2026 Toyota Corolla Cross vs. 2027 Honda HR-V

Toyota and Honda split these two lineups differently. Toyota offers the Corolla Cross three ways: gas with front-wheel drive (FWD), gas with AWD, or hybrid with AWD. The 2027 HR-V comes two ways, FWD or AWD, with the same gas engine in both. Every version uses a continuously variable transmission (CVT), an automatic with no fixed gear steps. In the hybrid, it's an electronically controlled continuously variable transmission (ECVT).

All five versions use a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine, though not the same one. Gas versions of the Corolla Cross (L, LE and XLE) make 169 horsepower and 151 lb-ft of torque. The three hybrid grades have their own engine, which makes 150 horsepower and 139 lb-ft of torque on its own. Toyota rates the combined output of the whole hybrid system at 196 horsepower.

Every 2027 HR-V, from the LX to the EX-L, makes 158 horsepower and 138 lb-ft of torque. On paper, Toyota's gas engine makes more horsepower and more torque than Honda's. For light towing, Toyota rates every 2026 Corolla Cross configuration at up to 1,500 lb.

All five versions run on regular fuel, and the EPA rates each one separately.

When both have front-wheel drive, the gas Corolla Cross is rated 32 mpg combined to the 2027 HR-V's 28. When both have all-wheel drive, it's 30 mpg to 27.

The Corolla Cross Hybrid stands apart. The 2027 HR-V has no hybrid version, so there's no Honda rating to compare with the hybrid's 42 mpg combined. The hybrid is also the only one of the five versions rated higher in the city (46 mpg) than on the highway (39 mpg). If most of your miles are in town, that city figure is the one to weigh.

Every grade and trim of both models can be had with all-wheel drive, and each maker has its own name for its system. AWD is optional on the 2027 HR-V and on Toyota's gas grades, while every Corolla Cross Hybrid comes with it standard.

Ground clearance is higher on the Corolla Cross in every pairing. That matters here in Fayette County, Pennsylvania, which averages about 43 inches of snow a year in the valleys and up to about 75 inches at higher elevations. Winters like that are why we'd weigh all-wheel drive and ground clearance alongside fuel economy.

Honda gives all three HR-V trims Dynamic Drive Modes with Econ, Normal and Snow settings.

For more on choosing a Toyota for winter driving here, see our guide to Toyota models for Pennsylvania winters.

Toyota and Honda each measure cargo space their own way. Corolla Cross cargo room changes with the drivetrain, while the 2027 HR-V lists one set of figures for all its trims.

Outside, the 2027 HR-V is longer and wider than any Corolla Cross version, and it rides on a longer wheelbase.

Toyota builds the 2026 Corolla Cross in six grades, and Honda builds the 2027 HR-V in three trims.

The gas models come in L, LE and XLE grades, each with front-wheel or all-wheel drive. The hybrid comes in Hybrid S, Hybrid SE and Hybrid XSE grades, and all three have all-wheel drive. To see prices on the vehicles we have, search our new Toyota inventory. See our current Toyota specials for the latest deals. Our Toyota payment calculator can estimate a monthly payment.

The 2027 HR-V comes as an LX, Sport or EX-L, each with FWD or AWD. Every trim has 180-watt audio. The LX rides on 17-inch alloy wheels, and the Sport and EX-L ride on 18-inch alloys. The Sport and EX-L also add heated front seats, heated side mirrors and Key Fob Activated Remote Engine Start, none of which the LX has.

Corolla Cross screen sizes step up by grade, while every HR-V trim gets the same screens.

The HR-V's touchscreen is larger than the standard screen in the Corolla Cross L, LE, Hybrid S and Hybrid SE. The XLE and Hybrid XSE come with a larger screen than the HR-V's. Both models have wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto on every grade and trim.

Each range runs from lowest to highest grade or trim.

Corolla Cross figures are Toyota's starting MSRP at launch, excluding destination; HR-V figures are Honda's "starting at" prices, which Honda does not tie to a drivetrain.

Every 2026 Corolla Cross, gas or hybrid, comes standard with Toyota Safety Sense 3.0.

NHTSA has not published an overall rating for the 2026 Corolla Cross. Ratings change as new tests are published, so check NHTSA.gov for the latest.

Toyota and Honda back these two models with the same basic, powertrain and corrosion terms, and the Corolla Cross Hybrid adds coverage for its hybrid system and hybrid battery.

Matched version for version, the Corolla Cross has the edge on fuel economy, power and ground clearance. It's also the only one of the two offered as a hybrid. The 2027 HR-V is larger outside and holds more fuel.

Which one has the larger touchscreen depends on the Corolla Cross grade, and all-wheel drive is available across both lineups. Basic, powertrain and corrosion warranty terms match, and the hybrid grades add hybrid-system and battery coverage. Cargo space has no clear winner, since each maker measures it differently.

The right pick depends on your winters, your daily miles and what you carry.

• If winter traction and fuel cost both weigh on you: Look first at a Corolla Cross Hybrid. All-wheel drive comes standard, and Toyota gives no Corolla Cross a higher EPA combined rating.
• If you want all-wheel drive with a gas engine: Any gas Corolla Cross grade can have it, the L included, so there's no need to move up a grade. Equipped that way, each has a higher EPA combined rating than the 2027 HR-V AWD.
• If most of your driving is in town and you can skip all-wheel drive: A front-wheel-drive Corolla Cross has the most cargo room of any Corolla Cross. It's also the more fuel-efficient of the two gas Corolla Cross versions. Before you settle on it, look at the hybrid's EPA city rating, even though the hybrid comes only with all-wheel drive.
• If cargo space decides it: Each maker measures cargo its own way, so the numbers alone won't settle it. If your weekends mean loading gear for Ohiopyle State Park, the Youghiogheny River or the ski slopes of the Laurel Highlands, hold both makers' figures up against the gear you actually carry.
• If you want the same screen whichever trim you pick: Look at the 2027 HR-V. Every trim has a 9-inch touchscreen, and you can choose front-wheel or all-wheel drive on any of them.

For other Toyota and Honda matchups, see our 2026 Corolla vs Civic comparison and our 2026 RAV4 vs CR-V Hybrid comparison, or browse our Compare Toyota Models guide.

Our lot leans heavily toward all-wheel drive and four-wheel drive, and we carry hybrids across the Toyota range. Search our new inventory for the Corolla Cross and Corolla Cross Hybrid, and check our current Toyota specials before you visit. Schedule a Corolla Cross or Corolla Cross Hybrid test drive when you're ready. Before you decide, it's worth driving an HR-V at a Honda store too.

We help arrange financing through lenders for buyers with all kinds of credit. Start with our finance department, or fill out our form to get credit assistance.

If you have a vehicle to trade, submit its details to request a trade-in appraisal. If you're buying new, read about our Kelly Confidence Program.

Buyers report a no-pressure, low-hassle sales experience. Customers tell us their deals are often wrapped up remotely, by phone, text or email, with a quick in-person pickup. They also tell us they come from out of town to buy here, including from Morgantown, West Virginia, and Fairmont, West Virginia.

Questions about this comparison? Contact us. We're at 1 Mary Jane Wood Drive, Uniontown, PA 15401. Use our hours and directions to plan the trip.