The 2025 Subaru Crosstrek and 2025 Toyota Corolla Cross are subcompact SUVs that deliver many features and versatility despite affordable base prices.
Each has all-wheel drive (AWD), though you get this extra grip as standard equipment on the spunky Crosstrek. A top seller in Subaru’s stable, the Crosstrek is ideal for active-minded buyers on a budget. It’s also a foundational vehicle that locks many over-satisfied owners into the Subaru brand for life.
Introduced for the 2022 model year, the Corolla Cross remains a perfectly sensible pick in a crowded market of small SUVs. It’s good on gas, has strong crash-test safety scores, and delivers the build quality car shoppers expect in a Toyota.
Let’s explore the highlights of the Subaru Crosstrek and Toyota Corolla Cross.
2025 Subaru Crosstrek
This latest generation of Crosstrek has a starting price of $27,115, including destination fee. There are five trims: Base, Premium, Sport, Limited, and Wilderness. As we mentioned, you get all-wheel drive and a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT) across the board, but it offers two engine choices.
A 152-horsepower 2.0-liter 4-cylinder performs dutifully in the Base and Premium models. Standard in the Sport, Limited, and Wilderness is a 2.5-liter 4-cylinder that produces 182 hp. During testing, we’ve found that an extra 30 hp makes for a big difference when highway passing power is needed.
Subaru Crosstrek Highlights
Wilderness trim: The Crosstrek already has impressive credentials for venturing onto unpaved surfaces. Ample ground clearance, tidy proportions, and all-wheel drive combine to ensure this little Subaru is up for adventures. The Wilderness trim is even more capable thanks to its higher ride height, all-terrain tires, underbody skid plate, extra off-road driving modes, and water-resistant upholstery.
Slick 11.6-inch infotainment system: This sizable touchscreen is standard in all but the Base model. It’s within easy reach of the driver and front passenger, and has wireless smartphone connectivity, a Wi-Fi hotspot, and more USB ports in the first and second rows.
Smoother ride: Subaru made a point of stiffening the chassis of the rebooted 2024 Crosstrek. A benefit of this engineering feat is improved ride quality, which is particularly notable when traversing rough roads or dirt paths.
Read our Subaru Crosstrek Expert Review or see 2025 Subaru Crosstrek models for sale near you.
2025 Toyota Corolla Cross
2024 model shown
The Toyota Corolla Cross can be had in three trims – L, LE, and XLE – with a starting price of $25,385, including the destination charge. Front-wheel drive (FWD) is standard, though all-wheel drive can be added to every trim. Light steering and a small footprint make the Corolla Cross easy to slot into tight parking spots.
It also boasts 24 cubic feet of cargo space behind its split-folding second row. That’s a solid amount of room among competing subcompact SUVs. A 169-hp 2.0-liter 4-cylinder works in cooperation with a CVT. Toyota also offers the Corolla Cross with a hybrid powertrain.
Toyota Corolla Cross Highlights
Good on gas: The Corolla Cross has excellent fuel economy, with an EPA-rated 32 mpg combined, which betters the Crosstrek’s mileage. However, it’s worth noting that this figure dips by exactly 3 mpg with all-wheel drive, placing these two in a fuel-sipping tie.
Cargo space: SUV shoppers appreciate having lots of space to put their stuff. What that stuff might entail, well, that’s entirely their business. The Corolla Cross has one of the roomier cargo areas, holding about a 4 cubic foot advantage over the Crosstrek.
Standard safety gear: Every Corolla Cross includes safety features like lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, adaptive cruise control, automatic high-beam headlights, a rear-seat reminder, and more. It’s nice to see Toyota’s least expensive SUV still comes standard with many driver aids.
Read our Toyota Corolla Cross Expert Review or see 2025 Toyota Corolla Cross models for sale near you.
Similarities
The Crosstrek and Corolla Cross are similar in size, economy, value, and utility. These are great picks for anyone who wants the higher ride height afforded by an SUV but doesn’t need the size (or price) of a bigger and more cumbersome vehicle.
Conclusion
The Crosstrek and Corolla Cross are pretty evenly matched, making picking a winner here challenging. Working in favor of the Crosstrek is its go-anywhere capability, smooth ride, standard all-wheel drive, and user-friendly 11.6-inch touchscreen. Yes, the base engine gets wheezy when you push too hard. That’s why we also suggest taking the 182-hp model for a spin.
With the Corolla Cross, you get a little more cargo space and Toyota’s enviable reputation for engineering vehicles built to last. Like the Crosstrek, acceleration is also what we’d best describe as “okay,” nothing more and nothing less. Yet keep in mind that the rear legroom is tight for taller folks, and the base trim does feel pretty spartan. The Corolla Cross also has a price advantage; however, picking all-wheel drive to bring it up to the Crosstrek’s off-road capability will tack on another $1,300.
This race is close, though we’d put our money on the Crosstrek.
New 2025 Subaru Crosstrek Prices
|
Retail Price
|
Fair Purchase Price (32202)
|
|||
|---|---|---|---|---|
$27,230 |
$25,609 |
|||
$28,480 |
$26,660 |
|||
$31,030 |
$29,410 |
|||
$32,930 |
$31,211 |
|||
$34,030 |
$32,253 |
The Kelley Blue Book Fair Purchase Price for any individual used vehicle can vary greatly according to mileage, condition, location, and other factors. The prices here reflect what buyers are currently paying for New 2025 Subaru Crosstrek vehicles and New 2025 Toyota Corolla Cross vehicles in typical condition when purchasing from a dealership. These prices are updated weekly. The manufacturer’s suggested retail price (MSRP) quoted includes the destination fee, but does not include tax, license, document fees, and options.
| 2025 Subaru Crosstrek | 2025 Toyota Corolla Cross | |
| Popular Powertrains | ||
| Engine | 2.0-liter 4-cylinder | 2.0-liter 4-cylinder |
| Horsepower | 152 hp @ 6,000 rpm | 169 hp @ 6,600 rpm |
| Torque | 145 lb-ft @ 4,000 rpm | 151 lb-ft @ 4,400 rpm |
| Transmission | CVT | CVT |
| Fuel economy MPG | 27 city/34 highway/29 combined | 31 city/33 highway/32 combined |
| Also Available | 2.5-liter 4-cylinder | AWD; hybrid |
| Specs | ||
| Basic Warranty | 3 years/36,000 miles | 3 years/36,000 miles |
| Powertrain Warranty | 5 years/60,000 miles | 5 years/60,000 miles |
| NHTSA Overall Safety | 5 stars | Not rated |
| Max Seating Capacity | 5 | 5 |
| Wheelbase | 105.1 inches | 103.9 inches |
| Overall Length | 176.4 inches | 176.1 inches |
| Width | 70.9 inches | 71.9 inches |
| Height | 62.8 inches | 64.9 inches |
| Turning Diameter | 35.4 feet | 35.4 feet |
| Headroom, Front | 39.8 inches | 38.6 inches |
| Headroom, 2nd Row | 38.0 inches | 39.0 inches |
| Legroom, Front | 42.9 inches | 42.9 inches |
| Legroom, 2nd Row | 36.5 inches | 32.0 inches |
| Shoulder Room, Front | 56.8 inches | 52.7 inches |
| Shoulder Room, 2nd Row | 55.3 inches | 52.4 inches |
| Cargo Volume | 19.9 cubic feet | 24.0 cubic feet |
