Compare the2027 GMC Terrain VS 2026 Kia Seltos

With its standard Enhanced Automatic Emergency Braking, the GMC Terrain is better at preventing collisions with pedestrians than the Kia Seltos, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety:

	Terrain	Seltos
Overall Evaluation	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
	Crossing Child - DAY
12 MPH	AVOIDED	AVOIDED
25 MPH	-22 MPH	-20 MPH
	Crossing Adult - NIGHT
12 MPH Brights	AVOIDED	-1 MPH
12 MPH Low beams	AVOIDED	AVOIDED
25 MPH Brights	AVOIDED	-13 MPH
25 MPH Low beams	AVOIDED	-3 MPH
	Parallel Adult - NIGHT
25 MPH Brights	AVOIDED	AVOIDED
25 MPH Low beams	AVOIDED	AVOIDED
37 MPH Brights	-23 MPH	-21 MPH
Warning Issued-Brights	2.4 sec	1.4 sec
37 MPH Low beams	-22 MPH	-5 MPH
Warning Issued-Low beams	1.3 sec	.3 sec

In a Vehicle-to-Vehicle Frontal Crash Prevention 2.0 test conducted by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), the GMC Terrain achieved an “Acceptable” rating for its forward collision warning and automatic braking systems, outperforming the Kia Seltos, which scored “Poor” - the lowest rating - in these critical safety features.

Over 200 people are killed each year when backed over by motor vehicles. The Terrain has standard Reverse Automatic Braking that uses rear sensors to monitor for objects to the rear and automatically applies the brakes to prevent a collision. The Seltos doesn’t offer automatic braking for stationary objects directly to the rear.

The Terrain offers an optional HD Surround Vision to allow the driver to see objects all around the vehicle on a screen. The Seltos only offers a rear monitor and rear parking sensors that beep or flash a light. That doesn’t help with obstacles to the front or sides.

The GMC Terrain offers an optional HD Surround Vision and it also offers an optional rear camera washer to make backing always safe, regardless of road dirt or grime, while the Kia Seltos doesn’t offer a camera washer, requiring manual cleaning.

The Terrain 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 Terrain has standard Rear Cross Traffic Alert and Rear Cross Traffic Braking automatically engages the brakes to help avoid a collision. Only the Seltos S/EX/SX offers Rear Cross-Traffic Collision Warning.

Both the Terrain and the Seltos have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, front wheel drive, 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 Terrain’s corrosion warranty is 1 year longer than the Seltos’ (6/100,000 vs. 5/100,000).

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

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2025 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that GMC vehicles are more reliable than Kia vehicles. J.D. Power ranks GMC above average in long-term dependability. With 15 more problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, Kia is rated lower.

The Terrain’s 1.5 turbo 4-cylinder produces 28 more horsepower (175 vs. 147) and 71 lbs.-ft. more torque (203 vs. 132) than the Seltos’ standard 2.0 DOHC 4-cylinder. The Terrain’s 1.5 turbo 4-cylinder produces 8 lbs.-ft. more torque (203 vs. 195) than the Seltos SX’s standard 1.6 turbo 4-cylinder.

On the EPA test cycle the Terrain AWD gets better fuel mileage than the Seltos 1.6 turbo 4-cylinder (24 city/28 hwy vs. 24 city/27 hwy).

The Terrain FWD’s standard fuel tank has 1.6 gallons more fuel capacity than the Seltos (14.8 vs. 13.2 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups. The Terrain AWD’s standard fuel tank has 2.4 gallons more fuel capacity than the Seltos (15.6 vs. 13.2 gallons).

The Terrain has a standard cap-less fueling system. The fuel filler is automatically opened when the fuel nozzle is inserted and automatically closed when it’s removed. This eliminates the need to unscrew and replace the cap and it reduces fuel evaporation, which causes pollution. The Seltos doesn’t offer a cap-less fueling system.

For better stopping power the Terrain’s standard brake rotors are larger than those on the Seltos:

	Terrain	Seltos
Front Rotors	11.8 inches	11 inches
Rear Rotors	11.3 inches	10.3 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 Terrain has standard 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.

