It can sometimes be hard to pick a clear winner when comparing vehicles. Some are simply too similar to decide which one stands out. However, that’s not the case with the 2022 Toyota Corolla Cross and the 2022 Chevy Trax. One SUV model clearly manages to stand out and leaves the other in the dust.

2022 Toyota Corolla Cross

The 2022 Toyota Corolla Cross is a small SUV based on the Corolla sedan. It has a starting price of $22,195 and tops out at $26,325. It weighs 3,125 lbs and can seat up to five passengers. Its length is measured at 175.6 inches, with a width of 71.9 inches.

U.S. News wasn’t exactly impressed with the Corolla Cross’s I-4 2L engine, which generates 169 hp and 150 lb-ft of torque. The review site reported that the engine wasn’t exactly powerful and was also noisy. On a good note, the 31 city mpg and 33 highway mpg gas mileage ratings are very impressive for a small SUV. Front-wheel drive comes standard, but there is an all-wheel drive option. Additionally, the 2022 Corolla Cross has a towing rate of 1,500 lbs, so if you have dreams of hauling a small boat, this is possible. 

The interior of the Corolla Cross is spacious, and the back feels comfortable for anyone under six feet tall. Its cargo space is also astonishing for a small SUV. There are 26.5 cubic feet of space behind the rear seats and 66.8 cubic feet behind the front seats. While the interior is filled with a lot of hard plastics that aren’t aesthetically pleasing, especially for the base model, it does hold up to wear and tear. Meanwhile, higher trim levels use more upscale materials.

The 2022 Toyota Corolla Cross includes a 7-inch touch screen, Bluetooth, Amazon Alexa, Android Auto, Apple CarPlay, two USB ports, satellite radio, and a six-speaker stereo. As for safety features, this includes automatic high-beam headlights, forward collision warning, forward automatic emergency braking, pedestrian detection, rearview camera, and lane departure warning. For a little extra, you can also get options such as front and rear parking sensors, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and reverse automatic emergency braking.

2022 Chevy Trax

The Chevrolet Trax tends to get a lot of bad reviews, and the 2022 model has done little to change that. In fact, U.S. News ranked it 16th place in the “Subcompact SUV” division. It has a price range of $21,400 to $23,820, which is cheaper than other competitors, but it’s debatable whether this is a redeemable quality.

Car Buzz reports that the Chevy Trax comes equipped with a 1.4L Turbo Inline-4 engine which produces 155 hp and 177 lb-ft of torque. This is paired with a 6-speed automatic transmission and front-wheel drive. The gas mileage is only 24 mpg for the city and 32 mpg for the highway, far behind the Toyota Corolla Cross. Additionally, there is no tow rating, so if you plan on hauling anything, you’ll have to choose another SUV.

The 2022 Chevy Trax weighs 3,146 lbs. Its length is 167.2 inches, and its width is 69.9 inches. The Trax’s cabin is actually larger than the Toyota Corolla Cross, so it has that going for it. Passengers get 92.8 cubic feet instead of 88.4 cubic feet in the Corolla Cross. Thanks to more legroom, taller individuals will also be more comfortable in the back. With that being said, the seats aren’t exactly comfortable, so the extra room may not be a huge benefit.

The interior features of the Chevrolet Trax include a rearview camera, keyless entry, a 7-inch touch screen, a six-speaker stereo, satellite radio, a Wi-Fi hot spot, two USB ports, Bluetooth, Android Auto, and Apple CarPlay. You can also get remote start and cruise control if you want to upgrade.

The model’s safety features include airbags for the driver, passenger, front head, rear head, and front side. The 2022 Trax also comes equipped with electronic stability control, daytime running lights, child safety locks, and traction control. Considering other competitors offer cameras, blindsight monitoring, and rear-cross traffic alerts, that’s not exactly an impressive list.

The 2022 Toyota Corolla Cross is the clear winner

There’s no competition here. Even though the 2022 Chevy Trax has a few good points, it falls behind the 2022 Toyota Corolla Cross in several areas. The Corolla Cross is significantly bigger than the Trax, which is excellent for anyone who needs to haul heavy loads or has adult passengers who don’t like feeling like a human pretzel.

As for gas mileage, horsepower, cargo space, and lighter weight, the Corolla Cross is the clear contender. For Chevy fans who refuse to drive anything else, it might be better to choose another Chevy product, such as the Silverado or Trailblazer. Even though the 2022 Chevy Trax is cheaper than the Corolla Cross, you’ll be better off spending more money in this case.