2027 Hyundai Kona vs 2026 Toyota Corolla Cross | Webb Hyundai Merrillville, IN
2027 Hyundai Kona vs 2026 Toyota Corolla Cross: A Merrillville, Indiana Head-to-Head
Webb Hyundai Merrillville | (219) 736-2277 | 1000 W 81st Ave, Merrillville, IN 46410
Quick Answer: The 2027 Hyundai Kona starts at $25,500 against $26,485 for the 2026 Toyota Corolla Cross, offers a stronger 190-horsepower turbo upgrade with 195 lb-ft, and posts a better gas highway figure at up to 35 MPG versus 33. Toyota answers with a 169-horsepower base engine and a 42 MPG combined hybrid.
Which one costs less to get into?
The Kona does, by $985. Hyundai opens the 2027 Kona lineup at $25,500 MSRP while Toyota opens the 2026 Corolla Cross at $26,485. The gap widens for AWD shoppers because Toyota charges $1,300 to add all wheel drive to a gas Corolla Cross.
Stacked together, a buyer who wants gas power and all wheel drive is looking at a meaningfully different starting point between the two nameplates before a single option is added.
Which has the better engine lineup?
Toyota wins the base-engine spec sheet with 169 horsepower against the Kona’s 147. Hyundai wins the upgrade, offering a 1.6L turbocharged GDI making 190 horsepower and 195 lb-ft of torque. Toyota’s upgrade is a hybrid rather than a performance step, producing 196 combined horsepower with a 42 MPG combined rating.
So the honest framing is that these two brands answer the same question differently. Hyundai sells the stronger conventional gas experience; Toyota sells the stronger efficiency ceiling. Which one is right depends on whether your week is 20 miles or 200.
| Head-to-head category | 2027 Hyundai Kona | 2026 Toyota Corolla Cross |
|---|---|---|
| Starting MSRP | $25,500 | $26,485 |
| Standard engine | 2.0L MPI, 147 hp, 132 lb-ft | 2.0L, 169 hp |
| Upgrade powertrain | 1.6L turbo GDI, 190 hp, 195 lb-ft | Hybrid, 196 hp combined, 42 MPG combined |
| Best gas highway MPG, FWD | Up to 35 MPG | 33 MPG |
| Gas highway MPG, AWD | 28 to 29 MPG | 31 MPG |
| All wheel drive | HTRAC AWD available across the lineup | $1,300 option on gas, standard on hybrid |
| Cargo behind the second row | Compare in person at 1000 W 81st Ave | 24 cu ft FWD, 21.5 cu ft AWD |
| Named upper grade pricing | Limited caps a four-trim ladder | XLE from $31,410 |
| Displays | Dual 12.3-inch screens | Confirm with a Toyota retailer |
What about cargo space?
Toyota publishes 24 cubic feet behind the second row on front-wheel-drive Corolla Cross models and 21.5 cubic feet on AWD versions. That 2.5 cubic foot difference is a fair point in Toyota’s favor on the FWD side and a fair caution on the AWD side, because the AWD buyer pays $1,300 and loses cargo volume in the same transaction.
What are the full 2027 Kona specifications behind this comparison?
Every Hyundai figure used above comes from the current-generation Kona specification set, which carries into 2027 unchanged. Here it is in one place so the comparison can be checked line by line rather than taken on faith.
| Specification | 2027 Hyundai Kona |
|---|---|
| Trims | SE, SEL Sport, SEL Premium, Limited |
| Starting MSRP | $25,500 |
| Standard engine | 2.0L MPI four-cylinder, 147 hp, 132 lb-ft |
| Available engine | 1.6L turbocharged GDI four-cylinder, 190 hp, 195 lb-ft |
| Best highway MPG | Up to 35 MPG, front-wheel drive |
| AWD fuel economy | 27/29/28, 26/29/27 and 25/28/26 city/hwy/combined |
| Drivetrain | FWD standard, HTRAC All Wheel Drive available |
| Displays | 12.3-inch touchscreen plus 12.3-inch instrument cluster |
| Phone projection | Wireless Apple CarPlay and wireless Android Auto, standard |
| Available equipment highlights | 18-inch alloy wheels, Remote Smart Parking Assist |
| Safety recognition | 2026 IIHS TOP SAFETY PICK+ |
| Brand recognition | Hyundai named America’s Best SUV Brand by U.S. News and World Report, second year running |
Which trims are actually available near Crown Point today?
