2026 Chevrolet Trailblazer vs the Competition

Toyota makes no secret that its smallest crossover is based on the Corolla platform. Resembling a compact wagon, the Corolla Cross is powered by a naturally aspirated 2.0-liter inline-4. It is available with FWD and AWD, and there is now a hybrid version, though the hybrid is not included in this comparison. The Corolla Cross is available in L, LE, and XLE trims.

• With a starting MSRP of $25,235, the Corolla Cross is about $2,000 above the base Trailblazer LS and is actually closer to the Trailblazer LT in price.
• The Trailblazer and Corolla Cross trade power advantages. The Toyota’s 169 horsepower exceeds the Trailblazer’s 137 and 155, but thanks to turbocharging, both Trailblazers have more torque (162 & 174 vs. 151 lb-ft) and reach peak torque at a lower rpm, making the power more accessible (2500 & 1600 vs. 4400 rpm).
• The standard 11.0-inch center screen in the Trailblazer is significantly larger than the Corolla Cross’s base 8.0-inch screen, and even still larger than its’ upgrade 10.5-inch screen.
• The Trailblazer wallops the Corolla Cross with a full seven more inches of rear legroom (39.0 vs. 32 inches).
• Also, for those times when you do have three people in the rear seat, or two people who appreciate a little more room, the Trailblazer offers about six and a half more inches of hip room (50.39 vs. 43.8 inches).
• For cargo space behind the second-row seats, the Corolla Cross offers 24.0 cubic feet with FWD and 21.5 cubic feet with AWD.  All Trailblazers have 25.3 cubic feet, beating both.
• The same applies to cargo space when the rear seats are folded, with the Trailblazer offering 54.4 cubic feet compared to 44.0 – 46.9 cubic feet for the AWD and FWD Corolla Cross, respectively.
• The Corolla Cross lacks a front passenger seat that folds flat with the cargo floor, which would further increase cargo space, especially for long items.
• Looks are subjective, but the Trailblazer dash has a far more integrated and cohesive appearance than the dash of the Corolla Cross.

Honda waited until the HR-V’s second generation to bring it to North America, and the third-generation model debuted for the 2023 model year. It looks a bit like a Corolla Cross that has melted in the sun, and like the Toyota, it has a normally aspirated 2.0-liter inline-4 engine, which produces 158 horsepower and 138 lb-ft of torque. The engine is paired with a CVT, and all models come standard with FWD and offer optional AWD. The HR-V is available in LS, Sport, and EX-L trim levels. 

• The Trailblazer is significantly more affordable, coming in more than $3,000 below the HR-V’s starting MSRP of $26,600. In fact, the HR-V’s base price is midway between the Trailblazer LT and RS models. 
• The Trailblazer and HR-V trade off power advantages: Honda’s 158 horsepower exceeds the Trailblazer’s 137 and 155, but the Trailblazer has significantly more torque (162 & 174 vs. 138 lb-ft), and its torque peaks at a lower rpm, making the power more accessible (2500 & 1600 vs. 4200 rpm).
• The standard 11.0-inch center screen in the Trailblazer is notably larger than the HR-V’s  9.0-inch screen, which is across the model line.
• At the base level, the Trailblazer is equipped with a 6-speaker audio system compared to 4 speakers for the HR-V.
• The convenience of a Hi-Fi hotspot is standard on the Trailblazer but not available at all on the HR-V.
• With FWD and in the city, the Trailblazer gets better fuel economy than the HR-V. Compared to the HR-V’s EPA city/highway/combined estimated mpg of 26/32/28, the Trailblazer’s base engine is rated at 30/31/30, and the upgrade engine, which actually does better than the base engine on the highway, is rated at 29/33/31.
• The Trailblazer gives rear passengers a little more legroom (39.1 vs. 37.7 inches).
• Rear passengers also have more hip room in the Trailblazer (50.39 vs. 47.4), which is nice when sitting in the back and crucial when sitting three.
• The HR-V lacks a front passenger seat that folds flat with a cargo floor to provide cargo space for long items and additional cargo space in general.