For better traction, the Terrain has larger tires than the Seltos (235/65R17 vs. 215/55R17).

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Terrain Denali offers optional 20-inch wheels. The Seltos’ largest wheels are only 18-inches.

For superior ride and handling, the GMC Terrain has fully independent front and rear suspensions. An independent suspension allows the wheels to follow the road at the best angle for gripping the pavement, without compromising ride comfort. The Seltos 4x2 has a rear torsion beam axle, with a semi-independent rear suspension.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Terrain’s wheelbase is 4 inches longer than on the Seltos (107.5 inches vs. 103.5 inches).

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the Terrain is 2.3 inches wider in the front and 2 inches wider in the rear than the average track on the Seltos.

The front grille of the Terrain uses electronically controlled shutters to close off airflow and reduce drag when less engine cooling is needed. This helps improve highway fuel economy. The Seltos doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

The Terrain uses computer-generated active noise cancellation to help remove annoying noise and vibration from the passenger compartment, especially at low frequencies. The Seltos doesn’t offer active noise cancellation.

The Terrain has .6 inches more front headroom, 2.6 inches more front legroom, 2.3 inches more front hip room, 2.2 inches more front shoulder room, .8 inches more rear headroom, 1.7 inches more rear legroom, 2.2 inches more rear hip room and .8 inches more rear shoulder room than the Seltos.

The Terrain has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the Seltos with its rear seat up (29.8 vs. 26.6 cubic feet). The Terrain has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the Seltos with its rear seat folded (63.5 vs. 62.8 cubic feet).

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

	Terrain	Seltos
Length to seat (2nd/1st)	36.1”/72.2”	32.7”/62.4”
Max Width	54.7”	52.3”
Min Width	41”	41.6”
Height	32.6”	32.5”

The Terrain has a 1500 lbs. towing capacity. The Seltos has no towing capacity.

The Terrain has a much higher standard payload capacity than the Seltos (1184 vs. 860 lbs.).

The Terrain has a much higher maximum payload capacity than the Seltos (1252 vs. 860 lbs.).

When two different drivers share the Terrain, the optional memory seats and mirrors make it convenient for both. Each setting activates different, customized memories for the driver’s seat position and outside mirror angle. The Seltos doesn’t offer a memory system.

The Terrain’s optional easy entry system glides the driver’s seat back when the door is unlocked or the ignition is switched off, making it easier for the driver to get in and out. The Seltos doesn’t offer an easy entry system.

The Terrain’s instruments include an oil pressure gauge and a temperature gauge - which could save your engine! Often ‘idiot lights’ don’t warn you until damage has been done. The Seltos does not have an oil pressure gauge.

The Terrain’s 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 Terrain’s front and rear power windows all open fully with one touch of the switches and its driver’s window also automatically closes, 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 Terrain’s 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 Terrain has a standard Keyless Open and Start that allows you to unlock the doors from either front door handle, unlock the cargo door, and start the engine, all without removing the key from pocket or purse. Only the Seltos S/EX/SX offers a Smart Key.

The Terrain’s optional wipers adjust their speed and turn on and off automatically according to the amount of rainfall on the windshield. The Seltos’ manually variable intermittent wipers have to be constantly adjusted.

The Terrain’s 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 Terrain’s standard outside mirrors include heating elements to clear off the mirrors for better visibility. Kia only offers heated mirrors on the Seltos S/EX/SX.

When the Terrain with available tilt-down mirrors is put in reverse, both rearview mirrors tilt from their original position. This gives the driver a better view of the curb during parallel parking maneuvers. Shifting out of reverse puts the mirrors into their original positions. The Seltos’ mirrors don’t automatically adjust for backing.

The Terrain has standard heated front seats. Heated front seats cost extra on the Seltos, and aren’t available on the Seltos LX. The Terrain also offers optional heated rear seats to keep those passengers extremely comfortable in the winter. Heated rear seats aren’t available in the Seltos.

On extremely cold winter days, the Terrain’s 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 Terrain’s optional 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 GMC Terrain’s 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.

The GMC Terrain outsold the Kia Seltos by 32% during 2025.