2026 Chevrolet Trax vs. Chevrolet Trailblazer vs. Toyota Corolla Cross

There has never been a better time to buy a small SUV, as the selection available has grown to be the most popular automotive segment in North America. But all of this selection does mean that there’s a lot to keep track of when shopping for a new SUV. To help with this process, we put together this guide to the best-selling subcompact SUV in the US, the Chevy Trax, as well as its two biggest rivals, the Chevy Trailblazer and Toyota Corolla Cross.

Chevrolet Trax VS Chevrolet Trailblazer VS Toyota Corolla Cross – Specifications

The Trax and Trailblazer both come with the same engine, a 1.2-liter turbocharged three-cylinder. The Corolla Cross comes with a bigger 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine, but since it isn’t turbocharged, power is still comparable to the Chevy models, which produce less horsepower but more torque. All three come with front-wheel drive as standard, but it’s important to note that, while the Trailblazer and Corolla Cross are available with all-wheel drive, the Trax is not. The Corolla Cross also has another drivetrain, a 150-horsepower hybrid option that is also AWD. This is important because even though the Corolla Cross already delivers the best fuel economy of the three, the hybrid option raises it to 42 MPG. The dimensions of all three vehicles are pretty comparable, with legroom being the one area where you’ll potentially notice a difference. The Corolla Cross gives you noticeably more front legroom, but it comes at a steep cost in rear legroom, so that’s something that needs to be considered.

Chevrolet Trax VS Chevrolet Trailblazer VS Toyota Corolla Cross – Specifications

With such similar starting prices, it should come as no surprise that standard equipment levels are also pretty similar. The Corolla Cross does start off at a higher price than the other two, but this is justified with standard features the other two don’t come with, like heated side mirrors, adaptive cruise control, and LED brake lights. And although all three come with some routine maintenance included in the price of the vehicle, the Corolla Cross comes with twice as much as the Chevy models, 24 months / 25,000 miles versus 12 months / 12,000 miles.

But it’s the optional equipment where you see the biggest differences. The Trailblazer, for example, is available with light off-roading equipment, including a functional skid plate and off-road suspension tuning. When comparing top trims of each model, the Corolla Cross is once again the most expensive, but it comes with more equipment. This includes things like dual-zone climate control and LED foglights. It also comes with both front and rear parking sensors, rather than just rear, as the other two have. And while a good stereo isn’t a priority for everyone, you should know that the Trax isn’t available with anything more premium than the basic six-speaker system, while the Trailblazer offers an amplifier with the same system, or an optional seven-speaker Bose system, and the Corolla Cross is available with a nine-speaker JBL system. All of that having been said, the top trim of the Trax is just about the same price as the base Corolla Cross, and that’s a very important consideration too.