroom and adequate thigh support. The Bolt could hold 459 litres of cargo behind the rear seats, with a large bin underneath the floor for additional space. The rear seatbacks folded flat with the cargo floor, and release latches were easily accessible. While there was no frunk, the Bolt provided ample storage for personal items, including a large bin with movable dividers, a big floor tray, and a deep centre armrest bin.

The 2022 Toyota Corolla Cross featured a standard 7-inch touchscreen on base models, with LE and XLE models getting an 8-inch touchscreen. The XLE also had a 7-inch digital instrument cluster. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility were standard, along with Bluetooth and SiriusXM satellite radio. The infotainment system was user-friendly but not fancy, with plain graphics and slow boot-up times. Two front USB-A ports were standard, with additional ports for rear passengers on the LE trim. Wireless charging was available on the LE Premium package and standard on the XLE.

The 2027 Chevrolet Bolt came with an 11-inch digital instrument panel and an 11.3-inch centre touchscreen, running on a Google-based operating system. Apple CarPlay and standalone Android Auto were not supported, requiring Bluetooth pairing for personal music libraries. The optional Technology package added a surround-view camera system, digital rear-view mirror, and wireless charging pad. The infotainment system was easy to use, with logical menus, sharp graphics, and quick responses. The Bolt's navigation system could find charging stations and precondition the battery for optimal charging rates. It also offered vehicle-to-load charging as a backup power source for homes.

The 2022 Toyota Corolla Cross had not yet been rated by the NHTSA or IIHS. It came with standard Toyota Safety Sense 2.0 features, including forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, adaptive cruise control, automatic high beams, and Lane Tracing Assist. The LE trim added blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert, while the XLE included front and rear park assist with automatic braking.

The 2027 Chevrolet Bolt had not been crash-tested by the NHTSA or IIHS, but it was expected to achieve high scores. Standard safety features included forward-collision warning with automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, lane-keep assist, blind-spot monitors with active steering assist, and a safety alert seat. The optional Technology package added a surround-view camera system, digital rear-view mirror, rain-sensing wipers, rear pedestrian alert, and traffic-sign recognition. GM's Super Cruise hands-free highway driving system was available for an additional cost.