The 2026 Honda HR-V vs. the Competition

Mazda may be trying to move its vehicles more upscale, but the CX-30, still leans toward the more fun, less useful subcompact category concept. Its suspension is tuned for sportiness over ride comfort, its engines are unusually large, and all models have standard AWD. At the same time, the swoopy styling sacrifices space in the rear seats and cargo area. The CX-30’s starting MSRP is near the HR-V’s, but the model line stretches to include 310-hp turbocharged performance models at about $10,000 higher. 

• By not offering an FWD model, the CX-3 cedes fuel-mileage superiority to the HR-V model line.
• The HR-V AWD model has comparable mileage to the non-turbocharged CX-30 with the same combined 27 MPG while trading city and highway advantages (25 / 30 / 27 MPG city/ highway/ combined vs. 24 / 31 / 27 MPG)
• The HR-V Eco Assist and Econ button allow you to maximize your driving efficiency. The Mazda has no such features.
• The HR-V has 17-inch wheels on its base model compared to 16-inch wheels for the CX-30.
• The HR-V has greater overall passenger space (98.7 cubic feet vs. 94.1).
• The base 8.8-inch touchscreen is about the same size as the standard 9-inch screen on the HR-V, but the Mazda’s rotary control system can feel less intuitive compared to Honda’s touchscreen.
• Front seat space is similar for both models, but the HR-V provides more rear legroom (37.7 inches vs. 36.3).
• The HR-V has more cargo room behind the rear seats (24.4 cubic feet vs. 20.2 cubic feet)
• The HRV has significantly more cargo space with the rear seats folded (55.1 cubic feet vs. 45.2).
• Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android is standard across the HR-V model line but requires an upgrade from the base model for the CX-30.

The Trax is built by General Motors in South Korea and brought to the states as Chevrolet’s entry-level model. While the first Trax was pretty milqetoast, the second-generation model has a much improved appearance, with a face that matches other Chevrolet crossovers and an attractive profile. The Trax is powered by a turbocharged 1.2-liter 3-cylinder engine, which is connected to a 6-speed automatic transmission. From there, the power goes strictly to the front wheels as there is no AWD option. The Trax is available in LS, LT, RS, and ACTIV trim levels. 

• The Trax engine is tiny, but turbocharging increases power to the point where the Trax and the HR-V trade power advantages. The HR-V has more horsepower (158 vs. 137) while the Trax has more torque (162 vs. 138).
• The lack of AWD puts the Trax at a disadvantage in areas that experience plenty of rain or snow
• Highway fuel economy ratings between the two models is the same 32 MPG, while the Trax has a higher city estimate (26 / 28).
• Interior measurements are very close, particularly for the front seats. For the rear seat, the Trax has one more inch of legroom (37.7 vs. 38.7) but over an inch and a half less hip room (47.4 vs. 45.8).
• Likewise, the models trade small cargo space advantages with the Trax having more behind the rear seats (25.6 cubic feet vs. 24.4), and the HR-V having more space overall (55.1 cubic feet vs. 54.1).
• Standard features on every HR-V but either not found or requiring an upgrade on the Trax include:
  • Adaptive Cruise Control with Low-Speed Follow and Traffic Jam Assist
  • Road Departure Mitigation System
  • Traffic Sign Recognition System
• The HR-V earned the IIHS’ highest safety rating of TOP SAFETY PICK +. The Trax was not awarded a TOP SAFETY PICK in part due to poor ratings on front crash prevention and the front moderate overlap test.
• The HR-V also earned a 5-star overall rating from the NHTSA. The Trax has not yet been tested. 
• Additional features available on the HR-V but not on the Trax include:
  • Power moonroof
  • Leather upholstery
  • 8-way power driver seat
  • Heated seats
  • Dual-zone automatic climate control

Toyota openly acknowledges that its smallest crossover is built on the Corolla platform. Looking like a compact wagon, the Corolla Cross is equipped with a naturally aspirated 2.0-liter inline-4 engine. It offers both FWD and AWD options, and a hybrid model is now available, although it is not part of this comparison. The Corolla Cross comes in L, LE, and XLE trims.

• The HR-V has a 4-wheel independent suspension, which allows the best wheel placement for gripping the pavement as opposed to the FWD Corolla Cross, which has a non-independent torsion beam axle rear suspension.
• The FWD Corolla Cross also doesn’t feature a rear stabilizer bar, which you find on all HR-V models. 
• The HR-V comes standard with an electronic active noise-canceling system to quiet the cabin on the road. The Corolla Cross has no such system.
• The HR-V offers more overall passenger space, at 98.7 cubic feet (97.3 cubic feet for EX-L), compared to 94.9 cubic feet for the Corolla Cross.
• Rear passengers have significantly more legroom in the HR-V than the Corolla Cross (37.7 inches vs. 32).
• Making it much more practical to fit three in the rear seat, the HR-V has more hip room than the Corolla Cross (47.4 inches vs. 43.8).
• The HR-V has more cargo space behind the rear seats (24.4 cubic feet vs. 21.5 – 24.0).
• The HR-V offers significantly more maximum cargo space with the rear seats folded (55.1 cubic feet vs 44–46.9).
• The HR-V achieved an overall 5-star rating from the NHTSA, while the Corolla Cross has not yet been tested as of this writing.
• The HR-V has earned a TOP SAFETY PICK + designation by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. That is their highest rating. The Corolla Cross earned the second-highest rating of TOP SAFETY PICK.
• In J.D. Power and Associates’ 2025 Initial Quality Study, The Honda brand ranked significantly above average while Toyota ranked below average.

For a while, Kia offered the FWD-only, boxy Soul (now discontinued) as its entry in this category, but that changed with the introduction of the Seltos in the 2021 model year. 2026 marks the final year for the first-generation Seltos, as it will be replaced by a completely redesigned model for the 2027 model year.

Most 2026 Seltos models are powered by a normally aspirated 2.0-liter inline-4 producing 147 hp and 132 lb-ft of torque, paired with a CVT. The top-level SX is powered by a 1.6-liter turbocharged inline-4 producing 190 hp and 195 lb-ft of torque, paired with an 8+speed transmission. The SX has standard AWD, while the LX, S, and EX trims have it as an option in place of the standard FWD.

• Compared to the Seltos standard engine, the HR-V has more horsepower (158 vs. 147) and more torque (138 lb-ft vs. 132).
• The HR-V sports four-wheel independent suspension, while the FWD Kia Seltos has a non-independent torsion-beam rear suspension, which may compromise ride quality
• The FWD Kia Seltos also lacks a rear stabilizer bar, which is standard on all HR-V models.
• The 9-inch center touchscreen in the HR-V is larger than the 8-inch screen in the base Seltos.
• The Seltos has a curious situation in which the base LX has wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, but the S, EX, and SX models with the 10.25-inch touchscreen require a wired connection. All HR-V models have wireless smartphone compatibility
• The HR-V earned the IIHS’ highest safety rating of TOP SAFETY PICK +. The Seltos was not awarded a TOP SAFETY PICK in part due to less than “Good “ ratings on the Moderate overlap and side impact tests, along with a poor rating for headlights on some trims and front crash prevention.
• The HR-V comes standard with an electronic active noise-canceling system to quiet the cabin on the road. The Seltos has no such system.