gshc2020.com

Toyota's hybrid subcompact SUV meets the needs of most drivers. It has room for groceries, fits up to five passengers, and gets gas mileage that can save you a few bucks at the pump compared with other options. It doesn't excel in any of these categories, but few vehicles ever do. And with an attractive starting price of $31,390 for the hybrid ($26,930 for the nonhybrid), the Corolla Cross is a respectable option for people who don't want to think much about their car.

Toyota refreshed the Corolla Cross for 2026, and the difference is mostly visible in its grille. While the nonhybrid version keeps a chunkier, rugged look, the hybrid takes on sleeker front styling that mimics Toyota's other hybrid offerings. Black trim around the fenders gives both models a hint of visual pizazz along the sides, and simple body lines provide an overall pleasant design language. The Agreeable Gray vehicle fittingly comes in a couple of shades of gray, along with a few other colors, including Cavalry Blue, which made our Hybrid XSE test car easier to spot in a parking lot.

The 2026 refresh was cosmetic only, so the Corolla Cross Hybrid continues to use a 2.0-liter inline-four engine and electric motors at both axles that net a combined 196 horsepower, along with a continuously variable automatic transmission. While the vehicle is front-wheel-drive biased, all-wheel drive will electronically engage when the Cross senses the need for extra grip, such as during a launch, in corners, and on slippery surfaces. When that happens, the rear motor kicks into action.

Just as before, the Corolla Cross Hybrid is more of a Sunday driver than a speed demon, but this powertrain has two important advantages over the 169-hp base version. Our test model reached 60 mph in 7.6 seconds, which is 1.6 seconds quicker than an all-wheel-drive nonhybrid model that we previously tested. The Corolla Cross Hybrid returned 39 mpg in our 75-mph highway fuel-economy test, a 9-mpg boost over the nonhybrid XLE we tested.

The Corolla Cross is easy to live with and use. The controls you probably reach for most, such as climate and volume, are still governed by buttons and knobs. The steering wheel's simple layout makes it easy to set cruise control, switch between songs, and change information settings on the digital gauge cluster without doing much searching.

The infotainment is refreshingly simple too. Toyota's in-house system is clean and effective, though we'd venture that most drivers will prefer to connect their phone via wireless Apple CarPlay or Android Auto. The $38,469 XSE we tested had the 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster and an optional JBL stereo system that offers a pretty good thump.

Ride quality is pleasant, and while there's some bumpiness when the Corolla Cross goes over potholes and railroad tracks, it's still relatively smooth and recovers easily. The softer ride gives it a bit of body roll on curves, but not to the point that the Corolla Cross feels like a mess. Steering is overassisted, but the small SUV generally behaves exactly as you'd expect it to, which is pretty much all that shoppers in this segment want.

Pair the unsurprising ride with Toyota's swath of driver-assistance features, and you've got a vehicle that's great for drivers who are new, have anxiety, or simply want an extra set of eyes on the road. The Corolla Cross comes standard with adaptive cruise control, lane-departure warning with steering assist, lane tracing, and automatic high-beams. The XSE also has blind-spot monitoring and rear-cross-traffic alert.

Our biggest gripe with the Cross is its engine, which is about as enthusiastic as you might be at 3 o'clock on a Monday. The four-pot does its job but seems like it would rather be taking a nap. The electric motors help give the hybrid a nudge off the jump, but practically any tap of the throttle will engage the engine, which emits a steady groan thanks to a transmission that doesn't simulate shifting. The engine drone is fairly loud, especially when the vehicle is reaching highway speeds. We recorded 81 decibels at wide-open throttle.

HIGHS: Simple controls, easy to drive, decent fuel efficiency.

As for the interior design, Toyota designers reheated the Corolla sedan's pizza. It mostly works, but the Corolla Cross is missing some storage space that would've made it feel more functional as an SUV. The bulky gearshift housing and cupholder setup leave little room for the center armrest, and aside from a bit of storage inside the center console, the only other places to stash things are the glovebox and a small pocket behind the passenger's seat. The bulky motif continues throughout, even appearing in the form of inexplicably thick sun visors.

LOWS: Unenthusiastic powertrain, lacks storage space, clunky interior.

The seats are generally comfortable, but we think they could use more padding. So could the armrests on the center console and doors. The XSE's seats wear snazzy blue stripes that help make an otherwise unexciting cabin feel a bit more fun. But overall, trim materials feel bottom-spec, even in the highest-trim XSE model. The cabin is full of hard plastic and plain styling.

The Cross competes with the Kia Niro Hybrid and the Subaru Crosstrek Hybrid, which offer similar features in similar-size packages. The Niro costs less and boasts a higher-end interior but lags behind a bit in acceleration. The Crosstrek has slightly lower fuel economy than the Corolla Cross but offers marginally better off-roading capability.

