Compact SUVs Compared

Compact Crossovers Collide: Which One Comes Out on Top?

Drivers looking for a practical, efficient, and stylish compact SUV have more choices than ever. With strong contenders like the 2026 Honda HR-V, 2026 Toyota Corolla Cross, 2025 Hyundai Kona, and 2025 Chevrolet Trailblazer, the compact segment continues to heat up. While all four offer appealing features, the 2026 Honda HR-V at Westshore Honda stands out for its refined drive, advanced safety, and well-balanced design. At our Honda dealership in Tampa, FL, the 2026 Honda HR-V continues to lead the way for drivers seeking an SUV that delivers more across the board.

Bold Designs Meet Functional Interiors

From the outside, each SUV brings its own personality to the road. The 2026 Honda HR-V boasts a clean, modern shape with standard LED headlights and 17-inch alloy wheels. Optional upgrades such as 18-inch machine-finished wheels and a chrome exhaust finisher offer a polished edge. Inside, the HR-V cabin feels airy and welcoming, featuring cloth seating, a 60/40 split second-row, and smart details like illuminated vanity mirrors and sliding sun visors. Premium trims at our Honda dealership in Tampa, FL, add leather upholstery, dual-zone climate control, and heated front seats for a premium experience.

The 2026 Toyota Corolla Cross follows with a simple, upright look that some drivers may find conservative. Its cabin materials and layout are improved from previous years, but it lacks the rear-seat flexibility and cargo space found in the HR-V. The 2025 Hyundai Kona offers a futuristic vibe, especially with its dual-screen layout and bold exterior, though some may find the design too edgy. The 2025 Chevrolet Trailblazer leans sporty, featuring two-tone roof options and gloss-black details, but rear seat space and cargo utility lag behind its rivals.

Efficient Power for Everyday Adventure

Under the hood, the 2026 Honda HR-V uses a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine producing 158 horsepower and 138 lb-ft of torque. Paired with a smooth CVT, the HR-V delivers composed acceleration for daily drives. Standard front-wheel drive offers up to 32 MPG highway, while Real Time AWD adds traction when roads get slick. Three drive modes—Normal, Econ, and Snow—let you tailor performance to suit Tampa’s changing conditions or road trip routes up the coast.

The Toyota Corolla Cross offers a 169-horsepower gas engine with available hybrid power in some trims. While the hybrid version gives a fuel economy edge, the gas engine lacks refinement compared to the balanced setup of the 2026 Honda HR-V at our Honda dealership near Clearwater, FL. The 2025 Hyundai Kona comes with several options, including a turbocharged 190-hp engine and even an EV version, but these increase price and reduce simplicity. Meanwhile, the 1.3-liter turbo of the 2025 Chevy Trailblazer delivers 155 horsepower and 174 lb-ft of torque, offering pep around town but feeling strained during highway merging.

Safety Systems That Inspire Confidence

Every 2026 Honda HR-V for sale at our Honda dealership in Tampa, FL, includes Honda Sensing^®, a robust suite of driver-assist technologies. Standard features include Lane Keeping Assist, Collision Mitigation Braking, Adaptive Cruise Control, and Road Departure Mitigation. A Driver Attention Monitor adds another level of protection, especially on long commutes. Blind Spot Monitoring and Rear Cross Traffic Monitoring are available for added awareness in Tampa’s busy parking lots and city streets.

Toyota equips the Corolla Cross with Toyota Safety Sense^™, offering similar features but omits a driver attention system. Hyundai’s SmartSense in the Kona covers key assists, though some only come on top trims. The Chevy Trailblazer has Chevy Safety Assist with essentials like automatic emergency braking, lane keep assist, and pedestrian detection, but adaptive cruise control and parking aids are optional rather than standard.

Smart Tech Where It Counts

The 2026 Honda HR-V interior is ready for today’s connected lifestyle. All trims at our Honda dealership near Lutz, FL, feature a 9-inch touchscreen, a 7-inch digital gauge cluster, and wireless Apple CarPlay^® and Android^™ Auto. Remote start, Smart Entry with Walk Away Auto Lock, and available wireless charging add convenience without hassle. The interface is simple, responsive, and user-friendly—no digging through menus or confusing layouts.

The 2026 Toyota Corolla Cross interior offers a competitive infotainment setup with up to a 10.5-inch screen on upper trims, but the system is not as user-friendly as the 2026 Honda HR-V. The dual-screen display of the 2025 Hyundai Kona feels high tech, but the learning curve may frustrate some drivers. The 11-inch infotainment display of the 2025 Chevrolet Trailblazer impresses in size but misses polish in responsiveness and design. Across the board, the 2026 Honda HR-V at Westshore Honda in Tampa, FL, strikes the best balance of usability and modern features from base to premium trims.

The Clear Favorite for Tampa Drivers: The 2026 Honda HR-V

While each compact SUV brings strengths to the table, the 2026 Honda HR-V offers the most well-rounded experience for drivers in Tampa and beyond. It delivers a smooth ride, efficient performance, and a feature-rich interior in a sleek and approachable package. Add in Honda’s trusted safety systems and class-leading tech, and it’s easy to see why the 2026 HR-V continues to rise above.

Visit Westshore Honda in Tampa, FL, to explore the 2026 Honda HR-V in person. Our team is here to help you compare trims, explore new vehicle promotions, and schedule a test drive. See for yourself how the 2026 Honda HR-V outpaces the Corolla Cross, Kona, and Trailblazer on every front.