Compare the2025 Chevrolet TraxVS 2025 Toyota Corolla Hatchback

In the past twenty years hundreds of infants and young children have died after being left in vehicles, usually by accident. When turning the vehicle off, drivers of the Trax are reminded to check the back seat if they opened the rear door before starting out. The Corolla Hatchback doesn’t offer a back seat reminder.

In a Vehicle-to-Vehicle Frontal Crash Prevention 2.0 test conducted by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), the Chevrolet Trax achieved a “Acceptable” rating - the second highest possible - for its performance in forward collision warning and automatic braking systems, demonstrating its excellent capabilities in preventing collisions. The Toyota Corolla Hatchback has not been tested.

Both the Trax and the Corolla Hatchback have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, front wheel drive, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, rearview cameras, available blind spot warning systems, rear parking sensors and rear cross-path warning.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does 35 MPH front crash tests on new vehicles. In this test, results indicate that the Chevrolet Trax is safer than the Toyota Corolla Hatchback:

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

The Trax’s corrosion warranty is 1 year longer than the Corolla Hatchback’s (6 vs. 5 years).

There are over 2 times as many Chevrolet dealers as there are Toyota dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Trax’s warranty.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2024 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Chevrolet vehicles are better in initial quality than Toyota vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Chevrolet second in initial quality, above the industry average. With 32 more problems per 100 vehicles, Toyota is ranked 17th.

The Trax’s 1.2 turbo 3-cylinder produces 11 lbs.-ft. more torque (162 vs. 151) than the Corolla Hatchback’s 2.0 DOHC 4-cylinder.

As tested in Motor Trend the Chevrolet Trax is faster than the Toyota Corolla Hatchback:

In heavy traffic or at stoplights the Trax’s engine automatically turns off when the vehicle is stopped, saving fuel and reducing pollution. The engine is automatically restarted when the driver gets ready to move again. If the conditions warrant or the driver wishes, the system can be manually disabled at any time for the duration of a trip. The Corolla Hatchback doesn’t offer an automatic engine start/stop system.

The Trax has a standard cap-less fueling system. The fuel filler is automatically opened when the fuel nozzle is inserted and automatically closed when it’s removed. This eliminates the need to unscrew and replace the cap and it reduces fuel evaporation, which causes pollution. The Corolla Hatchback doesn’t offer a cap-less fueling system.

For better stopping power the Trax’s brake rotors are larger than those on the Corolla Hatchback:

The Trax stops much shorter than the Corolla Hatchback:

For better traction, the Trax has larger standard tires than the Corolla Hatchback (225/60R17 vs. 205/55R16). The Trax RS’ optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Corolla Hatchback (245/45R19 vs. 225/40R18).

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Trax LS/LT has standard 17-inch wheels. Smaller 16-inch wheels are standard on the Corolla Hatchback SE. The Trax RS’ optional 19-inch wheels are larger than the 18-inch wheels on the Corolla Hatchback Nightshade/XSE.

The Trax has a standard easy tire fill system. When inflating the tires, the vehicle’s integrated tire pressure sensors keep track of the pressure as the tires fill and tell the driver when the tires are inflated to the proper pressure. The Corolla Hatchback doesn’t offer vehicle monitored tire inflation.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Trax’s wheelbase is 2.4 inches longer than on the Corolla Hatchback (106.3 inches vs. 103.9 inches).

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the Trax is 1.2 inches wider in the front and 1.3 inches wider in the rear than on the Corolla Hatchback.

The Trax ACTIV handles at .84 G’s, while the Corolla Hatchback XSE pulls only .82 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The front grille of the Trax offers available electronically controlled shutters to close off airflow and reduce drag when less engine cooling is needed. This helps improve highway fuel economy. The Corolla Hatchback doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

The Trax uses computer-generated active noise cancellation to help remove annoying noise and vibration from the passenger compartment, especially at low frequencies. The Corolla Hatchback doesn’t offer active noise cancellation.

The Trax has 13.4 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Corolla Hatchback (98 vs. 84.6).

The Trax has 1.2 inches more front headroom, 1.8 inches more front shoulder room, .5 inches more rear headroom, 8.8 inches more rear legroom and .3 inches more rear hip room than the Corolla Hatchback.

The Trax can be flat towed on all four wheels (dinghy towed), allowing recreational vehicle owners to bring it with them on the road. When they reach their destination, the Trax can be unhitched and driven around locally. The Corolla Hatchback can’t be towed flat on the ground.

The Trax’s instruments include an oil pressure gauge and a temperature gauge - which could save your engine! Often ‘idiot lights’ don’t warn you until damage has been done. The Corolla Hatchback does not have an oil pressure gauge.

In case you lock your keys in your vehicle, or don’t have them with you, you can let yourself in using the Trax’s available exterior PIN entry system. The Corolla Hatchback doesn’t offer an exterior PIN entry system.

On extremely cold winter days, the Trax’s optional (except LS) heated steering wheel provides comfort, allowing the driver to steer safely and comfortably before the vehicle heater warms up. The Corolla Hatchback doesn’t offer a heated steering wheel.

The Trax was chosen as a Car and Driver’s “Top Ten” for 2025 and 2024. The Corolla Hatchback has never been chosen by Car and Driver in their “10Best” issue.