Compare the2023 Kia SeltosVS 2023 Hyundai Tucson Hybrid

Both the Seltos and the Tucson Hybrid 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, 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.

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 Hyundai Tucson Hybrid:

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

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 Hyundai vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Kia fourth in initial quality, above the industry average. With 29 more problems per 100 vehicles, Hyundai is ranked 17th, below the industry average.

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.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2023 Auto Issue reports that Kia vehicles are more reliable than Hyundai vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Kia 4 places higher in reliability than Hyundai.

As tested in Motor Trend the Seltos Nightfall/SX 1.6 turbo 4-cylinder is faster than the Hyundai Tucson Hybrid:

Both the Seltos and Tucson Hybrid have a standard automatic start/stop engine feature to stop unnecessary fuel waste and pollution at stoplights and heavy traffic. The Seltos has a standard disable switch for the system, so a driver can keep the engine from shutting off when the vehicle stops temporarily.

A seven-speed automatic (SMG) is standard on the Kia Seltos Nightfall/SX, for better acceleration and lower engine speed on the highway. Only a six-speed automatic is available for the Tucson Hybrid.

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

The Seltos stops much shorter than the Tucson Hybrid:

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

The Seltos has a standard space-saver spare tire so you can replace a flat tire and drive to have the flat repaired or replaced. A spare tire isn’t available on the Tucson Hybrid; it requires you to depend on roadside assistance and your vehicle will have to be towed.

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 Hybrid doesn’t offer variable-assist power steering.

The Seltos S AWD handles at .85 G’s, while the Tucson Hybrid Limited 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 Hybrid Limited (26.7 seconds @ .65 average G’s vs. 27.4 seconds @ .63 average G’s).

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

The Kia Seltos may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 450 to 700 pounds less than the Hyundai Tucson Hybrid.

The Seltos is 10.3 inches shorter than the Tucson Hybrid, 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 Hybrid’s headlights, which were rated “Good.”

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

Insurance will cost less for the Seltos owner. The Complete Car Cost Guide estimates that insurance for the Seltos will cost $170 to $1595 less than the Tucson Hybrid over a five-year period.

IntelliChoice estimates that five-year ownership costs (depreciation, financing, insurance, fuel, fees, repairs and maintenance) for the Kia Seltos will be $2872 to $3435 less than for the Hyundai Tucson Hybrid.

Consumer Reports® recommends both the Kia Seltos and the Hyundai Tucson Hybrid, based on reliability, safety and performance.