Compare the2026 Kia SeltosVS 2025 Hyundai Kona

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 Hyundai Kona has not been tested.

Both the Seltos and the Kona 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, 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 Hyundai Kona:

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

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2025 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Kia vehicles are more reliable than Hyundai vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Kia above average in long-term dependability. With 6 more problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, Hyundai is rated below average.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ March 2025 Auto Issue reports that Kia vehicles are more reliable than Hyundai vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Kia 1 place higher in reliability than Hyundai.

The Seltos SX’s standard 1.6 turbo 4-cylinder produces 43 more horsepower (190 vs. 147) and 63 lbs.-ft. more torque (195 vs. 132) than the Kona SE/SEL’s standard 2.0 DOHC 4-cylinder.

As tested in Consumer Reports the Kia Seltos 4 cyl. is faster than the Kona SE/SEL 2.0 DOHC 4-cylinder:

As tested in Motor Trend the Seltos SX 1.6 turbo 4-cylinder is faster than the Kona N Line/Limited 1.6 turbo 4-cylinder:

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

The Seltos has a tether attaching its gas cap to prevent its loss. The Kona’s gas cap isn’t tethered, so it can be left at a gas station if the driver forgets to screw the cap back in.

The Seltos stops much shorter than the Kona:

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 Kona SE’s standard 60 series tires.

The Seltos SX handles at .84 G’s, while the Kona N Line AWD 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 1.2 seconds quicker than the Kona N Line AWD (26.7 seconds @ .65 average G’s vs. 27.9 seconds @ .6 average G’s).

The Seltos has .1 inches more front headroom and .1 inches more rear headroom than the Kona.

The Seltos has a much larger cargo volume than the Kona with its rear seat up (26.6 vs. 25.5 cubic feet).

Both the Seltos and the Kona offer rear vents. For greater rear passenger comfort, the Seltos has standard rear air conditioning vents to keep rear occupants cool in summer or warm in winter. The Kona doesn’t offer rear air conditioning vents, only heat vents.

Consumer Reports® recommends both the Kia Seltos and the Hyundai Kona, based on reliability, safety and performance.