Compare the2023 Subaru CrosstrekVS 2022 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 Crosstrek CVT 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.

Over 200 people are killed each year when backed over by motor vehicles. The Crosstrek Limited has standard Reverse Automatic Braking that uses rear sensors to monitor and automatically apply the brakes to prevent a rear collision. The Corolla Hatchback doesn’t offer backup collision prevention brakes.

The Crosstrek has all-wheel drive to maximize traction under poor conditions, especially in ice and snow. The Corolla Hatchback doesn’t offer all-wheel drive.

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

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does side impact tests on new vehicles. In this test, which crashes the vehicle into a flat barrier at 38.5 MPH and into a post at 20 MPH, results indicate that the Subaru Crosstrek is safer than the Toyota Corolla Hatchback:

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

For its top level performance in IIHS driver and passenger-side small overlap frontal, moderate overlap frontal, side impact, roof strength and head restraint tests, with its optional front crash prevention system, and its headlight’s “Good” rating, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the Crosstrek its highest rating: “Top Safety Pick Plus” for 2019, a rating granted to only 112 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The Corolla Hatchback is only a standard “Top Safety Pick” for 2019.

A reliable vehicle saves its owner time, money and trouble. Nobody wants to be stranded or have to be without a vehicle while it’s being repaired. Consumer Reports rates the Crosstrek’s reliability 58 points higher than the Corolla Hatchback.

The Crosstrek Sport/Limited’s standard 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder produces 14 more horsepower (182 vs. 168) and 25 lbs.-ft. more torque (176 vs. 151) than the Corolla Hatchback’s 2.0 DOHC 4-cylinder.

As tested in Motor Trend the Crosstrek Sport/Limited 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder is faster than the Toyota Corolla Hatchback (automatics tested):

The flat cylinder configuration of the boxer engine in the Crosstrek lowers its center of gravity, enhancing handling stability without compromising ground clearance. The Corolla Hatchback doesn’t offer a boxer engine configuration.

In heavy traffic or at stoplights the Crosstrek CVT’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 Crosstrek has 3.4 gallons more fuel capacity than the Corolla Hatchback (16.6 vs. 13.2 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

The Crosstrek stops much shorter than the Corolla Hatchback:

For better traction, the Crosstrek has larger tires than the Corolla Hatchback (225/60R17 vs. 205/55R16).

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Crosstrek has standard 17-inch wheels. Smaller 16-inch wheels are standard on the Corolla Hatchback SE.

The Crosstrek Premium handles at .81 G’s, while the Corolla Hatchback SE pulls only .80 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

For better maneuverability, the Crosstrek’s turning circle is 2 feet tighter than the Corolla Hatchback’s (35.4 feet vs. 37.4 feet).

The Crosstrek has 16.3 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Corolla Hatchback (100.9 vs. 84.6).

The Crosstrek has 1.4 inches more front headroom, 1.1 inches more front legroom, 1.2 inches more front hip room, 2.8 inches more front shoulder room, .4 inches more rear headroom, 6.6 inches more rear legroom, 9.7 inches more rear hip room and 1.1 inches more rear shoulder room than the Corolla Hatchback.

A standard locking glovebox (which can’t be accessed with the valet key) keeps your small valuables safer in the Crosstrek. The Corolla Hatchback doesn’t offer locking storage for small valuables.

The Crosstrek has a 1500 lbs. towing capacity. The Corolla Hatchback has no towing capacity.

The engine in the Crosstrek is mounted longitudinally (North-South), instead of sideways, as in the Corolla Hatchback. This makes it easier to service and maintain, because the accessory belts are in front.

The Crosstrek offers a remote vehicle starting system, so the vehicle can be started from inside the driver's house. This allows the driver to comfortably warm up the engine before going out to the vehicle. The climate system will also automatically heat or cool the interior. The Corolla Hatchback doesn’t offer a remote starting system.

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

Consumer Reports rated the Crosstrek’s headlight performance “Good,” a higher rating than the Corolla Hatchback’s headlights, which were rated “Fair.”

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) conducts detailed tests on headlights for their range both straight ahead and in curves and to be certain they don’t exceed acceptable amounts of glare to oncoming drivers. The Crosstrek’s available headlights were rated “Good” by the IIHS, while the Corolla Hatchback’s headlights are rated “Acceptable.”

The Crosstrek’s optional rear and side view mirrors have an automatic dimming feature. These mirrors can be set to automatically darken quickly when headlights shine on them, keeping following vehicles from blinding or distracting the driver. The Corolla Hatchback doesn’t offer the luxury of automatic dimming mirrors.

Insurance will cost less for the Crosstrek owner. The Car Book by Jack Gillis rates the Crosstrek with a number “5” insurance rate while the Corolla Hatchback is rated higher at a number “8” rate.

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the Crosstrek is less expensive to operate than the Corolla Hatchback because typical repairs cost less on the Crosstrek than the Corolla Hatchback, including $83 less for fuel injection, $75 less for a timing belt/chain and $66 less for a power steering pump.