Toyota Highlander Hybrid vs Chevrolet Trax

The 2023 Toyota Highlander Hybrid was priced at just over $50,000, with the base Hybrid LE starting at $51,435, including destination charges. In Canada, all-wheel drive was standard, while a front-wheel drive version was available in the U.S. The Highlander Hybrid offered various trims, including the XLE AWD with a Special Edition package and the Limited with a Platinum package. The Limited trim with the Platinum package had an MSRP of $61,800 in Canada. The 2023 model saw minimal appearance changes, with a new Cypress Green paint colour. The design was described as over-styled, with exaggerated forms and a lack of subtlety both inside and out. The interior was criticized for its mismatched textures, reflections, and lack of quality, with controls and storage areas feeling inexpensive and poorly designed.

The 2024 Chevrolet Trax underwent a significant makeover, sharing little with its predecessor except the name. The new Trax was longer, lower, and wider, with styling elements borrowed from the midsize Chevy Blazer. It featured a gaping grille, pronounced rear body sides, and a distinctive appearance compared to competitors like the Hyundai Venue and Nissan Kicks. Base models came with 17-inch steel wheels, while higher trims offered 18-inch and 19-inch aluminum wheels. The Trax LS had a mostly plastic interior typical of entry-level models, but interesting design features kept it from being boring. Higher trims offered Evotex upholstery and various styling flourishes. The interior design was slim, with a freestanding touchscreen and large air vents, maintaining functionality without sacrificing style.

The 2023 Toyota Highlander Hybrid combined a 2.5-litre Atkinson-cycle four-cylinder engine with two electric motor-generators, plus a third motor for the rear wheels, providing standard AWD. It delivered 243 combined horsepower, tasked with moving 2,060 kilograms in Limited trim. The electric motors assisted with acceleration and allowed for low-speed electric-only driving. However, the gas engine's 175 pound-feet of torque limited high-speed passing power. The Highlander Hybrid offered Eco, Normal, and Sport driving modes, with a Trail mode for light off-road use. Its primary focus was fuel economy, with a Predictive Efficient Drive system that aimed to optimize efficiency. Despite Toyota's claims of 6.7 litres per 100 kilometres, the test vehicle returned 8.2 L/100 km. The driving experience was described as uninspiring, with soft suspension, a noisy CVT, and unengaging steering.

The 2024 Chevrolet Trax featured a new 1.2-litre turbocharged three-cylinder engine, producing 137 horsepower and 162 pound-feet of torque. Despite lower power figures compared to the previous model, the new Trax was estimated to reach 100 km/h about a second faster. The engine's flat torque curve provided strong response, with minimal turbo lag. The Trax retained the previous six-speed automatic transmission and was available only with front-wheel drive. Its handling was tuned to be more car-like, with a wider track for a planted feel. The Trax offered predictable and nimble handling, reminiscent of small hatchbacks. While ride quality was slightly rough, the Trax exceeded expectations in refinement, with standard active noise cancellation.

The 2023 Toyota Highlander Hybrid was designed to accommodate family life, seating seven or eight people depending on the configuration. Most models featured second-row captain’s chairs, making the third row suitable only for occasional use. Standard equipment included three-zone automatic climate control and heated front seats, with additional features like a heated steering wheel and ventilated seats in higher trims. The interior offered power-adjustable front seats and comfortable second-row captain’s chairs. However, accessing the third row was challenging, and the seats were uncomfortable for adults. The Highlander provided various storage solutions, though some were poorly designed. Cargo space measured 453 litres behind the third row, expanding to 2,387 litres with the second-row seats folded.

The 2024 Chevrolet Trax, while larger overall, offered mixed results in interior space. It provided 7.6 cm more rear-seat legroom, with slight increases in front-seat legroom. However, headroom decreased in the second row, and shoulder room was reduced. The Trax's passenger space was comparable to rivals like the Nissan Kicks and Hyundai Venue. The Trax offered a car-like driving position with low window sills for excellent visibility. Cargo space increased by about 12%, with 725 litres available with the rear seats in place and 1,532 litres with them folded.

The 2023 Toyota Highlander Hybrid introduced new technology, including a 12.3-inch digital instrumentation display on upper trims. However, the controls were not intuitive. The infotainment system featured an 8.0-inch touchscreen on lower trims and a 12.3-inch display on the Limited. It supported over-the-air updates, dual-device Bluetooth pairing, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, HD Radio, and SiriusXM. Connected service plans were standard, with Remote Connect allowing remote access via a smartphone app. The Drive Connect service plan offered additional features like natural voice recognition and cloud-based navigation. The test vehicle included a head-up display and an 11-speaker JBL sound system.

The 2024 Chevrolet Trax saw significant infotainment upgrades, with an 8-inch touchscreen standard on LS and 1RS trims, and an 11-inch touchscreen with an 8-inch digital instrument cluster on higher trims. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, along with wireless phone charging, were available for the first time. The Trax's infotainment system was user-friendly, with crisp graphics and a logical menu layout. However, the screen's tilt towards the driver limited passenger use. The digital instrument cluster was easy to read, and information could be transferred from the main touchscreen. The Trax offered multiple USB ports, with wireless charging available as an option.

The 2023 Toyota Highlander Hybrid prioritized safety with Toyota Safety Sense 2.5+, a standard suite of advanced driving assistance systems. It included adaptive cruise control, forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, lane-centring assist, automatic high beams, and road sign assist. Blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert were standard, with front and rear parking sensors and a surround-view camera on higher trims. The ADAS performed well, though it occasionally struggled with certain road conditions. Safety Connect was standard, providing emergency assistance and collision notification. The Highlander Hybrid received excellent crash-test ratings from both the IIHS and NHTSA.

The 2024 Chevrolet Trax's crash-test ratings were unavailable at the time of publication. However, it offered a decent array of driver-assist features, including automatic emergency braking, front pedestrian braking, lane-keep assist, lane-departure warning, forward collision warning, automatic high beams, and a following distance indicator. Optional features included adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and rear park assist. The Trax also featured the Teen Driver system, which activated certain safety features and monitored driving behaviour.