Compare the2025 Kia SeltosVS 2024 Cadillac XT4

The Seltos’ driver alert monitor detects an inattentive driver then sounds a warning and suggests a break. According to the NHTSA, drivers who fall asleep cause about 100,000 crashes and 1500 deaths a year. The XT4 doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

Both the Seltos and the XT4 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, available all wheel drive, daytime running lights, blind spot warning systems, rear parking sensors 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 Cadillac XT4:

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 flat barrier at 38.5 MPH and into a post at 20 MPH, results indicate that the Kia Seltos is safer than the Cadillac XT4:

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 XT4’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 Cadillac covers the XT4. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 10 years or 100,000 miles. Coverage on the XT4 ends after only 6 years or 70,000 miles.

There are over 38 percent more Kia dealers than there are Cadillac dealers, which makes it easier should you ever need service under the Seltos’ warranty.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the Seltos second among small suvs in their 2024 Initial Quality Study. The XT4 isn’t in the top three in its category.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2024 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Kia vehicles are better in initial quality than Cadillac vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Kia fourth in initial quality, above the industry average. With 51 more problems per 100 vehicles, Cadillac is ranked 23rd, below the industry average.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2024 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Kia vehicles are more reliable than Cadillac vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Kia above average in long-term dependability. With 3 more problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, Cadillac is rated below average.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2024 Auto Issue reports that Kia vehicles are more reliable than Cadillac vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Kia 6 places higher in reliability than Cadillac.

As tested in Motor Trend the Seltos X-Line/SX 1.6 turbo 4-cylinder is faster than the Cadillac XT4:

On the EPA test cycle the Seltos gets better mileage than the XT4:

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Kia Seltos uses regular unleaded gasoline. The XT4 requires premium for maximum efficiency, which can cost on average about 84.9 cents more per gallon.

The Seltos has a standard locking fuel door. The fuel filler door is not lockable on the XT4. A locking fuel door helps prevent fuel theft and vandalism, such as sugar in the tank.

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 XT4 doesn’t offer a CVT.

The Seltos stops much shorter than the XT4:

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 XT4’s standard 60 series tires.

The Seltos S AWD handles at .85 G’s, while the XT4 Sport AWD pulls only .81 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The Seltos S AWD executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver quicker than the XT4 Sport AWD (26.7 seconds @ .65 average G’s vs. 27.6 seconds @ .61 average G’s).

For better maneuverability, the Seltos’ turning circle is 3.2 feet tighter than the XT4’s (34.8 feet vs. 38 feet).

For greater off-road capability the Seltos has a greater minimum ground clearance than the XT4 (7.3 vs. 6.7 inches), allowing the Seltos to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

The Kia Seltos may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 500 to 750 pounds less than the Cadillac XT4.

The Seltos is 8.3 inches shorter than the XT4, making the Seltos easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The Seltos is 5.8 inches narrower than the XT4, making the Seltos easier to handle and maneuver in traffic.

The Seltos has .6 inches more front headroom, .1 inches more rear headroom and 3 inches more rear hip room than the XT4.

For enhanced passenger comfort on long trips the Seltos’ rear seats recline. The XT4’s rear seats don’t recline.

The Seltos has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the XT4 with its rear seat up (26.6 vs. 22.5 cubic feet). The Seltos has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the XT4 with its rear seat folded (62.8 vs. 48.9 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 XT4’s liftover is 30.5 inches.

The Seltos’ cargo area is larger than the XT4’s in almost every dimension:

Consumer Reports rated the Seltos’ headlight performance “Very Good,” a higher rating than the XT4’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 $275 less than the XT4 over a five-year period.

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 57.1% to 64.07% of its original price after five years, while the XT4 only retains 52.41% to 53.95%.

IntelliChoice estimates that five-year ownership costs (depreciation, financing, insurance, fuel, fees, repairs and maintenance) for the Kia Seltos will be $12880 to $15403 less than for the Cadillac XT4.

Consumer Reports® recommends the Kia Seltos, based on reliability, safety and performance. The Cadillac XT4 isn't recommended.

The Kia Seltos outsold the Cadillac XT4 by almost three to one during 2023.