Compare the2023 Kia SeltosVS 2023 Lexus UX

Both the Seltos and the UX 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, 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 Lexus UX:

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 post at 20 MPH, results indicate that the Kia Seltos is safer than the Lexus UX:

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

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 UX’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 Lexus covers the UX. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 10 years or 100,000 miles. Coverage on the UX ends after only 6 years or 70,000 miles.

There are over 3 times as many Kia dealers as there are Lexus dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Seltos’ warranty.

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 Lexus vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Kia fourth in initial quality, above the industry average. With 1 more problems per 100 vehicles, Lexus is ranked 6th.

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 Lexus vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Kia first in reliability, above the industry average. With 14 more problems per 100 vehicles, Lexus is ranked 6th.

As tested in Motor Trend the Seltos Nightfall/SX 1.6 turbo 4-cylinder is faster than the Lexus UX:

Both the Seltos and UX 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.

The Seltos has 2.6 gallons more fuel capacity than the UX (13.2 vs. 10.6 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

The Seltos stops much shorter than the UX:

For better traction, the Seltos AWD Nightfall/SX’s tires are larger than the largest tires available on the UX (235/45R18 vs. 225/50R18).

The Seltos AWD Nightfall/SX’s tires provide better handling because they have a lower 45 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the UX’s 50 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 UX; it requires you to depend on its run-flat tires, which limits mileage and speed before they are repaired. If a run-flat is damaged beyond repair by a road hazard your vehicle will have to be towed.

The Seltos S AWD handles at .85 G’s, while the UX 250h F Sport Handling AWD pulls only .80 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The Seltos S AWD executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1.4 seconds quicker than the UX 250h F Sport Handling AWD (26.7 seconds @ .65 average G’s vs. 28.1 seconds @ .62 average G’s).

The Kia Seltos may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 300 to 550 pounds less than the Lexus UX.

The Seltos is 5 inches shorter than the UX, making the Seltos easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The Seltos has 8.6 cubic feet more passenger volume than the UX (99 vs. 90.4).

The Seltos has 2.7 inches more front headroom, .4 inches more front shoulder room, 2.1 inches more rear headroom, 4.9 inches more rear legroom, .5 inches more rear hip room and 1.8 inches more rear shoulder room than the UX.

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

The Seltos has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the UX (26.6 vs. 17.1 cubic feet).

The power windows standard on both the Seltos and the UX have locks to prevent small children from operating them. When the lock on the Seltos is engaged the driver can still operate all of the windows, for instance to close one opened by a child. The UX prevents the driver from operating the other windows just as it does the other passengers.

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

Insurance will cost less for the Seltos owner. The Complete Car Cost Guide estimates that insurance for the Seltos will cost $205 to $1685 less than the UX 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 $4501 to $6268 less than for the Lexus UX.

Consumer Reports® recommends both the Kia Seltos and the Lexus UX, based on reliability, safety and performance.