VERDICT: It might be the auto industry's Agreeable Gray, but the Corolla Cross Hybrid delivers on its promise of being a practical car at a practical price.

The Corolla Cross is far from exciting, but with simple, modern styling and an attractive price, it's a solid choice for those who aren’t fixated on their car's specs.

➡️ Skip the lot. Let Car and Driver help you find your next car.

Specifications

Specifications

2026 Toyota Corolla Cross Hybrid XSE AWD
Vehicle Type: front-engine, front- and rear-motor, all-wheel-drive, 5-passenger, 4-door wagon

PRICE
Base/As Tested: $35,425/$38,469
Options: Convenience package (tilt-and-slide sunroof, power liftgate), $1250; JBL Premium Audio, $800; crossbars, $330; Connected Services trial offering, $325; doorsill protectors, $179; mudguards, $160

POWERTRAIN
DOHC 16-valve 2.0-liter Atkinson-cycle inline-4, 150 hp, 139 lb-ft + 3 permanent-magnet synchronous AC motors (combined output: 196 hp; lithium-ion battery pack)
Transmissions, F/R: continuously variable automatic/direct-drive

CHASSIS
Suspension, F/R: struts/multilink
Brakes, F/R: 12.0-in vented disc/11.1-in disc
Tires: Goodyear Assurance Finesse
225/55R-18 98H M+S

DIMENSIONS
Wheelbase: 103.9 in
Length: 176.8 in
Width: 71.9 in
Height: 64.8 in
Passenger Volume, F/R: 52/35 ft3
Cargo Volume, Behind F/R: 44/22 ft3
Curb Weight: 3405 lb

C/D TEST RESULTS
60 mph: 7.6 sec
1/4-Mile: 15.8 sec @ 88 mph
100 mph: 21.1 sec
110 mph: 26.8 sec
Results above omit 1-ft rollout of 0.3 sec.
Rolling Start, 5–60 mph: 8.1 sec
Top Gear, 30–50 mph: 4.0 sec
Top Gear, 50–70 mph: 5.6 sec
Top Speed (gov ltd): 114 mph
Braking, 70–0 mph: 178 ft
Roadholding, 300-ft Skidpad: 0.79 g

Interior Sound
Idle: 33 dBA/2 sone
Full Throttle: 81 dBA
70-mph Cruising: 74 dBA/33 sone

C/D FUEL ECONOMY
Observed: 35 mpg

EPA FUEL ECONOMY
Combined/City/Highway: 42/46/39 mpg

Alayna Wilkening grew up reading motorsport magazines and following her grandpa around his Chevrolet dealership's showroom floor. In true Hoosier fashion, her first car was a hot pink custom cardboard "Fiero-vette" for her kindergarten Kindy 500 race. She now autocrosses a 1994 Miata with her dad, which she learned to drive the night before her first event. Alayna went to Indiana University and graduated with a degree in journalism and a minor in graphic design. As a testament to her great taste in cars, her first real one was a metallic orange 2007 Chevy HHR, which she lovingly called "The Dumptruck."   %!s()

It comes as official attendance data, published on Thursday, suggested school absence rates in England remained above pre-pandemic levels, with nearly one in five pupils missing at least 10% of school in the 2025/26 academic year.

Education minister Paul Waugh said the new attendance targets would take each school's local challenges into account, but that "every school has a role to play to improve attendance".

Before the Covid pandemic, when many schools closed to pupils for significant periods of time, attendance rates at English mainstream state schools regularly stayed above 95%, but schools have struggled to get back to those rates in the years since.

Thursday's figures, external suggested an overall attendance rate of 93% for 2025/26, a slight decrease on the previous year. That includes both authorised absences, such as illness, and unauthorised absences, which is when pupils miss school without permission or a valid reason.

The rates of persistent absence have doubled since the pandemic. A pupil is described as persistently absent if they miss at least 10% of school sessions.

In 2018/19, persistent absence rates for England state schools were around 10%, while the most recent data showed it was at 19% in 2025/26.

Pupils on free school meals and those with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) were also still more likely to be absent from school than their peers.

Many mainstream schools in England were given attendance targets specific to their school in a widespread trial last year, but on Thursday the Department for Education (DfE) confirmed that every school would be getting their own target and that it would be monitored for the first time.

The BBC understands there will be no immediate penalties for schools who miss their attendance targets, but that the DfE will get in touch with schools that are off-track to make sure they are aware and taking action.

Schools could then be pointed towards best practice guidance, or encouraged to join with other schools in a local behaviour and attendance hub.

The regulator Ofsted already considers a schools' overall attendance rates in their inspections.

