Compare the2026 Volkswagen TaosVS 2026 Kia Seltos

Safety
Warranty
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Environmental Friendliness
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Payload
Ergonomics
Recommendations

Safety

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For enhanced safety, the front and rear seat shoulder belts of the Volkswagen Taos have pretensioners to tighten the seatbelts and eliminate dangerous slack in the event of a collision and force limiters to limit the pressure the belts will exert on the passengers. The Kia Seltos doesn’t offer pretensioners for its rear seat belts.

Using vehicle speed sensors and seat sensors, smart airbags in the Taos deploy with different levels of force or don’t deploy at all to help better protect passengers of all sizes in different collisions. The Taos’ side airbags will shut off if a child is leaning against the door. The Seltos’ side airbags don’t have smart features and will always deploy full force.

The Taos has a standard Automatic Post-Collision Braking System, which automatically applies the brakes in the event of a crash to help prevent secondary collisions and prevent further injuries. The Seltos doesn’t offer a post collision braking system: in the event of a collision that triggers the airbags, more collisions are possible without the protection of airbags that may have already deployed.

Over 200 people are killed each year when backed over by motor vehicles. The Taos SE/SEL has standard Maneuver Braking that use rear sensors to monitor for objects to the rear and automatically apply the brakes to prevent a collision. The Seltos doesn’t offer automatic braking for stationary objects directly to the rear.

The Taos SE/SEL has standard Park Distance Control to help warn the driver about vehicles, pedestrians or other obstacles behind or in front of their vehicle. The Seltos doesn’t offer a front parking aid.

The Taos has a standard blind spot warning system that uses sensors to alert the driver to objects in the vehicle’s blind spots where the side view mirrors don’t reveal them and moves the vehicle back into its lane. Only the Seltos S/EX/SX offers a blind spot warning system.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the Taos has standard Rear Traffic Alert and automatically engage the brakes. Only the Seltos S/EX/SX offers Rear Cross-Traffic Collision Warning.

Both the Taos and the Seltos have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, 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 and available all wheel drive.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does 35 MPH front crash tests on new vehicles. In this test, results indicate that the Volkswagen Taos is safer than the Kia Seltos:

	Taos	Seltos
	Passenger
STARS	4 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	224	308
Neck Stress	135 lbs.	239 lbs.

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 Volkswagen Taos is safer than the Kia Seltos:

	Taos	Seltos
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Chest Movement	.6 inches	1 inches
Abdominal Force	115 lbs.	167 lbs.
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Max Damage Depth	12 inches	12 inches

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

Side impacts caused 23% of all road fatalities in 2018, down from 29% in 2003, when the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety introduced its side barrier test. In order to continue improving vehicle safety, the IIHS has started using a more severe side impact test: 37 MPH (up from 31 MPH), with a 4180-pound barrier (up from 3300 pounds). The results of this newly developed test demonstrates that the Volkswagen Taos is safer than the Seltos:

	Taos	Seltos
Overall Evaluation	ACCEPTABLE	MARGINAL
Structure	ACCEPTABLE	MARGINAL
	Driver Injury Measures
Head/Neck	GOOD	GOOD
Head Injury Criterion	189	234
Neck Compression	45 lbs.	67 lbs.
Torso	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
Torso Deflection Rate	8 MPH	8 MPH
Head Protection	GOOD	GOOD
	Passenger Injury Measures
Head/Neck	GOOD	GOOD
Neck Tension	89 lbs.	112 lbs.
Neck Compression	112 lbs.	201 lbs.
Torso	ACCEPTABLE	MARGINAL
Shoulder Deflection	1.65 in	2.17 in
Shoulder Force	312 lbs.	335 lbs.
Torso Max Deflection	1.54 in	2.01 in
Pelvis	GOOD	GOOD
Head Protection	GOOD	GOOD

Warranty

The Taos’ corrosion warranty is 2 years longer than the Seltos’ (7/100,000 vs. 5/100,000).

Volkswagen pays for scheduled maintenance on the Taos for 2 years and 20,000 miles. Volkswagen will pay for oil changes, tire rotations, air filter replacements, cabin filter replacement, brake fluid replacement, inspections, and any other required maintenance. Kia doesn’t pay scheduled maintenance for the Seltos.

Engine

The Taos’ 1.5 turbo 4-cylinder produces 27 more horsepower (174 vs. 147) and 52 lbs.-ft. more torque (184 vs. 132) than the Seltos’ standard 2.0 DOHC 4-cylinder.

Fuel Economy and Range

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

			MPG
Taos
	FWD	1.5 turbo 4-cyl.	28 city/36 hwy
	AWD	1.5 turbo 4-cyl.	25 city/33 hwy
Seltos
	FWD	2.0 DOHC 4-cyl.	28 city/34 hwy
	AWD	1.6 turbo 4-cyl.	24 city/27 hwy

The Taos AWD’s standard fuel tank has 1.3 gallons more fuel capacity than the Seltos (14.5 vs. 13.2 gallons).

Environmental Friendliness

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the Volkswagen Taos higher (7 out of 10) than the Kia Seltos (6). This means the Taos produces up to 1.1 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the Seltos every 15,000 miles.

