Hyundai Kona vs Kia Seltos

The Hyundai Kona starts from $32,500 before on-road costs, while the Kia Seltos opens at $31,250. That makes the Kia Seltos the more affordable entry point by $1,250.

Once you factor in stamp duty, registration, CTP insurance, and dealer delivery, expect to add roughly 8-12% on top of the RRP depending on your state. That puts estimated driveaway prices in the ballpark of $35,750 and $34,375 respectively.

Over 5 years, the running costs are nearly identical since both have similar efficiency.

The Kia Seltos holds a 5-star ANCAP rating vs 4 stars for the Hyundai Kona. Adult occupant protection scored 80% for the Hyundai Kona and 85% for the Kia Seltos.

Where the two diverge is in active safety technology. The Kia Seltos packs more ADAS features with 5 out of 10 key systems fitted, compared to 4 in the Hyundai Kona.

Both include the essentials: autonomous emergency braking, lane keep assist, a reversing camera. Airbag count is 7 in the Hyundai Kona and 6 in the Kia Seltos.

The Hyundai Kona features a 12.3-inch touchscreen paired with a 4.2-inch digital dash, while the Kia Seltos gets a 8-inch display. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard across both.

The Hyundai Kona stands out with Apple CarPlay that you will not find on the Kia Seltos. The Kia Seltos counters with wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto. Which feature set matters more depends on your daily routine and priorities.

Interior trim differs: the Hyundai Kona gets synthetic leather upholstery while the Kia Seltos offers cloth.

The Hyundai Kona uses a Petrol producing 110kW and 180Nm of torque, sent through a automatic to a FWD layout. It covers the 0-100km/h sprint in 9.9 seconds.

The Kia Seltos responds with a Petrol making 110kW and 180Nm, paired to a automatic driving the front wheels. It gets to 100km/h in 9.2 seconds.

Power output is identical on paper, so the difference comes down to tuning, weight distribution, and suspension. In the real-world sprint, the Kia Seltos is 0.7s quicker. For most buyers, the way each car feels day-to-day matters more than outright acceleration.

The Hyundai Kona measures 4,350mm long on a 2,660mm wheelbase, 35mm shorter than the Kia Seltos at 4,385mm (2,630mm wheelbase). The longer wheelbase on the Hyundai Kona generally means more rear legroom.

Boot space is 361L in the Hyundai Kona and 468L in the Kia Seltos, giving the Kia Seltos a 107L advantage.

For towing, the Hyundai Kona leads with a 1,300kg braked capacity vs 1,100kg. That 200kg difference matters if you regularly hitch up.

Based on 15,000km of annual driving, fuel costs roughly $1,881/year for the Hyundai Kona and $1,967/year for the Kia Seltos. That is a $86 annual difference in favour of the Hyundai Kona.

Estimated annual total: $1,881 (Hyundai Kona) vs $1,967 (Kia Seltos). The Hyundai Kona saves you roughly $86 per year in total ownership costs. Use our Fuel Cost Calculator to estimate based on your driving.

Warranty: 5 years / 999,999km (Hyundai Kona) vs 7 years / 999,999km (Kia Seltos). The Kia Seltos has longer coverage.