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Hyundai Kona vs Kia Seltos

2026 Hyundai Kona vs 2026 Kia Seltos — two small SUVs compared on efficiency, size, safety and reliability.

Hyundai Kona

2026 Hyundai Kona

Small Sport Utility Vehicle 2WDAWD/4WD
VS2 – 4Kia Seltos wins 4 of 6 categories
Kia Seltos

2026 Kia Seltos

Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WDAWD/4WD

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The short version

The Hyundai Kona is more fuel-efficient: 31 vs 29 MPG combined in its best version.

That works out to about $150 a year less in fuel for the Hyundai Kona (EPA estimate, 15,000 miles).

Across all model years since 2005, the Kia Seltos has had fewer recall campaigns (4 vs 15).

The two cars

The 2026 Hyundai Kona is a small SUV offered with 2 engines (2.0L 4-cyl and 1.6L 4-cyl turbo) and front-wheel drive and all-wheel drive. It measures about 171 inches long and 72 inches wide on a 105-inch wheelbase, with a curb weight of roughly 3,203 lb (4dr SUV AWD).

The 2026 Kia Seltos is a small SUV offered with 2 engines (2.0L 4-cyl and 1.6L 4-cyl turbo) and all-wheel drive. It measures about 172 inches long and 71 inches wide on a 104-inch wheelbase, with a curb weight of roughly 3,186 lb (AWD 4dr SUV).

Buying used? The 2023 Kona and the 2023 Seltos have the fewest problems in our data; avoid the 2019 Kona and the 2021 Seltos.

Basics

Small Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD
Class
Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD
Regular Gasoline
Fuel
Regular Gasoline
2.0L 4-cyl, 1.6L 4-cyl turbo
Engines
2.0L 4-cyl, 1.6L 4-cyl turbo
Front-Wheel Drive, All-Wheel Drive
Drivetrain
All-Wheel Drive

Efficiency

31 MPG
Best combined MPG
29 MPG
29 city
City / highway MPG (best)
27 city
$2,150
Fuel cost per year (EPA)
$2,300

Performance & space

171.3 in
Length
172 in
71.7 in
Width
70.9 in
62.2 in
Height
63.8 in
3,005 lb
Curb weight (lightest)
2,893 lb

Safety & reliability

12
Driver-assist features standard
13
3
Recalls (2026)
0
15
Recalls, all years since 2005
4
10
Owner complaints (latest year)
4

Interest

13,580
Wikipedia views, 30 days
19,599

Buying used

2023
Best used year
2023
2019
Year to avoid
2021

Green = clearly better. Prices are not included. How we calculate this →

Which one should you choose?

Choose the Hyundai Kona if…

  • You want lower fuel bills (31 vs 29 MPG)

Choose the Kia Seltos if…

  • You put reliability history first (4 vs 15 recalls since 2005)

Pros & cons of each

2026 Hyundai Kona

  • AWD / 4WD available
  • Lots of standard safety tech4 of 5 key driver aids standard on the versions we checked.

2026 Kia Seltos

  • Lots of standard safety tech5 of 5 key driver aids standard on the versions we checked.

Full 2026 Hyundai Kona specs →Full 2026 Kia Seltos specs →Compare fuel costs for your driving →Compare size & garage fit →