Compare the2023 Kia SeltosVS 2023 Cadillac XT4

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Transmission
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Chassis
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Ergonomics
Economic Advantages
Recommendations

Safety

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The Seltos’ standard lane departure warning system alerts a temporarily inattentive driver when the vehicle begins to leave its lane and gently nudges the vehicle back towards its lane. A lane departure warning system costs extra on the XT4.

The Seltos’ driver alert monitor detects an inattentive driver then sounds a warning and suggests a break. According to the NHTSA, drivers who fall asleep cause about 100,000 crashes and 1500 deaths a year. The XT4 doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

Both the Seltos and the XT4 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, 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 Cadillac XT4:

	Seltos	XT4
	Driver
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	129	190
Neck Injury Risk	24%	28%
Neck Compression	23 lbs.	43 lbs.
	Passenger
STARS	4 Stars	4 Stars
Chest Compression	.6 inches	.7 inches
Neck Stress	127 lbs.	131 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	144/44 lbs.	73/175 lbs.

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 Cadillac XT4:

	Seltos	XT4
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	109	114
Abdominal Force	170 lbs.	185 lbs.
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Spine Acceleration	33 G’s	35 G’s
Hip Force	433 lbs.	522 lbs.

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

For its top level performance in IIHS driver and passenger-side small overlap frontal, moderate overlap frontal, side impact, roof strength and head restraint tests, its standard vehicle-to-vehicle front crash prevention system, with its optional vehicle-to-pedestrian front crash prevention system, and its available headlight’s “Good” rating, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the Seltos the rating of “Top Safety Pick” for 2022, a rating granted to only 175 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The XT4 has not been fully tested, yet.

Warranty

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 XT4’s 4-year/50,000-mile basic warranty expires 1 year or 10,000 miles sooner.

Kia’s powertrain warranty covers the Seltos 4 years and 30,000 miles longer than Cadillac covers the XT4. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 10 years or 100,000 miles. Coverage on the XT4 ends after only 6 years or 70,000 miles.

There are over 37 percent more Kia dealers than there are Cadillac dealers, which makes it easier should you ever need service under the Seltos’ warranty.

Reliability

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 Seltos’ reliability 26 points higher than the XT4.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Kia vehicles are better in initial quality than Cadillac vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Kia fourth in initial quality, above the industry average. With 7 more problems per 100 vehicles, Cadillac is ranked 8th.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the statistics that show that Kia vehicles are more reliable than Cadillac vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Kia first in reliability, above the industry average. With 23 more problems per 100 vehicles, Cadillac is ranked 9th.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2023 Auto Issue reports that Kia vehicles are more reliable than Cadillac vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Kia 8 places higher in reliability than Cadillac.

Engine

As tested in Car and Driver the Seltos Nightfall/SX 1.6 turbo 4-cylinder is faster than the Cadillac XT4:

	Seltos	XT4
Zero to 60 MPH	6.6 sec	7.8 sec
Zero to 100 MPH	19.5 sec	23 sec
5 to 60 MPH Rolling Start	7 sec	8.2 sec
Passing 30 to 50 MPH	3.5 sec	4.2 sec
Passing 50 to 70 MPH	5 sec	5.4 sec
Quarter Mile	15.3 sec	16.1 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	91 MPH	87 MPH

Fuel Economy and Range

On the EPA test cycle the Seltos gets better mileage than the XT4:

			MPG
Seltos
	FWD	2.0 DOHC 4-cyl.	29 city/35 hwy
	AWD	2.0 DOHC 4-cyl.	27 city/31 hwy
		1.6 turbo 4-cyl.	25 city/30 hwy
XT4
	FWD	2.0 turbo 4-cyl.	23 city/30 hwy
	AWD	2.0 turbo 4-cyl.	22 city/29 hwy

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Kia Seltos uses regular unleaded gasoline. The XT4 requires premium for maximum efficiency, which can cost 20 to 55 cents more per gallon.

Transmission

The Seltos has a standard continuously variable transmission (CVT). With no “steps” between gears, it can keep the engine at the most efficient speed for fuel economy, or keep it at its peak horsepower indefinitely for maximum acceleration. The XT4 doesn’t offer a CVT.

The Seltos offers an available sequential manual gearbox (SMG). With no clutch pedal to worry about and a fully automatic mode, an SMG is much more efficient than a conventional automatic but just as easy to drive. The XT4 doesn’t offer an SMG or a conventional manual transmission.

Brakes and Stopping

The Seltos stops much shorter than the XT4:

	Seltos	XT4
70 to 0 MPH	160 feet	172 feet	Car and Driver
60 to 0 MPH	115 feet	126 feet	Motor Trend
60 to 0 MPH (Wet)	133 feet	141 feet	Consumer Reports

Tires and Wheels

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 XT4’s standard 60 series tires.

Suspension and Handling

The Seltos S AWD handles at .85 G’s, while the XT4 Sport AWD pulls only .81 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The Seltos S AWD executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver quicker than the XT4 Sport AWD (26.7 seconds @ .65 average G’s vs. 27.6 seconds @ .61 average G’s).

For better maneuverability, the Seltos’ turning circle is 3.2 feet tighter than the XT4’s (34.8 feet vs. 38 feet).

Chassis

The Kia Seltos may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 600 to 700 pounds less than the Cadillac XT4.

The Seltos is 9.1 inches shorter than the XT4, making the Seltos easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

Passenger Space

The Seltos has .6 inches more front headroom, .1 inches more rear headroom and 3 inches more rear hip room than the XT4.

For enhanced passenger comfort on long trips the Seltos’ rear seats recline. The XT4’s rear seats don’t recline.

Cargo Capacity

The Seltos has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the XT4 with its rear seat up (26.6 vs. 22.5 cubic feet). The Seltos has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the XT4 with its rear seat folded (62.8 vs. 48.9 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 XT4’s liftover is 30.5 inches.

The Seltos’ cargo area is larger than the XT4’s in almost every dimension:

	Seltos	XT4
Length to seat (2nd/1st)	32.7”/62.4”	37.5”/67.4”
Max Width	52.3”	50”
Min Width	41.6”	38.7”
Height	32.5”	26.6”

Ergonomics

The Seltos has a standard locking fuel door with a remote release located convenient to the driver. A locking fuel door helps prevent fuel theft and vandalism, such as sugar in the tank. The XT4 doesn’t offer a locking fuel door.

Consumer Reports rated the Seltos’ headlight performance “Very Good,” a higher rating than the XT4’s headlights, which were rated “Good.”

Economic Advantages

Insurance will cost less for the Seltos owner. The Complete Car Cost Guide estimates that insurance for the Seltos will cost $185 less than the XT4 over a five-year period.

The Seltos will cost the buyer less in the long run because of its superior resale value. The IntelliChoice estimates that the Seltos will retain 49.25% to 49.41% of its original price after five years, while the XT4 only retains 45.4% to 45.5%.

IntelliChoice estimates that five-year ownership costs (depreciation, financing, insurance, fuel, fees, repairs and maintenance) for the Kia Seltos will be $11721 to $13147 less than for the Cadillac XT4.

Recommendations

Consumer Reports® recommends the Kia Seltos, based on reliability, safety and performance. The Cadillac XT4 isn't recommended.