In an opinion piece published in The Independent newspaper on Thursday, newly-appointed education minister Paul Waugh said the latest attendance stats showed "progress has slowed over the past year", and that the government's response needed to be "broader, smarter and more ambitious".

Schools have been promised access to more data tools in the coming year to help them analyse individual pupils' attendance records, Waugh said, so they can identify concerns earlier and be "intervening more quickly when pupils begin to drift away from regular attendance".

Fridays are "becoming a particular weak spot for attendance", he added, and said he would be investigating why pupil illness absences are regularly significantly higher at the end of each week.

He called on schools to put on interesting clubs and enrichment sessions on Fridays "so every child stays engaged right through to the end of the week".

Paul Whiteman, general secretary of schools leaders' union NAHT, said Thursday's attendance data showed "just how hard it is to drive absence rates back down to pre-pandemic levels".

"Schools already go above and beyond in encouraging attendance, but it isn't a problem that they can solve alone or that government targets will fix," he said.

"The issue often has roots beyond the classroom, from illness and mental health challenges to poverty and unmet special educational needs."

He said it highlighted the importance of the government's upcoming reforms to the SEND system in England.

The data released on Thursday also showed that nearly 12% of pupils missed school in the week beginning Monday 22 June, when an exceptional heatwave was affecting parts of England, leading to the highest absence rate of the year. %!s()

After meeting in Rabat on Wednesday, FIFA’s leadership reaffirmed support ⁠for Infantino, apologised to the world football governing body’s 211 member associations for mistakes surrounding the World Cup investment plan and promised a review of the processes that triggered a fierce backlash from national federations.

Recommended Stories

• list 1 of 3UEFA’s threatened legal action against Infantino and FIFA: What we know
• list 2 of 3Ex-Arsenal boss Wenger was ‘not aware’ of Infantino’s FIFA plan
• list 3 of 3UEFA confirms legal letter served to FIFA after Infantino’s World Cup plan

FIFA’s attempt to draw a line under the biggest crisis of Infantino’s presidency, however, is unlikely to end scrutiny of the governing body’s ‌leadership and governance before the March presidential election.

McAllister said finding a credible challenger to Infantino would be difficult because any candidate would need support from across football’s global membership, not just Europe.

“It’s not as easy as people might think. The right candidate has to also have the right level of support,” McAllister said in an interview with the broadcaster Deutsche Welle.

“There’s so much politics around this. There’s such an imperative to get a candidate who could unite the whole world of ⁠football, not just Europe in this case.”

The former Wales women’s captain ⁠called for sweeping governance reforms to modernise football’s leadership structures.

“It requires a really fundamental change in the culture of how the leadership of football operates, I believe, and that we really drive forward the modernisation of the game to make sure ⁠that football isn’t run by fiefdoms or by individuals, that it’s democratically run,” she said.

McAllister’s comments came amid mounting scrutiny of Infantino after he ⁠withdrew plans to create a commercial subsidiary and sell a stake ⁠in future World Cup revenues to outside investors.

McAllister told the Reuters news agency on Tuesday that any transition in FIFA leadership would need to be accompanied by a return to what she sees as the game’s core values ‌with football governed in the interests of the sport rather than political or commercial interests.

“The game is there for everybody, from grassroots to elite,” she said in an interview. “It doesn’t belong to any ‌one ‌of those constituents. It’s as much for girls as it is for boys. It should reach every corner of the world, in the poorest countries as well as the globally successful ones.” %!s()

The 30-year-old's arrival may be viewed as a move which casts further doubt over Zan Vipotnik's Swansea future, with the Slovenia international expected to attract interest in this transfer window after finishing last season as the Championship's top scorer.

Stewart - part of Scotland's squad at this summer's World Cup - has scored goals in the Championship for both Southampton and Sunderland and is seen as "an experienced and proven performer" at this level by Vitor Matos.

"In our conversations he has made clear his hunger and desire to be an important senior figure and leader in our dressing room," said the Swansea head coach.

"His goalscoring record shows he is someone who relishes responsibility and we look forward to getting down to work with him and settling him into the group."

Stewart scored 11 times in 33 games for Southampton last season, his best at St Mary's Stadium after injury issues restricted him to only 17 appearances across the previous two campaigns.

He has played four times for Scotland, including a substitute appearance against Morocco at this summer's World Cup.

Swansea have sold Liam Cullen to Leicester City this summer and could also allow Bobby Wales to depart on loan, meaning Stewart joins Vipotnik and Adam Idah as the forward options in Matos' squad.

Stewart missed a hefty chunk of the 2025-26 season because of a hamstring injury but was still productive when available, managing nine goals and two assists in his 27 league appearances.

He also scored two goals in Southampton's run to the semi-finals of the FA Cup, including the opener in their quarter-final victory over Arsenal.