Availability is where a comparison stops being theoretical. Webb Hyundai Merrillville has 20 units of the 2027 Kona in stock as of August 10, 2026, priced from $27,340 to $29,521, spanning SE FWD, SE AWD, SEL Sport FWD, SEL Sport AWD, Limited FWD and Limited AWD. That is the strongest 2027 Kona selection in the Webb group.
| Trim | Pricing reference | Best cross-shopping argument |
|---|---|---|
| SE | Lineup opens at $25,500 | Undercuts the Corolla Cross entry price by $985 |
| SEL Sport | Volume trim, FWD and AWD in stock | Mid-ladder content without XLE-level pricing |
| SEL Premium | Upper mid-grade | Alternative to stepping into a $31,410 XLE |
| Limited | In-stock ceiling $29,521 | 190 hp and 195 lb-ft against a 196 hp hybrid |
How do the two compare in a Northwest Indiana winter?
HTRAC All Wheel Drive is available across the 2027 Kona lineup, which matters more here than the fuel economy delta. Merrillville, Hobart and Portage sit in the lake-effect snow path, and the side streets off Broadway and Ridge Road are rarely the first thing plowed. Toyota’s gas AWD is a $1,300 add, and its standard-AWD answer is the hybrid at a higher price point.
The AWD Kona gives up highway efficiency, running 28 to 29 MPG against Toyota’s 31 MPG gas AWD figure. That is roughly a two to three MPG highway trade for a lower price of entry and lineup-wide HTRAC availability.
Where does each one win on the spec sheet?
Toyota’s clear wins are base horsepower at 169, gas AWD highway efficiency at 31 MPG, and a hybrid that returns 42 MPG combined with all wheel drive included. Hyundai’s clear wins are the $25,500 entry price, the 195 lb-ft available torque figure, the up to 35 MPG best gas highway rating, and HTRAC availability that is not gated behind a $1,300 option box.
Neither list makes the other vehicle a bad choice. It makes the decision a question of which two or three lines on that list describe your actual week behind the wheel.
Which should I buy?
Choose the 2027 Kona if you want the lower entry price, the stronger conventional gas upgrade at 190 horsepower and 195 lb-ft, and the ability to see six FWD and AWD configurations on one lot near US-30 and I-65. Choose the Corolla Cross hybrid if a 42 MPG combined rating outranks everything else on your list.
Webb Hyundai Merrillville, an NWI Best of the Region 2026 winner for the third consecutive year, has the Kona side of that comparison ready to drive. Full model detail is on the main page: 2027 Hyundai Kona at Webb Hyundai Merrillville.
Key Takeaways
- The 2027 Kona opens $985 below the 2026 Toyota Corolla Cross, $25,500 against $26,485.
- Toyota leads on base horsepower, 169 to 147; Hyundai leads on upgrade torque at 195 lb-ft.
- Kona posts the better gas highway figure at up to 35 MPG versus 33 MPG for Corolla Cross FWD.
- Toyota charges $1,300 for gas-model AWD; HTRAC AWD is available across the Kona lineup.
- Corolla Cross cargo drops from 24 to 21.5 cubic feet when a buyer adds all wheel drive.
- The Corolla Cross hybrid holds the efficiency crown at 42 MPG combined with AWD standard.
- Webb Hyundai Merrillville has 20 Konas in stock from $27,340 to $29,521 across six configurations.
Kona vs Corolla Cross FAQ
Is the Hyundai Kona cheaper than the Toyota Corolla Cross?
Yes at the entry point. The 2027 Kona starts at $25,500 MSRP and the 2026 Corolla Cross starts at $26,485, a difference of $985 before any all wheel drive option is added.
Which one is faster, the Kona turbo or the Corolla Cross hybrid?
The verified outputs are close on horsepower, 190 for the Kona 1.6L turbo and 196 combined for the Corolla Cross hybrid. The Kona publishes 195 lb-ft of torque, which is the figure most drivers feel merging onto I-65.
Does the Corolla Cross get better fuel economy than the Kona?
On gas models the Kona leads on the highway, up to 35 MPG versus 33 MPG for a front-wheel-drive Corolla Cross. Toyota’s hybrid is the overall efficiency leader at 42 MPG combined.
Which has more cargo space behind the back seat?
Toyota publishes 24 cubic feet on FWD Corolla Cross models and 21.5 cubic feet on AWD versions. Bring your cargo to 1000 W 81st Ave and load the Kona directly to compare what fits.
Can I drive a Kona in Merrillville before deciding?
Yes. Twenty 2027 Konas are in stock at Webb Hyundai Merrillville, including SE, SEL Sport and Limited in both FWD and HTRAC AWD. Call (219) 736-2277 to set a time.
Is the 2027 Kona all-new?
No. Hyundai still lists the 2026 Kona as the current model year, so the 2027 is a same-generation carryover using the current-generation specifications shown throughout this comparison.
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