Hyundai Sonata vs Kia Seltos
A detailed look at how two of Australia's most popular cars compare on price, running costs, safety, and everyday livability.
Kia Seltos scores higher, 68 vs 67
Prices are RRP before on-road costs unless stated otherwise. Always confirm with the manufacturer or dealer before purchasing.
Data checked: specs 30 Oct 2026, price 8 Oct 2026
Hyundai Sonata
25 of 27 standard · no option data · 2 no dataFrom
$57,000
RRP, before on-road costs
- Body
- Sedan
- Fuel type
- Petrol
- Engine
- Petrol
- Power
- 213kW
- Economy
- 8.1 L/100km
- Safety
- No data
- Boot (seats up)
- 480L
Driva is an independent finance provider, not part of CarSorted. We aren't paid for this link.
Kia Seltos
12 of 27 standard · no option data · 7 not offered · 8 no dataFrom
$31,250
RRP, before on-road costs
- Body
- SUV
- Fuel type
- Petrol
- Engine
- Petrol
- Power
- 110kW
- Economy
- 6.9 L/100km
- Safety
- Not rated by ANCAP
- Boot (seats up)
- 468L
Top CarSorted Score, 68 vs 67
Run-out stock: confirm with a dealer
Car loan ratesDriva is an independent finance provider, not part of CarSorted. We aren't paid for this link.
$57,000RRP
- no option data for this car
$31,250RRP
- cannot be matched: Adaptive Cruise Control, Rain-Sensing Wipers, Wireless Phone Charging and 4 more not offered
Printed option prices only. A pack is counted once and makes the figure a floor when it carries no printed price. Nothing is inferred from the other car.
Price and cost per week
Hyundai Sonata N Line
$57,000
RRP, before on-road costs. Checked 8 Oct 2026
No published drive-away price on our record.
About $240 a week in repayments ($57,000 RRP, before on-road costs; assumes $5,000 deposit, 5 yrs at 7.5% p.a.). An estimate, not a loan offer.
Kia Seltos S
$31,250
RRP, before on-road costs. Checked 8 Sept 2026
No published drive-away price on our record.
About $121 a week in repayments ($31,250 RRP, before on-road costs, run-out stock; assumes $5,000 deposit, 5 yrs at 7.5% p.a.). An estimate, not a loan offer.
The Kia Seltos starts $25,750 lower on RRP.
On-road costs (stamp duty, registration, CTP and dealer delivery) depend on your state and the dealer; ask for a written drive-away price before you sign.
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Ways to buy
For the 2 cars on this page.
Run-out stock (Kia Seltos). Remaining new stock of an outgoing model. Confirm availability with the dealer.
Finance
From ≈$121/wk(≈$526/mo)
Estimate on the Kia Seltos at $31,250 RRP, before on-road costs, run-out stock; assumes $5,000 deposit, 5 yrs at 7.5% p.a. Not a quote or an offer of credit.
Compare real car-loan ratesDriva is an independent finance provider, not part of CarSorted. We aren't paid for this link.
Novated lease
Paid from pre-tax salary with the running costs inside the lease. What it comes to depends on your salary and the term.
Novated lease quoteWork out a lease on the Hyundai SonataDriva is an independent finance provider, not part of CarSorted. We aren't paid for this link. Opens apply.driva.com.au in a new tab.
Safety Rundown
We hold no ANCAP data for the Hyundai Sonata. ANCAP's published record does not give the Kia Seltos a rating. With no pair of ratings to compare, the active-safety features in the spec table above are the fairer comparison.
Driver assistance, as the manufacturer lists it
Driver assistance, system by system. We can confirm 7 of 10 key systems on the Hyundai Sonata and 5 on the Kia Seltos.
Swipe across. Tap a feature to see what it does and each car's source.
StandardOptional: printed price, +pack or NCO (no-cost)No, not offeredNo dataCounts beside each car use the same colours; ? is no option data.
From each manufacturer's Australian equipment list. No data means that car's document does not say. The drawings are our own illustrations of how each kind of system works.
Recalls on our record
Hyundai Sonata
- REC-006589 · published 20 Apr 2026Due to a software issue, the Instrument Panel Cluster (IPC) may fail to illuminate the visual vehicle speed, fuel level and other critical safety information.Year range on the notice: 2025
- REC-005607 · published 24 Jan 2023Due to a programming issue, the “fail-safe” driving mode may not respond as intended when certain transmission faults are detected.Year range on the notice: 2020 - 2022
- REC-005043 · published 19 Jan 2022Due to a software issue with the Smart Junction Box (SJB) the turn signal may activate in the opposite direction from what the driver intended.Year range on the notice: 2014 - 2016
- 4 more on the model page.
Kia Seltos
- REC-006395 · published 30 Jul 2025The piston rings fitted to the engines of certain vehicles may not meet manufacturing specifications, and could cause engine failure and vehicle stalling.Year range on the notice: 2020 - 2022
- REC-005962 · published 20 May 2024Due to a manufacturing defect, the side curtain airbag may inflate without warning.Year range on the notice: 2023
- REC-005699 · published 15 Jun 2023Due to a software issue, the instrument cluster may fail to illuminate the visual seat belt warning as required by the Australian Design Rules (ADR) 04/06.Year range on the notice: 2022 - 2023
- 2 more on the model page.
