Compare the2023 Kia SeltosVS 2023 Honda CR-V Hybrid

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 Hybrid doesn’t offer a GPS response system, only a navigation computer with no live response for emergencies, 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 Hybrid 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 Hybrid 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 Hybrid’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 Hybrid. 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 Hybrid ends after only 5 years or 60,000 miles.

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.

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

Both the Seltos and CR-V 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.

The Seltos stops shorter than the CR-V 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 CR-V Hybrid’s standard 60 series tires. The Seltos AWD Nightfall/SX’s tires have a lower 45 series profile than the CR-V Hybrid Sport Touring’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 CR-V Hybrid; it requires you to depend on roadside assistance and your vehicle will have to be towed.

The Seltos has standard front and rear gas-charged shocks for better control over choppy roads. The CR-V Hybrid’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 Hybrid doesn’t offer variable-assist power steering.

The Seltos S AWD handles at .85 G’s, while the CR-V Hybrid Sport Touring AWD pulls only .79 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The Seltos S AWD executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 2.6 seconds quicker than the CR-V Hybrid Sport Touring AWD (26.7 seconds @ .65 average G’s vs. 29.3 seconds @ .57 average G’s).

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

The Kia Seltos may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 600 to 800 pounds less than the Honda CR-V Hybrid.

The Seltos is 1 foot shorter than the CR-V Hybrid, 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 Hybrid.

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

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