Of course the Rav will be better in the snow, but an experienced winter driver can handle a Corolla easily
With proper snow tires, both cars will perform equally. Rav4 will have a little more weight behind it to plow through some thicker areas of snow, but at that point you shouldn’t be driving on the roads anyway and if you are getting this type of weather, you likely have road maintenance anyway which includes plows so the benefit becomes a relatively moot point.
The difference comes down to this, really:
The Rav4 (more weight) will be easier to get moving, but will be harder for it to stop.
The Corolla (less weight) will be harder to get moving, but will be easier for it to stop.
With proper snow tires, both cars will perform equally. Rav4 will have a little more weight behind it to plow through some thicker areas of snow, but at that point you shouldn’t be driving on the roads anyway and if you are getting this type of weather, you likely have road maintenance anyway which includes plows so the benefit becomes a relatively moot point.
The difference comes down to this, really:
The Rav4 (more weight) will be easier to get moving, but will be harder for it to stop.
The Corolla (less weight) will be harder to get moving, but will be easier for it to stop.