A recall covers the builds its notice lists, not every car of a model. Check your VIN at vehiclerecalls.gov.au.
Feature Showdown
The Hyundai Sonata features a 12.3-inch touchscreen paired with a 12.3-inch digital dash, while the Kia Seltos gets a 8-inch display. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard across both.
The Hyundai Sonata stands out with Apple CarPlay, head-up display, wireless charging, panoramic roof, heated front seats, ventilated seats, power tailgate, Bose audio and ambient lighting — features our data doesn't list for 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 Sonata gets suede & nappa leather upholstery while the Kia Seltos offers cloth. Climate control is 2-zone in the Hyundai Sonata and 1-zone in the Kia Seltos.
Equipment few rivals have, on either carShowHide
Drivetrain
The Hyundai Sonata uses a Petrol producing 213kW and 422Nm of torque, sent through a 8-speed wet dual-clutch (dct) to a FWD layout.
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.
The Hyundai Sonata has the clear power advantage at 213kW vs 110kW. For most buyers, the way each car feels day-to-day matters more than outright acceleration.
Space & Comfort
The Hyundai Sonata measures 4,910mm long on a 2,840mm wheelbase, 525mm longer than the Kia Seltos at 4,385mm (2,630mm wheelbase). The longer wheelbase on the Hyundai Sonata generally means more rear legroom.
Boot space is 480L in the Hyundai Sonata and 468L in the Kia Seltos, giving the Hyundai Sonata a 12L advantage.
Neither U-turns in one sweep on a 7 m local street (both need a three-point turn); the Kia Seltos's turning circle is 0.4 m tighter, 10.6 m against 11.0 m kerb to kerb. The street estimate is indicative, worked from the published turning circles.
Cost to own
At 15,000 km a year, fuel for the Hyundai Sonata costs about $2,309 a year (8.1 L/100km) and fuel for the Kia Seltos about $1,967 a year (6.9 L/100km), at $1.90 a litre and 32c a kWh. That is $342 a year less for the Kia Seltos.
Warranty: 7 years / Unlimited (Hyundai Sonata) and 7 years / Unlimited (Kia Seltos).
Where each one leads
The Hyundai Sonata: more power (213kW against 110kW) and the bigger boot with the seats up (480L against 468L).
The Kia Seltos: the lower starting price ($31,250 against $57,000) and lower fuel or energy costs on our assumptions ($1,967 a year against $2,309).
The Verdict
Kia Seltos scores higher, 68 vs 67
The Kia Seltos scores 68 to the Hyundai Sonata's 67 on the CarSorted Score, and leads 2 of the 4 spec rows that separate them, at the lower price. The biggest gaps: technology (Hyundai Sonata ahead by 35 points), value (Kia Seltos ahead by 12 points), performance (Hyundai Sonata ahead by 12 points). At 15,000 km a year, fuel for the Kia Seltos costs about $342 less (6.9 L/100km against 8.1 L/100km, at $1.90 a litre).
Ways to buy
For the 2 cars on this page.
Run-out stock (Kia Seltos). Remaining new stock of an outgoing model. Confirm availability with the dealer.
Finance
From ≈$121/wk(≈$526/mo)
Estimate on the Kia Seltos at $31,250 RRP, before on-road costs, run-out stock; assumes $5,000 deposit, 5 yrs at 7.5% p.a. Not a quote or an offer of credit.
Compare real car-loan ratesDriva is an independent finance provider, not part of CarSorted. We aren't paid for this link.
Novated lease
Paid from pre-tax salary with the running costs inside the lease. What it comes to depends on your salary and the term.
Novated lease quoteWork out a lease on the Hyundai SonataDriva is an independent finance provider, not part of CarSorted. We aren't paid for this link. Opens apply.driva.com.au in a new tab.
Common questions
Which is cheapest, Hyundai Sonata and Kia Seltos?
The Kia Seltos is the cheapest at $31,250 before on-road costs. That undercuts the Hyundai Sonata by $25,750.
Which is the most fuel-efficient?
The Kia Seltos uses the least fuel at 6.9L/100km on the combined cycle.
What are the ANCAP safety ratings?
ANCAP's published record does not give a rating to Kia Seltos, and we hold no ANCAP data for Hyundai Sonata, so there is no crash result to compare.
Which has the most boot space?
The Hyundai Sonata has the largest boot at 480L with the seats up.
Which can tow the most?
The Kia Seltos has the highest braked towing capacity at 1,100kg.
Which has the best warranty?
The Kia Seltos has the longest warranty that does not depend on dealer servicing at 7 years / unlimited km.
Which is the most powerful?
The Hyundai Sonata makes the most power at 213kW.
Track the Hyundai Sonata & Kia Seltos
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How to read this page. Prices, specifications, ANCAP ratings, warranty, the CarSorted Score and the verdict come from our records for the grades shown, sourced from the manufacturers' Australian documents, and change when those records change; the date each was last checked is printed under the headline. Prices are recommended retail prices before on-road costs unless marked drive-away. A plug-in hybrid's fuel figure is labelled with its basis: with a full battery (the certified combined figure) or as a hybrid (battery depleted). Charging and running costs are estimates on the stated assumptions. Always confirm price and specification with the manufacturer or dealer before you buy. CarSorted does not accept payment for recommendations.
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