Compare the2025 Kia SeltosVS 2025 Toyota Corolla Cross Hybrid

In a Vehicle-to-Vehicle Frontal Crash Prevention 2.0 test conducted by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), the Kia Seltos achieved a “Acceptable” rating - the second highest possible - for its performance in forward collision warning and automatic braking systems, demonstrating its excellent capabilities in preventing collisions. The Toyota Corolla Cross Hybrid has not been tested.

Both the Seltos and the Corolla Cross Hybrid have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, height adjustable front shoulder belts, 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, 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 Toyota Corolla Cross Hybrid:

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 Toyota Corolla Cross Hybrid:

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 Corolla Cross Hybrid’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 Toyota covers the Corolla Cross Hybrid. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 10 years or 100,000 miles. Coverage on the Corolla Cross Hybrid ends after only 5 years or 60,000 miles.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the Seltos second among small suvs in their 2024 Initial Quality Study. The Corolla Cross Hybrid 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 Toyota vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Kia fourth in initial quality, above the industry average. With 29 more problems per 100 vehicles, Toyota is ranked 17th.

The Seltos X-Line/SX’s standard 1.6 turbo 4-cylinder produces 43 lbs.-ft. more torque (195 vs. 152) than the Corolla Cross Hybrid’s 2.0 DOHC 4-cylinder hybrid.

As tested in Motor Trend the Seltos X-Line/SX 1.6 turbo 4-cylinder is faster than the Toyota Corolla Cross Hybrid:

In heavy traffic or at stoplights the Seltos 2.0’s engine automatically turns off when the vehicle is stopped, saving fuel and reducing pollution. The engine is automatically restarted when the driver gets ready to move again. If the conditions warrant or the driver wishes, the system can be manually disabled at any time for the duration of a trip. The Corolla Cross Hybrid doesn’t offer an automatic engine start/stop system.

The Seltos has 2.6 gallons more fuel capacity than the Corolla Cross Hybrid (13.2 vs. 10.6 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

The Seltos stops much shorter than the Corolla Cross Hybrid:

For better traction, the Seltos AWD X-Line/SX’s tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Corolla Cross Hybrid (235/45R18 vs. 225/55R18).

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 Corolla Cross Hybrid’s standard 65 series tires. The Seltos AWD X-Line/SX’s tires have a lower 45 series profile than the Corolla Cross Hybrid XSE/Nightshade’s 55 series tires.

The Seltos has a standard space-saver spare tire so you can replace a flat tire and drive to have the flat repaired or replaced. A spare tire isn’t available on the Corolla Cross Hybrid; it requires you to depend on roadside assistance and your vehicle will have to be towed.

The Seltos has standard front and rear gas-charged shocks for better control over choppy roads. The Corolla Cross Hybrid’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 Corolla Cross Hybrid doesn’t offer variable-assist power steering.

The Seltos SX handles at .84 G’s, while the Corolla Cross Hybrid XSE pulls only .82 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The Seltos S AWD executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1.3 seconds quicker than the Corolla Cross Hybrid XSE (26.7 seconds @ .65 average G’s vs. 28 seconds @ .6 average G’s).

For better maneuverability, the Seltos’ turning circle is .6 feet tighter than the Corolla Cross Hybrid’s (34.8 feet vs. 35.4 feet).

The Kia Seltos may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 50 to 450 pounds less than the Toyota Corolla Cross Hybrid.

The Seltos is 4.2 inches shorter than the Corolla Cross Hybrid, making the Seltos easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The Seltos has 10.6 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Corolla Cross Hybrid (99 vs. 88.4).

The Seltos has 1.4 inches more front headroom, .9 inches more front hip room, 2.8 inches more front shoulder room, 6 inches more rear legroom, 9 inches more rear hip room and 2.3 inches more rear shoulder room than the Corolla Cross Hybrid.

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

The Seltos has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the Corolla Cross Hybrid with its rear seat up (26.6 vs. 21.5 cubic feet). The Seltos has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the Corolla Cross Hybrid with its rear seat folded (62.8 vs. 61.8 cubic feet).

To make loading groceries and cargo easier when your hands are full, the Seltos’ liftgate can be opened just by waiting momentarily behind the back bumper, leaving your hands completely free. The Corolla Cross Hybrid doesn’t offer a hands-free gesture to open its liftgate, forcing you to put cargo down if your hands are full.

The Seltos’ variable intermittent wipers have an adjustable delay to allow the driver to choose a setting that best clears the windshield during light rain or mist. The Corolla Cross Hybrid S’ standard fixed intermittent wipers only have one fixed delay setting, so the driver will have to manually switch them between slow and intermittent.

Consumer Reports rated the Seltos’ headlight performance “Very Good,” a higher rating than the Corolla Cross Hybrid’s headlights, which were rated “Fair.”

The Seltos has a standard automatic headlight on/off feature. When the ignition is on, the headlights automatically turn on at dusk and off after dawn. The Corolla Cross Hybrid has an automatic headlight on/off feature standard only on the LE/XSE/Nightshade.

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 Corolla Cross Hybrid doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats.

The Seltos is available in both front-wheel drive and four-wheel drive configurations. The Corolla Cross Hybrid doesn’t offer a two-wheel drive configuration.

Consumer Reports® recommends both the Kia Seltos and the Toyota Corolla Cross Hybrid, based on reliability, safety and performance.