Compare the2022 Hyundai KonaVS 2022 Kia Seltos

Both the Kona and the Seltos have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, front wheel drive, height adjustable front shoulder belts, plastic fuel tanks, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, lane departure warning systems, rearview cameras, driver alert monitors, available all wheel drive, blind spot warning systems, rear parking sensors 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 Hyundai Kona is safer than the Kia Seltos:

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 Hyundai Kona is safer than the Kia Seltos:

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

Instrumented handling tests conducted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and analysis of its dimensions indicate that the Kona is 1% to 3.3% less likely to roll over than the Seltos.

The Kona’s corrosion warranty is 2 years and unlimited miles longer than the Seltos’ (7/unlimited vs. 5/100,000).

Hyundai pays for scheduled maintenance on the Kona for 3 years and 36,000 miles. Hyundai will pay for oil changes, lubrication and any other required maintenance. Kia doesn’t pay scheduled maintenance for the Seltos.

To reliably power the ignition and other systems and to recharge the battery, the Kona has a standard 150-amp alternator. The Seltos’ standard 120-amp alternator isn’t as powerful.

A reliable vehicle saves its owner time, money and trouble. Nobody wants to be stranded or have to be without a vehicle while it’s being repaired. Consumer Reports rates the Kona’s reliability 42 points higher than the Seltos.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2021 Auto Issue reports that Hyundai vehicles are more reliable than Kia vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Hyundai 9 places higher in reliability than Kia.

The Kona N Line/Limited’s standard 1.6 turbo 4-cylinder produces 49 more horsepower (195 vs. 146) and 63 lbs.-ft. more torque (195 vs. 132) than the Seltos’ standard 2.0 DOHC 4-cylinder.

The Kona stops shorter than the Seltos:

The Kona has variable-assist power steering, for low-effort parking, better control at highway speeds and during hard cornering, and a better feel of the road. The Seltos doesn’t offer variable-assist power steering.

The Kona SEL AWD handles at .88 G’s, while the Seltos SX pulls only .84 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The Kona executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1.9 seconds quicker than the Seltos S (26.9 seconds @ .65 average G’s vs. 28.8 seconds @ .56 average G’s).

The Kona is 6.4 inches shorter than the Seltos, making the Kona easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The front step up height for the Kona is 2 inches lower than the Seltos (16” vs. 18”). The Kona’s rear step up height is 1.7 inches lower than the Seltos’ (16.1” vs. 17.8”).

A low lift-over cargo hatch design makes loading and unloading the Kona easier. The Kona’s cargo hatch lift-over height is 27.5 inches, while the Seltos’ liftover is 29.4 inches.

A maintenance reminder system is standard on the Kona to save the owner time and money by calculating maintenance intervals based on odometer mileage. This takes the guesswork out of keeping your vehicle in top condition and helps it last longer. Kia doesn’t offer a maintenance reminder on the Seltos.

The Kona’s optional front power windows open fully with one touch of the switches, and the driver’s window also automatically closes, making it more convenient at drive-up windows and toll booths, or when talking with someone outside the car. The Seltos EX/SX’s passenger windows don’t open or close automatically.

The Kona Limited’s standard wipers adjust their speed and turn on and off automatically according to the amount of rainfall on the windshield. The Seltos’ manually variable intermittent wipers have to be constantly adjusted.

Consumer Reports® recommends the Hyundai Kona, based on reliability, safety and performance. The Kia Seltos isn't recommended.

The Kona was chosen as one of Car and Driver’s “Top Five/10Best Trucks” in 2019. The Seltos has never been a Car and Driver “Top Five/10Best Truck” pick.

The Hyundai Kona outsold the Kia Seltos by 60% during the 2021 model year.