Compare the2023 Kia SeltosVS 2023 Fiat 500X

In the past twenty years hundreds of infants and young children have died after being left in vehicles, usually by accident. When turning the vehicle off, drivers of the Seltos are reminded to check the back seat if they opened the rear door before starting out. The 500X doesn’t offer a back seat reminder.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety tests front crash prevention systems. With a score of 6 points, IIHS rates the Autonomous Emergency Braking in the Seltos as “Superior.” The 500X scores only 4 points and is rated only “Advanced.”

Over 200 people are killed each year when backed over by motor vehicles. The Seltos S Turbo/EX/SX has standard Rear Cross-Traffic Avoidance Assist that uses rear sensors to monitor and automatically apply the brakes to prevent a rear collision. The 500X doesn’t offer backup collision prevention brakes.

When descending a steep, off-road slope, the Seltos’ standard Downhill Brake Control allows you to creep down safely. The 500X doesn’t offer Downhill Brake Control.

The Seltos’ standard lane departure warning system alerts a temporarily inattentive driver when the vehicle begins to leave its lane and gently nudges the vehicle back towards its lane. A lane departure warning system costs extra on the 500X and is only available on 500X Sport.

Both the Seltos and the 500X 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, rearview cameras, 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 500X last would have qualified as a “Top Safety Pick” in 2017.

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 500X’s 4-year/50,000-mile basic warranty expires 1 year or 10,000 miles sooner.

Kia’s powertrain warranty covers the Seltos 6 years and 50,000 miles longer than Fiat covers the 500X. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 10 years or 100,000 miles. Coverage on the 500X ends after only 4 years or 50,000 miles.

There are over 2 times as many Kia dealers as there are Fiat dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Seltos’ warranty.

To reliably start during all conditions and help handle large electrical loads, the Seltos has a standard 640-amp battery. The 500X’s 500-amp battery isn’t as powerful.

A reliable vehicle saves its owner time, money and trouble. Nobody wants to be stranded or have to be without a vehicle while it’s being repaired. Consumer Reports rates the Seltos’ reliability 31 points higher than the 500X.

On the EPA test cycle the Seltos gets better mileage than the 500X:

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Kia Seltos uses regular unleaded gasoline. The 500X requires premium for maximum efficiency, which can cost 20 to 55 cents more per gallon.

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 500X 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 500X doesn’t offer an SMG or a conventional manual transmission.

The Seltos stops shorter than the 500X:

For better traction, the Seltos AWD Nightfall/SX’s tires are larger than the largest tires available on the 500X (235/45R18 vs. 225/55R18).

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 500X AWD’s standard 60 series tires.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Seltos’ wheelbase is 2.3 inches longer than on the 500X (103.5 inches vs. 101.2 inches).

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the Seltos is .7 inches wider in the front and 1.2 inches wider in the rear than the track on the 500X.

The Seltos SX handles at .84 G’s, while the 500X pulls only .78 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The Seltos S AWD executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 2 seconds quicker than the 500X (26.7 seconds @ .65 average G’s vs. 28.7 seconds @ .59 average G’s).

For better maneuverability, the Seltos’ turning circle is 1.5 feet tighter than the 500X’s (34.8 feet vs. 36.3 feet).

The Kia Seltos may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs up to about 350 pounds less than the Fiat 500X.

The Seltos has 7.3 cubic feet more passenger volume than the 500X (99 vs. 91.7).

The Seltos has .9 inches more front headroom, .2 inches more front hip room, 1.2 inches more front shoulder room, .6 inches more rear headroom, 3.2 inches more rear legroom, .6 inches more rear hip room and 1.9 inches more rear shoulder room than the 500X.

For enhanced passenger comfort on long trips the Seltos’ rear seats recline. The 500X’s rear seats don’t recline.

The front step up height for the Seltos is 1.4 inches lower than the 500X (18” vs. 19.4”). The Seltos’ rear step up height is 1.8 inches lower than the 500X’s (17.8” vs. 19.6”).

The Seltos has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the 500X with its rear seat up (26.6 vs. 14.1 cubic feet). The Seltos has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the 500X with its rear seat folded (62.8 vs. 39.8 cubic feet).

A low lift-over cargo hatch design makes loading and unloading the Seltos easier. The Seltos’ cargo hatch lift-over height is 29.4 inches, while the 500X’s liftover is 31.4 inches.

The Seltos’ cargo area is larger than the 500X’s in every dimension:

The Seltos has a standard locking fuel door with a remote release located convenient to the driver. A locking fuel door helps prevent fuel theft and vandalism, such as sugar in the tank. The 500X doesn’t offer a locking fuel door.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) conducts detailed tests on headlights for their range both straight ahead and in curves and to be certain they don’t exceed acceptable amounts of glare to oncoming drivers. The Seltos’ available headlights were rated “Good” by the IIHS, while the 500X’s headlights are rated “Poor.”

The Seltos has a standard automatic headlight on/off feature. When the ignition is on, the headlights automatically turn on at dusk and off after dawn. The 500X only offers an automatic headlight on/off feature as an extra cost option.

The Seltos S/EX/Nightfall/SX has a standard center folding armrest for the rear passengers. A center armrest helps make rear passengers more comfortable and it can provide a boundary between children. The 500X doesn’t offer a rear seat center armrest.

For greater rear passenger comfort, the Seltos has standard rear heat vents to keep rear occupants more comfortable. The 500X doesn’t offer rear vents.

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the Kia Seltos EX/SX has a standard wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the center console. The 500X doesn’t offer wireless personal charging.

The Seltos is available in both front-wheel drive and four-wheel drive configurations. The 500X doesn’t offer a two-wheel drive configuration.

The Seltos will cost the buyer less in the long run because of its superior resale value. The IntelliChoice estimates that the Seltos will retain 49.25% to 49.41% of its original price after five years, while the 500X only retains 36.13% to 38.37%.

IntelliChoice estimates that five-year ownership costs (depreciation, financing, insurance, fuel, fees, repairs and maintenance) for the Kia Seltos will be $5320 to $7448 less than for the Fiat 500X.

Consumer Reports® recommends the Kia Seltos, based on reliability, safety and performance. The Fiat 500X isn't recommended.