Stewart had stints with Ardeer Thistle and Kilwinning Rangers as a youngster before joining Albion Rovers in 2016.

The Irvine-born player then played for St Mirren, Alloa Athletic and Ross County - where he won the 2018-19 Scottish Championship and Scottish Challenge Cup - before joining Sunderland in 2021.

Stewart was prolific with the Black Cats, scoring 40 goals in 81 appearances to help the club win the EFL Trophy in 2021 and gain promotion to the Championship a year later.

His form at the Stadium of Light earned him a move to Southampton in 2023, where he scored a total of 12 goals in 50 appearances.

"We are delighted that Ross has joined Swansea City, he brings a wealth of experience on and off the pitch," said the Welsh club's sporting director Ben Stevens.

"His performances last season in the Championship were a standout, and it earned him a deserved place in Scotland's World Cup squad. We are very excited to see Ross in a Swansea shirt."

Stewart becomes Swansea's sixth permanent signing of the summer after Moussa Yeo, Elijah Just, Joseph Opoku, Stephen Welsh and Leo Walta, who had been on loan last season.

They have also signed Benfica left-back Tiago Parente on loan.

Valencia's Andre Almeida and another midfielder, Ousseynou Fall Seck of Danish side Randers, are also on the Swans' list of targets. %!s()

Minor cases can take weeks to recover, mostly managed by rest, but more severe issues can require significant physiotherapy and potentially even surgery, with recovery taking up to a year.

Alcaraz has not undergone surgery, but his latest withdrawal will take him to over four months out injured, and for a portion of that he was unable to use a racquet at all.

Wrist injuries are particularly worrisome for tennis players. The joint plays a key role in every contact between the racquet and ball - the way the wrist rolls through a shot helps generate power, and its dexterity is vital for delicate touches like drop shots, which are a key part of Alcaraz's all-court game.

The lack of muscle surrounding the bones and tendons in the wrists also makes rebuilding strength difficult, meaning the length of absences can be difficult to predict.

"It's really hard to cope with", says CiCi Bellis, a former world number 35 who retired aged 22 after suffering from recurring wrist injuries.

"The wrist is one of the places you fear hurting the most. With lower body injuries you can still be on court swinging but with the wrist it's so tough mentally because you can't. I definitely had distrust in the joint when coming back.

"Time is the biggest healer from a rehab standpoint and building back your confidence.

"For somebody like Alcaraz who has maybe the best forehand in the world, the wrist is so core to his game and he plays with a lot of spin using the wrist a lot. It's one of the biggest parts of his body he relies on."

Alcaraz won his last match against a qualifier in the opening round of the Barcelona Open, but was in visible discomfort and withdrew before his next match.

Photographs and videos on his social media channels show him in a training session in Murcia on Tuesday, sporting the longer hair he has grown out during his absence.

A competitive return is still a few weeks off at least, however, meaning he will at best be carrying almost five months' worth of rust into the US Open if he plays.

But with wrist injuries in tennis, waiting longer can help prevent the problem recurring.

"The biggest risk of injury is a previous injury - if you have had it once, you are more likely to have it in the future," Ross adds.

"If a player can get back over a period of a few months and they don't have a reoccurrence, generally they will be OK.

"But some things can become chronic and the pressure of the sport to come back, earn money by playing, and keep your ranking points, is a risk."

One of the key challenges of a wrist injury is psychological - once a player has suffered a painful injury in the joint that controls so much of their technique, it can be difficult to fully trust it again.

"Wrists aren't easy", said Sir Andy Murray, having suffered injuries in both wrists in his early 20s.

"When the ball is low you know you really have to use your wrist to get the ball up and down, or when the ball is coming fast and quite high you need to use your wrist a lot to bring the ball down.

"It's difficult when you try to come back [from a wrist injury], because the pain that you feel when you initially hurt it, mentally it's very difficult to let go of."

Before his injury, Alcaraz had been performing at an extremely impressive average of two Grand Slam titles per year. Continuing at that pace would have him level with Novak Djokovic's record of 24 by 2034, when he will be only 31.

Alcaraz will hope to return to top form as soon as he is back on court, but reaching the same level of performance following a wrist injury isn't easy.

"The wrist doesn't get great blood supply and it doesn't heal very quickly," says Ross. "It takes real time to build strength in it and the management is very complex.

"Restoring confidence is down to how rehab goes - you can feel amazing and then get a setback, and it's how you deal with that.

"We also treat injuries as windows of opportunity - you might not be able to hit a tennis ball right now, but let's work on your cardiovascular fitness, work on the core and lower body, or see how you mentally decompress and cope with having a holiday.

"You really have to keep the player motivated." %!s()