Compare the2023 Hyundai KonaVS 2023 Kia Seltos

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Brakes and Stopping
Suspension and Handling
Chassis
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Payload
Ergonomics
Recommendations

Safety

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The Kona has a standard blind spot warning system which uses sensors to alert the driver to objects in the vehicle’s blind spots where the side view mirrors don’t reveal them. Only the Seltos S/EX/Nightfall/SX offers a blind spot warning system.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the Kona has a standard rear cross-path warning system, which uses sensors in the rear bumper to alert the driver to vehicles approaching from the side, helping the driver avoid collisions. Only the Seltos S/EX/Nightfall/SX has a rear cross-path warning system.

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 and rear parking sensors.

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:

	Kona	Seltos
OVERALL STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
	Driver
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Neck Injury Risk	20%	24%
Neck Stress	207 lbs.	237 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	29/232 lbs.	460/429 lbs.
	Passenger
STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	217	405
Chest Compression	.6 inches	.6 inches
Neck Injury Risk	37%	41%
Neck Compression	70 lbs.	171 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	59/27 lbs.	144/44 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 Hyundai Kona is safer than the Kia Seltos:

	Kona	Seltos
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	109	109
Chest Movement	.8 inches	1.2 inches
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Spine Acceleration	66 G’s	70 G’s
Hip Force	638 lbs.	754 lbs.
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	196	225

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.

Warranty

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.

Reliability

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.

Engine

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.

Fuel Economy and Range

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

			MPG
Kona
	FWD	2.0 DOHC 4-cyl.	30 city/35 hwy
	AWD	2.0 DOHC 4-cyl.	28 city/33 hwy
		1.6 turbo 4-cyl.	27 city/32 hwy
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

Brakes and Stopping

In an emergency stopping situation, many drivers don’t press the brakes with enough force to stop the vehicle in the shortest distance. The Kona has a standard brake assist system to detect emergency braking situations (by how hard and how quickly the brake pedal is pressed) and then automatically apply maximum braking immediately in order to help prevent a collision. The Seltos doesn’t offer a brake assist feature.

The Kona stops shorter than the Seltos:

	Kona	Seltos
60 to 0 MPH	119 feet	122 feet	Motor Trend
60 to 0 MPH (Wet)	131 feet	133 feet	Consumer Reports

Suspension and Handling

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).

Chassis

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

Passenger Space

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”).

Cargo Capacity

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.

Payload

The Kona has a higher standard payload capacity than the Seltos (915 vs. 860 lbs.).

The Kona has a higher maximum payload capacity than the Seltos (930 vs. 860 lbs.).

Ergonomics

The Kona SEL/N Line/Limted’s 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.

The Kona’s standard outside mirrors include heating elements to clear off the mirrors for better visibility. Kia only offers heated mirrors on the Seltos S/EX/Nightfall/SX.

Recommendations

The Kona was chosen as a Car and Driver’s “Top Ten” for 2019. The Seltos has never been chosen by Car and Driver in their “10Best” issue, and the Seltos has only been chosen.

A group of representative automotive journalists from North America selected the Kona as the 2019 North American Utility Vehicle of the Year. The Seltos has never been chosen.

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