10 Biggest News Stories of the Week: Toyota Corolla Cross Makes Ram 1500 Pay the Price

One way to stack the deck in favor of a new product is to remind consumers of something they already know and ideally like. And so it goes, as automakers launch all-new SUVs to feed Americans’ insatiable thirst for the body style. More than a few of them are even reviving or reimagining existing nameplates with familiar names. A few years back, we got the Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross, an SUV risen from the ashes of the fondly remembered Mitsubishi Eclipse sports coupe. Then, for the 2021 model year, Ford drew on our love of its iconic Mustang with the Ford Mustang Mach-E, an all-electric SUV. And, now, there’s the 2022 Toyota Corolla Cross, which hopes some of the perennial popularity for the Corolla compact sedan will reflect well upon Toyota’s all-new small SUV.

Related: 10 Biggest News Stories of the Month: 2022 Hyundai Tucson Can’t Contend With Car Seat Kudos

While it’s too early to know if that’ll pan out, it’s already getting a spotlight thanks to Cars.com readers, whose considerable curiosity for the Corolla Cross has landed it at Nos. 1 and 3 on our countdown of the most popular news articles of the past week. Ringing up in first place is our report on pricing for the Corolla Cross, which starts at $23,410 including destination for the base L trim with front-wheel drive. The Corolla Cross’ other two trims, the LE and XLE, start at $25,760 and $27,540, respectively, and all-wheel drive adds $1,300 across the board.

For full pricing details on the Corolla Cross, follow the link below to Cars.com No. 1 news story of the week.

The Corolla Cross creeps back up again in the third-place position on our countdown, this time in the form of our rapid-fire roundup of the new SUV’s pros and cons. In the plus column is the budget-friendly pricing we just mentioned; the just-right size, slotting between the C-HR and RAV4 in Toyota’s small-SUV stable; a cabin that’s well constructed, roomy and comfortable; generous cargo space; an agreeable, well-controlled ride; and Toyota’s well-stocked suite of standard safety tech. Making us a little Corolla cross, meanwhile, is the SUV’s pokey acceleration, cheap cabin materials; undersized multimedia display and controls; and all the general excitement around the Corolla nameplate — which is to say, not much.

For the full details on our reviewers’ likes and dislikes regarding the 2022 Toyota Corolla Cross, follow the link below to the No. 3 news story of the week.

Sandwiched between the Corolla Cross news is our recon around whether Ram 1500 shoppers should go for the updated and upcharged 2022 model or pay $1,060 to $4,620 less for the 2021 edition. The short answer: Now that the crackerjack Uconnect 5 infotainment system is standard on the Big Horn trim and above, it’s generally worth the extra dough to do the ’22.

For the long answer — advising shoppers in which instances they should instead opt for the outgoing version — follow the link below to the No. 2 news story on the countdown.

Beyond that, we have headlines on the Ford Bronco and Maverick, Toyota Tundra, Ford Mustang, Land Rover Defender, Volkswagen Tiguan and more, so don’t stop reading till the digits double. Here are the top 10 news stories Cars.com readers couldn’t get enough of in the past week:

1. 2022 Toyota Corolla Cross Pricing Starts Just Over $23,000

2. Ram 1500: Which Should You Buy, 2021 or 2022?

3. Is the 2022 Toyota Corolla Cross a Good SUV? Here Are 6 Things We Like and 4 We Don’t

4. What’s the Best New-Car Deal for October 2021?

5. The Ford Bronco Raptor Is Coming; Here’s What We Want

6. Want a 2022 Ford Maverick Hybrid Rated at 42 MPG City? Better Order One Fast

7. 2022 Toyota Tundra Review: Better Where It Counts

8. 2021 Ford Mustang Mach 1 Review: Good — and Not Only Because It’s a Mach 1

9. 2021 Land Rover Defender Review: Tough Luxe

10. Is the 2022 Volkswagen Tiguan a Good Car? 4 Things We Like and 4 We Don’t

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