Compare the2023 Kia SeltosVS 2023 Honda CR-V

The Seltos SX has standard 911 Connect, which uses a global positioning satellite (GPS) receiver and a cellular system to send emergency personnel to the scene if any airbags deploy. The CR-V doesn’t offer a GPS response system, so if you’re involved in an accident and you’re incapacitated help may not come as quickly.

Both the Seltos and the CR-V 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.

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 CR-V has not been tested, yet.

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 CR-V’s 3-year/36,000-mile basic warranty expires 2 years or 24,000 miles sooner.

Kia’s powertrain warranty covers the Seltos 5 years and 40,000 miles longer than Honda covers the CR-V. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 10 years or 100,000 miles. Coverage on the CR-V ends after only 5 years or 60,000 miles.

To reliably start during all conditions and help handle large electrical loads, the Seltos has a standard 640-amp battery. The CR-V’s 410-amp battery isn’t as powerful.

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 Honda vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Kia fourth in initial quality, above the industry average. With 27 more problems per 100 vehicles, Honda is ranked 16th, 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 Honda vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Kia first in reliability, above the industry average. With 85 more problems per 100 vehicles, Honda is ranked 24th.

The Seltos Nightfall/SX’s standard 1.6 turbo 4-cylinder produces 16 lbs.-ft. more torque (195 vs. 179) than the CR-V’s 1.5 turbo 4-cylinder.

As tested in Motor Trend the Kia Seltos is faster than the Honda CR-V:

On the EPA test cycle the Seltos 2.0 DOHC 4-cylinder FWD gets better fuel mileage than the CR-V FWD (29 city/35 hwy vs. 28 city/34 hwy).

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

The Seltos stops much shorter than the CR-V:

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 CR-V’s standard 60 series tires. The Seltos AWD Nightfall/SX’s tires have a lower 45 series profile than the CR-V’s 60 series tires.

The Seltos has standard front and rear gas-charged shocks for better control over choppy roads. The CR-V’s suspension doesn’t offer gas-charged shocks.

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 CR-V doesn’t offer variable-assist power steering.

The Seltos S AWD handles at .85 G’s, while the CR-V EX-L 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 1.3 seconds quicker than the CR-V EX-L AWD (26.7 seconds @ .65 average G’s vs. 28 seconds @ .59 average G’s).

For better maneuverability, the Seltos’ turning circle is 2.5 feet tighter than the CR-V’s (34.8 feet vs. 37.3 feet).

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

The Seltos is 1 foot shorter than the CR-V, making the Seltos easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The Seltos has 1.8 inches more front headroom, .1 inches more front legroom, .2 inches more rear headroom and 3.3 inches more rear hip room than the CR-V.

The power windows standard on both the Seltos and the CR-V 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 CR-V prevents the driver from operating the other windows just as it does the other passengers.

To direct the driver from any location to a given street address, a GPS navigation system is available on the Seltos (except LX). The Seltos’ navigation system also has a real-time traffic update feature that offers alternative routes to automatically bypass traffic problems. (Service not available in all areas.) The CR-V doesn’t offer a navigation system.

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