Compare the2023 Toyota Corolla Cross HybridVS 2023 Chevrolet Equinox

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Transmission
Brakes and Stopping
Suspension and Handling
Chassis
Passenger Space
Ergonomics
Recommendations

Safety

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For enhanced safety, the front and rear seat shoulder belts of the Toyota Corolla Cross Hybrid have pretensioners to tighten the seatbelts and eliminate dangerous slack in the event of a collision and force limiters to limit the pressure the belts will exert on the passengers. The Chevrolet Equinox doesn’t offer pretensioners for its rear seat belts.

For enhanced safety, the front seat shoulder belts of the Toyota Corolla Cross Hybrid are height-adjustable to accommodate a wide variety of driver and passenger heights. A better fit can prevent injuries and the increased comfort also encourages passengers to buckle up. The Chevrolet Equinox doesn’t offer height-adjustable seat belts.

The Toyota Corolla Cross Hybrid has a standard driver’s side knee airbag mounted low on the dashboard. The knee airbag helps prevent the driver from sliding under the seatbelts or the main frontal airbag; this keeps the driver better positioned during a collision for maximum protection. A knee airbag also helps keep the legs from striking the dashboard, preventing knee and leg injuries in the case of a serious frontal collision. The Equinox doesn’t offer knee airbags.

Over 200 people are killed each year when backed over by motor vehicles. The Corolla Cross Hybrid XSE has a standard Parking Support Brake that uses rear sensors to monitor for objects to the rear and automatically applies the brakes to prevent a collision. The Equinox doesn’t offer backup collision prevention brakes.

To provide maximum traction and stability on all roads, Full-Time Four-Wheel Drive is standard on the Corolla Cross Hybrid. But it costs extra on the Equinox.

Both the Corolla Cross Hybrid and Equinox offer rear cross-traffic warning, but the Corolla Cross Hybrid XSE has Parking Support Brake (automatically applies the brakes) to better prevent a collision when backing near traffic. The Equinox’s Rear Cross Traffic Alert doesn’t automatically brake.

The Corolla Cross Hybrid’s driver alert monitor detects an inattentive driver then sounds a warning and suggests a break. According to the NHTSA, drivers who fall asleep cause about 100,000 crashes and 1500 deaths a year. The Equinox doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

Both the Corolla Cross Hybrid and the Equinox have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, lane departure warning systems, rearview cameras, available blind spot warning systems and rear parking sensors.

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

	Corolla Cross Hybrid	Equinox
	Driver
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Leg Forces (l/r)	330/310 lbs.	363/349 lbs.
	Passenger
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	356	376
Chest Compression	.6 inches	.6 inches
Leg Forces (l/r)	301/156 lbs.	264/236 lbs.

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

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 Toyota Corolla Cross Hybrid is safer than the Chevrolet Equinox:

	Corolla Cross Hybrid	Equinox
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	92	109
Chest Movement	.9 inches	1.1 inches
Abdominal Force	129 lbs.	195 lbs.
Hip Force	330 lbs.	357 lbs.
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	137	288
Spine Acceleration	43 G’s	55 G’s
Hip Force	367 lbs.	630 lbs.
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Max Damage Depth	12 inches	13 inches
HIC	239	377
Spine Acceleration	32 G’s	40 G’s
Hip Force	623 lbs.	730 lbs.

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, its standard vehicle-to-vehicle front crash prevention system, its standard vehicle-to-pedestrian front crash prevention system, and its standard headlight’s “Good” rating, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the Corolla Cross Hybrid its highest rating: “Top Safety Pick Plus” for 2022, a rating granted to only 127 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The Equinox has not been fully tested, yet.

Warranty

The Corolla Cross Hybrid’s corrosion warranty is unlimited miles longer than the Equinox’s (unlimited vs. 100,000 miles).

Toyota pays for scheduled maintenance on the Corolla Cross Hybrid for 2 years and 25000 miles. Toyota will pay for oil changes, lubrication and any other required maintenance. Chevrolet only pays for the first scheduled maintenance visit on the Equinox.

