Compare the2022 Kia SeltosVS 2021 Subaru Crosstrek

Compared to metal, the Seltos’ plastic fuel tank can withstand harder, more intrusive impacts without leaking; this decreases the possibility of fire. The Subaru Crosstrek has a metal gas tank.

Both the Seltos and the Crosstrek have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, height adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, rearview cameras, available all wheel drive, daytime running lights, blind spot warning systems and rear cross-path warning.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does 35 MPH front crash tests on new vehicles. In this test, results indicate that the Kia Seltos is safer than the Subaru Crosstrek:

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does side impact tests on new vehicles. In this test, which crashes the vehicle into a flat barrier at 38.5 MPH and into a post at 20 MPH, results indicate that the Kia Seltos is safer than the Subaru Crosstrek:

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

The Seltos comes with a full 5-year/60,000-mile basic warranty, which covers the entire truck and includes 24-hour roadside assistance. The Crosstrek’s 3-year/36,000-mile basic warranty expires 2 years or 24,000 miles sooner.

Kia’s powertrain warranty covers the Seltos 5 years and 40,000 miles longer than Subaru covers the Crosstrek. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 10 years or 100,000 miles. Coverage on the Crosstrek ends after only 5 years or 60,000 miles.

There are over 20 percent more Kia dealers than there are Subaru dealers, which makes it easier should you ever need service under the Seltos’ warranty.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2020 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Kia vehicles are better in initial quality than Subaru vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Kia first in initial quality, above the industry average. With 51 more problems per 100 vehicles, Subaru is ranked 27th, below the industry average.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2021 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Kia vehicles are more reliable than Subaru vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Kia third in reliability, above the industry average. With 28 more problems per 100 vehicles, Subaru is ranked 17th.

The Seltos Nightfall/SX’s standard 1.6 turbo 4-cylinder produces 19 lbs.-ft. more torque (195 vs. 176) than the Crosstrek Sport/Limited’s standard 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder.

As tested in Consumer Reports the Kia Seltos 4 cyl. is faster than the Subaru Crosstrek 2.0 DOHC 4-cylinder (automatics tested):

Regardless of its engine, the Seltos’ engine automatically turns off when the vehicle is stopped, saving fuel and reducing pollution. (Start/Stop isn’t accounted in present EPA fuel mileage tests.) Subaru only offers an automatic engine start/stop system on the Crosstrek CVT.

The Kia Seltos comes standard with an automatic transmission, for driver comfort, especially in the city. Automatic costs extra on the Crosstrek.

The Seltos offers an available sequential manual gearbox (SMG). With no clutch pedal to worry about and a fully automatic mode, an SMG is more internally efficient than a CVT but just as easy to drive. The Crosstrek doesn’t offer an SMG.

For better stopping power the Seltos Nightfall/SX’s front brake rotors are larger than those on the Crosstrek:

The Seltos stops much shorter than the Crosstrek:

For better traction, the Seltos AWD Nightfall/SX’s tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Crosstrek (235/45R18 vs. 225/60R17).

The Seltos’ standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 55 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Crosstrek’s standard 60 series tires. The Seltos AWD Nightfall/SX’s tires have a lower 45 series profile than the Crosstrek Limited’s 55 series tires.

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the Seltos is 1 inch wider in the front and 1.2 inches wider in the rear than on the Crosstrek.

The Seltos SX handles at .84 G’s, while the Crosstrek Limited pulls only .81 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The Seltos SX executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1 seconds quicker than the Crosstrek Limited (27.4 seconds @ .63 average G’s vs. 28.4 seconds @ .58 average G’s).

For better maneuverability, the Seltos’ turning circle is .6 feet tighter than the Crosstrek’s (34.8 feet vs. 35.4 feet).

The Seltos is 4.5 inches shorter than the Crosstrek, making the Seltos easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The Seltos has .2 inches more front headroom, .4 inches more rear headroom and 1.5 inches more rear legroom than the Crosstrek.

For enhanced passenger comfort on long trips the Seltos’ rear seats recline. The Crosstrek’s rear seats don’t recline.

The Seltos has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the Crosstrek with its rear seat up (26.6 vs. 20.8 cubic feet). The Seltos has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the Crosstrek with its rear seat folded (62.8 vs. 55.3 cubic feet).

A low lift-over cargo hatch design makes loading and unloading the Seltos easier. The Seltos’ cargo hatch lift-over height is 29.4 inches, while the Crosstrek’s liftover is 30.9 inches.

Consumer Reports rated the Seltos’ headlight performance “Very Good,” a higher rating than the Crosstrek’s headlights, which were rated “Good.”

The Seltos has a standard automatic headlight on/off feature. When the ignition is on, the headlights automatically turn on at dusk and off after dawn. The Crosstrek has an automatic headlight on/off feature standard only on the Premium/Sport/Limited.

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the Kia Seltos EX/SX has a standard wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the center console. The Crosstrek doesn’t offer wireless personal charging.

The Seltos is available in both front-wheel drive and four-wheel drive configurations. The Crosstrek doesn’t offer a two-wheel drive configuration.