The original 2018 Nissan Kicks was a bit like the Trax: a subcompact crossover, the lowest-priced model from its brand, and lacking an AWD option. New for the 2025 model year, the second-generation model gained available AWD and an entirely new look, which Nissan described as inspired by both a running shoe and a football helmet. The sole engine in the model line is a naturally aspirated 2.0-liter inline-4 (notable given that its larger Rogue sibling has a 3-cylinder engine) that produces 141 horsepower and 140 lb-ft of torque. In all cases, the engine is paired with a CVT.

• Though the Kicks has a lower starting price than the Trailblazer, many shoppers are likely to reject the base model for its paltry infotainment setup, which features a 7.0-inch touchscreen and no Apple CarPlay or Android Auto compatibility. By contrast, the base Trailblazer has an 11.0-inch screen and wireless Apple CarPlay or Android Auto compatibility.
• While the Kicks has a smidgen more horsepower than the base Trailblazer (137 vs. 141), it has less than the 155-hp 1.3-liter engine. Both Trailblazer engines have considerably more torque (162 & 174 vs. 140), and torque peaks at a more accessible rpm (2500 & 1600 vs. 4000).
• With the Trailblazer engine upgrade, the increased power is paired with a 9-speed automatic transmission rather than the CVT used across the Kick model line.
• The Trailblazer provides rear passengers with considerably more legroom than the Kicks (39.0 vs. 34.5 inches).
• The Kicks loses cargo space when equipped with AWD and thus has less cargo space than the AWD Trailblazer, with the rear seats up (25.3 vs. 23.9 cubic feet) and with the rear seats folded (54.4 vs. 50.1 cubic feet).
• The HR-V lacks a front passenger seat that folds flat into the cargo floor, providing additional cargo space, particularly for long items.
• For those who like to venture off the pavement, the Trailblazer ACTIV features off-road suspension tuning, a functional skid plate, and sport terrain tires.  The Kicks has no off-road-focused model.
• The Trailblazer earned a 5-star overall rating from the NHTSA.  The Nissan Kicks earned four stars.

The Kona was one of the earlier entries in the subcompact crossover market, with its first-generation model launching for the 2018 model year. It was the brand’s smallest crossover until the addition of the smaller Venue in 2020. The 2026 Kona is the second generation, which launched for the 2024 model year. 

The Kona is available as an EV and as a gas-powered model, the latter of which is the subject of this comparison. Like many models in this category, the base Kona is powered by a non-turbocharged 2.0-liter inline-4 engine that produces 147 horsepower and 132 lb-ft of torque, paired with a CVT. SEL Premium and Limited models are powered by a 1.6-liter turbocharged inline-4 producing 190 horsepower and 195 lb-ft of torque, making them leaders in the segment. This engine is paired with an 8-speed automatic. FWD is standard, with AWD available on all trims. Those trims include SE, SEL Sport, SEL Premium, and Limited.

• The Trailblazer’s base MSRP of $23,300 is more affordable than the Kona’s $25,500.
• The base Kona has more horsepower than the base Trailblazer (137 vs. 147), but not the Trailblazer with the engine upgrade (155 vs. 140). Both engines have considerably more torque, which is most critical for initial acceleration (162 & 174 vs. 132 lb-ft). 
• While the turbocharged engine of the SEL and Limited models is more powerful, it comes at an MSRP of $28,500 and $32,650, respectively.
• Base engine fuel economy comparisons are mostly a wash, with the two models trading city versus highway advantages. Among the turbocharged AWD models, the Trailblazer has a 1 mpg advantage across the board.
• The Kona has more rear legroom than most in this segment, but it is still less than the Trailblazer (39.0 vs. 38.2 inches).
• The Kona lacks a front passenger seat that folds flat with the cargo floor, providing additional cargo space, especially for long items.