The Overview:

The all new Kia Seltos comes into the market with a big splash, with AWD standard, good looks and lots of technology but how does it compare to its cousin the Hyundai Kona that has already been on sale since late 2017?

Exterior Appearance:

The Kia Seltos-

The new Seltos has well proportioned lines with a muscular front fascia sporting Kia’s signature grill style. On every trim there is plastic black cladding around the lower half of the car that adds a durable and rugged look. The rear is distinct and different from other Kia models, but still fits well into the line-up. The Seltos has lots of lines and shapes. You will notice four around the car, two of which are distinct indents on the hood and another two on the back where the rear deflectors are. As you progress up the trims each one gets different improved styling elements, such as larger wheels or improved headlights. There are a total of 8 color options with four different choices of two-tone paint. In my opinion the Kia looks better and more capable then the Hyundai.

Trim Changes

The Hyundai Kona-

Trim Changes

Interior Appearance:

The Kia Seltos-

The Kia Seltos has a very upscale and quality feeling and looking interior considering its price point. There are two choices for leather colors and two for cloth. The majority of the things you use and touch on a regular basis have a nice look and feel compared to the Kona and other cars in this segment. The center infotainment screen has a great look and goes well with the glossy black trim across the dashboard. There are some lower quality plastics as to be expected but they really are not in places that are frequently used if even used at all such as the upper dashboard and lower dashboard. Overall, the interior is a very attractive place to spend time and can definitely impress.

The Hyundai Kona-

The Hyundai Kona’s interior has the same problem as the exterior, it feels a little bit old. Just like the Kia, you also get two choices for leather colors and two for cloth. Most of the plastics in the interior do not feel up to the standard of the Kia. Even though the two cars are very similar, the Kona is lacking in the quality department, not to say it isn’t well built because it is, but the material quality is lower. I expect this will be something that will change with the new one. Overall, the Kona’s interior isn’t quite on the level of the Seltos’ and it shows.

Features and Comfort:

The Kia Seltos-

The Seltos comes with a variety of features, some standard and some optional. This is the first ever Kia to offer remote start which is activated using the key fob; It is standard on the EX and up and optional below. It has a 8 inch display across the board with a 10.25 inch in the top of the line SX Turbo, and of course every trim has Android Auto and Apple Car Play. Standard on all trims is a locking front differential, hill start control, and downhill brake control which paired with all wheel drive makes the Seltos, on paper fairly capable off-road. The interior felt spacious. Their was a good amount of space in the front and back seats for tall individuals. A notable difference between the Seltos and Kona was the armrest on the door. The Seltos, your arm would stay in place and not fall off. Your arm would fall because of how far back the seat was, your arm would miss the armrest.

The Hyundai Kona-

The Kona has a lot of the same features as the Seltos, but some features that not even available on the Kona. A locking front differential, hill start assist, and downhill brake control are all standard but all wheel drive is a $1,400 option. On the Kona there is a 7 inch display on all trims except the Ultimate which has the largest with a 8 inch display. Available only on the Ultimate are parking sensors which is a feature that the Seltos does not offer. The interior of the Kona did not feel quite as spacious as the Seltos nor did it have leather or climate control, but it did have Sirius XM and a stylish hounds-tooth seat inserts. There appeared to be slightly less room in the back seats but the space up front is similar. The arm rest on the door panel caused my arm to feel unsupported and would even slip and fall occasionally, this is something that only taller drivers will experience because sitting further forward solved the problem.

Practicality:

The Kia Seltos-

The Seltos is quite practical for a compact SUV. It boasts 62.8 cu. ft. of maximum cargo capacity (behind first row of seating) which is more than the larger Kia Sportage. Behind the second row it has 26.6 cu. ft. of cargo capacity which is plenty for a few large suitcases and bags, several full shopping bags or a few plants. The Seltos has duel position rear seats if the rear passengers want to recline or if you need a little bit more space, but the rear seats do not fold completely flat which was surprising. To top it off the Seltos has a duel position cargo floor but does not offer a retractable cargo cover, only removable.

The Hyundai Kona-

The Kona does fall short in practicality with a maximum capacity of only 45.8 cu. ft. (behind first row of seating) and 19.2 cu. ft. behind the second row seats; That is a noticeable amount less than the Seltos and below the class average and I hope it improves with the New Kona. The rear seats on the Kona do fold further flat but there is only one upward position unlike the Seltos. The Kona also has an adjustable cargo floor and a removable cargo cover like the Seltos.

Performance and Driving Feel:

The Kia Seltos-

The Seltos comes standard with a 2.0 Inline 4-cylinder engine with 146 Horsepower and 132 lb. ft. of torque, with a Intelligent Variable Transmission (IVT). It gets 27/31 MPG with AWD and 29/34 without (City/Highway). Their is an optional 1.6 Turbocharged Inline 4-cylinder engine with a 7-Speed Quick-Shift Dual Clutch Transmission and gets 25/30MPG (City/Highway). With the 2.0 the Seltos feels faster than the Kona but only a little. Personally, I think the transmission is the cause of that and there is also a little bit less engine noise because of it. The Seltos feels more like a high riding SUV, the seating position feels higher and drives more like a proper SUV as opposed to a crossover. If you prefer the feeling of being up high and being able to see above cars this is closer to that than the Kona.

The Hyundai Kona-

The Kona also comes standard with a 2.0 Inline 4-cylinder engine with 147 Horsepower and 132 lb. ft. of torque, with a 6-speed automatic transmission. It gets 26/30 MPG with AWD and 27/33 without (City/Highway). There is an optional 1.6 Turbocharged Inline 4-cylinder engine with a 7-speed EcoShift® Dual Clutch Transmission and 26/29 MPG with AWD and gets 28/32 without (City/Highway). The 2.0 feels just a little slower and there is a little more noise while driving. The Kona does feel a little bit more like a car in the way that it handles and how the driving position feels. This feels like a cross between a car and a crossover, its a little more nimble than a crossover but not quite on the level of a car. You do not sit quite as high but not as low as a car.

Final Opinion:

Which one?

In my opinion, the Kia Seltos is better in every measurable way and is a shining star in its class and against its direct rival, the Kona. They share so much and also differ so much and its easy to see where the Kona falls behind. The Kona really just needs a facelift or a redesign which thankfully is coming soon. I just hope they bring it to the same standards of the Seltos. I would choose the Seltos over all of its rivals because the level of quality. The standard options and available features along with pricing makes an even better deal. You owe it to yourself to experience the Seltos even if you don’t care for Kia or if you just really prefer a vehicle from your favorite brand, it will change your mind.