Brakes and Stopping

For better stopping power the Taos’ brake rotors are larger than those on the Seltos:

	Taos	Seltos	Seltos AWD
Front Rotors	12.3 inches	11 inches	12 inches
Rear Rotors	10.7 inches	10.3 inches	11.2 inches

In an emergency stopping situation, many drivers don’t press the brakes with enough force to stop the vehicle in the shortest distance. The Taos has a standard Hydraulic Brake Assist to detect emergency braking situations (by how hard and how quickly the brake pedal is pressed) and then automatically apply maximum braking immediately in order to help prevent a collision. The Seltos doesn’t offer a brake assist feature.

Tires and Wheels

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Taos 4Motion® offers optional 19-inch wheels. The Seltos’ largest wheels are only 18-inches.

Suspension and Handling

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Taos’ wheelbase is 2 inches longer than on the Seltos (105.5 inches vs. 103.5 inches).

The Taos’ front to rear weight distribution is more even (57% to 43%) than the Seltos’ (59% to 41%). This gives the Taos more stable handling and braking.

The Taos SEL 4Motion® handles at .85 G’s, while the Seltos SX pulls only .84 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The Taos SEL 4Motion® executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1.4 seconds quicker than the Seltos S (27.4 seconds @ .61 average G’s vs. 28.8 seconds @ .56 average G’s).

For greater off-road capability the Taos has a greater minimum ground clearance than the Seltos (7.6 vs. 7.3 inches), allowing the Taos to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

Passenger Space

The Taos has .7 inches more front headroom, .9 inches more front hip room, 1 inch more front shoulder room, 1.4 inches more rear headroom and .3 inches more rear shoulder room than the Seltos.

The front step up height for the Taos is 1.5 inches lower than the Seltos (16.5” vs. 18”). The Taos’ rear step up height is 1.1 inches lower than the Seltos’ (16.7” vs. 17.8”).

Cargo Capacity

The Taos has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the Seltos with its rear seat up (27.9 vs. 26.6 cubic feet). The Taos has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the Seltos with its rear seat folded (65.9 vs. 62.8 cubic feet).

A low lift-over cargo hatch design makes loading and unloading the Taos easier. The Taos’ cargo hatch lift-over height is 27 inches, while the Seltos’ liftover is 29.4 inches.

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

	Taos	Seltos
Length to seat (2nd/1st)	34.3”/65.2”	32.7”/62.4”
Max Width	48.5”	52.3”
Min Width	40”	41.6”
Height	37”	32.5”

Payload

The Taos has a higher standard payload capacity than the Seltos (937 vs. 860 lbs.).

Ergonomics

The Taos’ power parking brake sets with one touch and releases with one touch or automatically. The Seltos has a lever-type parking brake that has to be strenuously raised to engage properly. It has to be lifted up more and a button depressed to release it.

The Taos’ front and rear power windows all open or close fully with one touch of the switches, making it more convenient at drive-up windows and toll booths, or when talking with someone outside the car. The Seltos’ standard power window switches have to be held the entire time to close them fully. Only its driver’s window opens automatically.

On a hot day the Taos’ driver can lower all the windows from a distance using the keyless remote. The driver of the Seltos can only operate the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

The Taos has standard KESSY Push-Button Start that allows you to start the engine without removing the key from the pocket or purse. Only the Seltos S/EX/SX offers a Smart Key.

The Taos’ driver power window, power lock, power mirror and cruise control switches are lit from behind, making them plainly visible and easier to operate at night. The Seltos’ power mirror switches are unlit, making them difficult to find at night and operate safely.

The Taos’ rain-sensitive wipers adjust their speed and turn on and off automatically based on the amount of rainfall on the windshield. This allows the driver to concentrate on driving without constantly adjusting the wipers. The Seltos’ manually variable intermittent wipers have to be constantly adjusted.

Heated windshield washer nozzles are optional on the Taos to prevent washer fluid and nozzles from freezing and help continue to keep the windshield clear in sub-freezing temperatures. The Seltos doesn’t offer heated windshield washer nozzles.

The Taos’ LED headlights produce a whiter, brighter light (up to 3x) using five times less power than the Seltos’ standard projector halogen headlights and light instantly. LED lights also last over twenty times longer than halogen.

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 Taos’ available headlights were rated “Good” by the IIHS, while the Seltos’ headlights are rated “Acceptable” to “Poor.”

To help drivers avoid possible obstacles, the Taos SE/SEL has standard cornering lights to illuminate around corners when the turn signals are activated. The Seltos doesn’t offer cornering lights. The Taos SE/SEL also has standard adaptive headlights to illuminate around corners automatically by reading vehicle speed and steering wheel angle.

On extremely cold winter days, the Taos’ standard heated steering wheel provides comfort, allowing the driver to steer safely and comfortably before the vehicle heater warms up. The Seltos doesn’t offer a heated steering wheel.

The Taos SE/SEL’s standard dual zone air conditioning allows the driver and front passenger to choose two completely different temperatures so people with different temperature preferences won’t have to compromise. This makes both the driver and front passenger as comfortable as possible. The Seltos doesn’t offer dual zone air conditioning.

Compared to traditional radio, the Volkswagen Taos’ standard SiriusXM satellite radio provides an unmatched listening experience. Its extensive coverage guarantees consistent, crystal-clear reception across the continental U.S., and access to over 100 channels dedicated to a multitude of genres, including music, news, sports, talk shows, and comedy, many with only limited commercial breaks. Satellite radio is only offered on the Seltos S/EX/SX.

Recommendations

The Volkswagen Taos outsold the Kia Seltos by 7% during 2024.

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