Compare the2024 Kia SeltosVS 2024 Honda CR-V

Both the Seltos and CR-V offer rear cross-traffic warning, but the Seltos S/EX/X-Line/SX has Rear Cross-Traffic Collision-Avoidance Assist (automatically applies the brakes) to better prevent a collision when backing near traffic. The CR-V’s Cross Traffic Monitor doesn’t automatically brake.

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 and blind spot warning systems.

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 162 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The CR-V has not been fully 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.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2023 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 above average in initial quality. With 20 more problems per 100 vehicles, Honda is rated lower.

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 X-Line/SX’s standard 1.6 turbo 4-cylinder produces 5 more horsepower (195 vs. 190) and 16 lbs.-ft. more torque (195 vs. 179) than the CR-V’s standard 1.5 turbo 4-cylinder.

As tested in Motor Trend the Kia Seltos 4 cyl. is faster than the Honda CR-V turbo 4 cyl.:

As tested in Motor Trend the Seltos X-Line/SX 1.6 turbo 4-cylinder is faster than the CR-V Hybrid 2.0 DOHC 4-cylinder hybrid:

Both the Seltos 2.0 and the CR-V have a standard automatic start/stop engine feature to stop unnecessary fuel waste and pollution at stoplights and heavy traffic. All Seltos 2.0s have a standard disable switch for the system, so a driver can keep the engine from shutting off when the vehicle stops temporarily. The CR-V Hybrid doesn’t offer a way to disable start/stop.

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Kia Seltos uses regular unleaded gasoline. The CR-V with the 1.5 turbo 4-cylinder engine requires premium for maximum efficiency, which can cost on average about 82.8 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 LX’s standard 65 series tires. The Seltos AWD X-Line/SX’s tires have a lower 45 series profile than the CR-V Sport Touring Hybrid’s 55 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 Sport Touring Hybrid 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 Sport Touring Hybrid (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’s (34.8 feet vs. 37.3 feet).

The Kia Seltos may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 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 inches more front legroom, .2 inches more rear headroom and .2 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.

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

Optional air-conditioned seats in the Seltos SX keep the driver and front passenger comfortable and take the sting out of hot seats in Summer. The CR-V doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats.

Consumer Reports® recommends both the Kia Seltos and the Honda CR-V, based on reliability, safety and performance.