When it comes to Toyota’s vehicle lineup, the Toyota Corolla Cross Hybrid is certainly a mild child. Built for fuel economy, safety and practicality, its excitement derives from its efficiency, rather than its entertaining nature. And there’s nothing wrong with that. Yet if you’d prefer it to sport a livelier wardrobe, Toyota has your ride: the 2024 Corolla Cross Hybrid Nightshade Special Edition.
It’s offered only on the mid-level Corolla Cross Hybrid SE, which includes such niceties as privacy glass, roof rails and paddle shifters. But the Nightshade Edition adds 18-inch gloss black alloy wheels, as well as blacked-out badges, door handles, mirrors, integrated rear lip spoiler and black-accented head and tail lamps. It’s offset by a choice of black, red or gray paint and a black roof.
Inside, you’ll find a cabin lined in black and red fabric trimmed with red accent stitching. There’s also standard wireless charging (now standard in the non-hybrid SE and XSE for 2024), a frameless HomeLink rearview mirror, and standard carpet floormats – the latter a rarity in a Toyota.
The 2024 Corolla Cross Hybrid is powered by Toyota’s fifth-generation hybrid powertrain, which consists of a 2.0-liter Atkinson-cycle four-cylinder and two electric motors up front with a third in the rear. It generates a combined 196 horsepower, enough to power this hybrid to 60 mph in eight seconds, while returning an estimated 42 mpg in combined city/highway driving.
This is very much a handy little utility vehicle, with eight inches of ground clearance, all-wheel drive, 21.5 cubic feet of rear cargo space with rear seats up driving and a 1,500-pound towing capacity.
An 8-inch touchscreen, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and USB-C charge ports are standard. A Blind-Spot Monitor and Rear Cross Traffic Alert are standard.
Built at Toyota’s joint venture plant with Mazda in Huntsville, Alabama, look for the 2024 Toyota Corolla Cross Hybrid Nightshade Edition to arrive in showrooms come winter, with prices announced closer to its on-sale date.
