Compare the2023 Kia SeltosVS 2022 Hyundai Tucson

Both the Seltos and the Tucson 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, 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, daytime running lights, blind spot warning systems and rear cross-path warning.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2021 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Kia vehicles are better in initial quality than Hyundai vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Kia above average in initial quality. With 2 more problems per 100 vehicles, Hyundai is rated lower.

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 Hyundai vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Kia first in reliability, above the industry average. With 3 more problems per 100 vehicles, Hyundai is ranked third.

The Seltos Nightfall/SX’s standard 1.6 turbo 4-cylinder produces 17 lbs.-ft. more torque (195 vs. 178) than the Tucson’s 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder.

As tested in Motor Trend the Kia Seltos is faster than the Hyundai Tucson:

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

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 Tucson 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 Tucson doesn’t offer an SMG or a conventional manual transmission.

The Seltos stops shorter than the Tucson:

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 Tucson’s standard 65 series tires. The Seltos AWD Nightfall/SX’s tires have a lower 45 series profile than the Tucson’s optional 55 series tires.

The Seltos has vehicle speed sensitive 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 Tucson doesn’t offer variable-assist power steering.

The Seltos S AWD handles at .85 G’s, while the Tucson Limited AWD pulls only .82 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 Tucson Limited AWD (26.7 seconds @ .65 average G’s vs. 27.4 seconds @ .61 average G’s).

For better maneuverability, the Seltos’ turning circle is 3.8 feet tighter than the Tucson’s (34.8 feet vs. 38.6 feet).

The Kia Seltos may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 350 to 400 pounds less than the Hyundai Tucson.

The Seltos is 10.3 inches shorter than the Tucson, making the Seltos easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

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

IntelliChoice estimates that five-year ownership costs (depreciation, financing, insurance, fuel, fees, repairs and maintenance) for the Kia Seltos will be $1345 to $3356 less than for the Hyundai Tucson.