Reliability

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 Corolla Cross Hybrid’s reliability 50 points higher than the Equinox.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Toyota vehicles are more reliable than Chevrolet vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Toyota above average in long-term dependability. With 34 more problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, Chevrolet is rated lower.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2023 Auto Issue reports that Toyota vehicles are more reliable than Chevrolet vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Toyota first in overall reliability. Chevrolet is ranked 20th.

Engine

The Corolla Cross Hybrid’s 2.0 DOHC 4-cylinder hybrid produces 21 more horsepower (196 vs. 175) than the Equinox’s 1.5 turbo 4-cylinder.

Fuel Economy and Range

On the EPA test cycle the Corolla Cross Hybrid gets better mileage than the Equinox:

			MPG
Corolla Cross Hybrid
	AWD	2.0 4-cyl. Hybrid	45 city/38 hwy
Equinox
	FWD	1.5 turbo 4-cyl.	26 city/31 hwy
	AWD	1.5 turbo 4-cyl.	24 city/30 hwy

Regenerative brakes improve the Corolla Cross Hybrid’s fuel efficiency by converting inertia back into energy instead of wasting it. The Equinox doesn’t offer a regenerative braking system.

The Corolla Cross Hybrid has a standard locking fuel door with a remote release located convenient to the driver The fuel filler door is not lockable on the Equinox. A locking fuel door helps prevent fuel theft and vandalism, such as sugar in the tank.

Transmission

The Corolla Cross Hybrid has a standard continuously variable transmission (CVT). With no “steps” between gears, it can keep the engine at the most efficient speed for fuel economy, or keep it at its peak horsepower indefinitely for maximum acceleration. The Equinox doesn’t offer a CVT.

Brakes and Stopping

For better stopping power the Corolla Cross Hybrid’s front brake rotors are larger than those on the Equinox:

	Corolla Cross Hybrid	Equinox
Front Rotors	12 inches	11.8 inches

Suspension and Handling

The Corolla Cross Hybrid has standard front and rear stabilizer bars, which help keep the Corolla Cross Hybrid flat and controlled during cornering. The Equinox’s suspension doesn’t offer a rear stabilizer bar.

For better maneuverability, the Corolla Cross Hybrid’s turning circle is 2 feet tighter than the Equinox’s (35.4 feet vs. 37.4 feet). The Corolla Cross Hybrid’s turning circle is 6.2 feet tighter than the Equinox RS’ (35.4 feet vs. 41.6 feet).

For greater off-road capability the Corolla Cross Hybrid has a greater minimum ground clearance than the Equinox (8 vs. 7.9 inches), allowing the Corolla Cross Hybrid to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

Chassis

The Corolla Cross Hybrid is 6.3 inches shorter than the Equinox, making the Corolla Cross Hybrid easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

Passenger Space

The Corolla Cross Hybrid has 2 inches more front legroom and .5 inches more rear headroom than the Equinox.

Ergonomics

The Corolla Cross Hybrid’s front and rear power windows all open or close with one touch of the switches, making it more convenient at drive-up windows and toll booths, or when talking with someone outside of the car. The Equinox’s passenger windows don’t close automatically.

If the windows are left open on the Corolla Cross Hybrid the driver can close them all at the outside door handle. On a hot day the driver can lower the windows at the outside door handle or from a distance using the keyless remote. (This window function must be activated by your Toyota service department.) The driver of the Equinox can only close the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

To help drivers see further while navigating curves, the Corolla Cross Hybrid XSE offers optional adaptive headlights to illuminate around corners automatically by reading vehicle speed and steering wheel angle. The Equinox doesn’t offer cornering lights.

The Corolla Cross Hybrid’s standard automatic temperature control maintains the temperature you set, automatically controlling fan speed, vents and temperature to maintain a consistent, comfortable environment. The Equinox LS doesn’t offer automatic air conditioning.

Recommendations

Both are recommended, but Consumer Reports® chose the Toyota Corolla Cross Hybrid as its “Top Pick,” the highest scoring vehicle in its category, based on reliability, safety and performance.