Car shopping has changed.
“Subcompact” used to mean a bare-bones budget model some buyers would choose over a used car because it came with a new car warranty.
But, in the 2024 model year, many subcompact vehicles come with high-tech cabin features, highway passing power, and even optional luxuries like leather upholstery. They’re often still the most affordable cars on a dealership lot. But that’s no longer the heart of their appeal.
Two of our favorites are the Hyundai Kona and the Kia Seltos. Hyundai and Kia share some ownership and often use shared parts between their vehicles, so these two SUVs are more similar than most competitors. Let’s see how these two crossovers compare.
2024 Hyundai Kona
The Hyundai Kona is all-new for 2024. Value-laden, it’s available with a choice of engines and trims that let you customize your experience more than most competitors. Hyundai also builds an all-electric version. Prices start at $24,100.
Hyundai Kona Highlights
A premium feature list: Today’s subcompact SUVs are more feature-filled than a few years ago. But the Kona stands out from the class even by that standard. Even the base model features dual 12.3-inch panoramic displays. Upper trims get luxuries like a remote parking system, hands-free power tailgate, heated and ventilated front seats, and a navigation-based adaptive cruise control system.
Sporty N-Line trim: N-Line is Hyundai’s term for a sportier model (though not as sporty as the track-worthy Hyundai N models). The Kona N-Line gets a robust 190 horsepower turbocharged engine, a unique sport-tuned transmission, and body-colored cladding for a refined look.
More cargo room: With two cars that share this much, the dimensions are very close. But the Kona ekes out a win in cargo space with the seats down.
Check this week’s Fair Purchase Price or see the Hyundai Kona models for sale near you.
2024 Kia Seltos
The Kia Seltos won our Best Buy Award in the subcompact SUV class in 2022 and 2023. So, for 2024, Kia improved it. We’re impressed, too. The Seltos is a fantastic value, with a flexible lineup including an X-Line trim meant for light off-roading. For 2024, it gets new infotainment screens and a revised look. Prices start at $24,390, and even the top-of-the-line model keeps its MSRP under $30,000.
Kia Seltos Highlights
Less expensive fully loaded: Kia is known for long feature lists, even in inexpensive base models. The Seltos keeps that trait but beats the Kona at the other end of the scale. The top-of-the-line Seltos SX doesn’t cross the $30,000 line. A fully-equipped Kona narrowly does.
Rugged X-Line model: Both of these cars get a specialist trim level. While the Kona N-Line is meant for added performance on pavement, the Seltos X-Line has rugged features like skid plates to protect the undercarriage off-road and scratch-resistant body cladding.
Bose audio with mood lighting: The top-of-the-line Seltos SX includes an upgraded Bose premium audio system with a sound-connected mood lamp. It’s the kind of minor touch that can differentiate a cabin, and some buyers will love it.
Check this week’s Fair Purchase Price or see the Kia Seltos models for sale near you.
Similarities
Because Hyundai and Kia share part ownership, these cars use some of the same parts, including essentially the same 2.0-liter base engine and the same 1.6-liter turbocharged upgraded engine. An industry-leading 10-year powertrain warranty covers both.
Conclusion
The Hyundai Kona and Kia Seltos use some of the same components, so they’re naturally similar.
If you’re probably heading off-road with your next car, the available X-Line trim in the Seltos might be the better call. If you love to drive and never expect to hit the dirt, the Kona N-Line could be better for you.
But this is one of the closest comparisons in the automotive world, so you might need to test drive both to see if you respond better to one of these two close cousins.
Specifications
| 2024 Hyundai Kona | 2024 Kia Seltos | ||
| Starting Price | $24,100 | $24,390 | |
| Popular Powertrains | |||
| Engine | 2.0-liter 4-cylinder | 2.0-liter 4-cylinder | |
| Horsepower | 147 hp @ 6,200 rpm | 146 hp @ 6,200 rpm | |
| Torque | 132 lb-ft @ 4,500 rpm | 132 lb-ft @ 4,500 rpm | |
| Transmission | CVT automatic | CVT automatic | |
| Fuel Economy | 29 city/34 highway/31 combined mpg | 28 city/34 highway/31 combined mpg | |
| Also Available | AWD; 1.6-liter turbo 4-cylinder; all-electric | 1.6-liter turbo 4-cylinder; 8-speed automatic; AWD | |
| Specs | |||
| Basic Warranty | 5 years/60,000 miles | 5 years/60,000 miles | |
| Powertrain Warranty | 10 years/100,000 miles | 10 years/100,000 miles | |
| NHTSA Overall Safety | TBD | TBD | |
| Max Seating Capacity | 5 | 5 | |
| Wheelbase | 104.7 inches | 103.5 inches | |
| Overall Length | 171.3 inches | 172.6 inches | |
| Width | 71.9 inches | 70.9 inches | |
| Height | 62.2 inches | 63.4 inches | |
| Turning Diameter | 34.8 feet | 34.8 feet | |
| Headroom, Front | 39.9 inches | 40.0 inches | |
| Headroom, Rear | 38.3 inches | 38.4 inches | |
| Legroom, Front | 41.7 inches | 41.4 inches | |
| Legroom, Rear | 38.2 inches | 38.0 inches | |
| Shoulder Room, Front | 56.8 inches | 55.5 inches | |
| Shoulder Room, Rear | 55.2 inches | 54.7 inches | |
| Cargo Volume | 25.5/63.7 cubic feet | 26.6/62.8 cubic feet |
