Kia Seltos vs Lexus ES
A detailed look at how two of Australia's most popular cars compare on price, running costs, safety, and everyday livability.
Lexus ES scores higher, 73 vs 68
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 29 Oct 2026
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
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.
Lexus ES
17 of 27 standard · no option data · 10 no dataFrom
$75,000
RRP, before on-road costs
- Body
- Sedan
- Fuel type
- Hybrid
- Engine
- Petrol
- Power
- 144kW
- Economy
- 4.5 L/100km
- Safety
- Not rated by ANCAP
- Boot (seats up)
- 493L
Top CarSorted Score, 73 vs 68, but the Kia Seltos is $43,750 cheaper
Driva is an independent finance provider, not part of CarSorted. We aren't paid for this link.
Lexus ES: we're still completing kerb weight, torque, 0-100km/h, ground clearance and turning circle, plus 1 other.
A blank cell below means we don't have that figure, not that the car scores badly on it. We leave them empty rather than estimate, so any row where one car is blank isn't a like-for-like comparison yet.
$31,250RRP
- cannot be matched: Adaptive Cruise Control, Rain-Sensing Wipers, Digital Radio (DAB+) and 2 more not offered
$75,000RRP
- no option data for this car
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
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.
Lexus ES ES 300h Luxury
$75,000
RRP, before on-road costs. Checked 29 Oct 2026
No published drive-away price on our record.
About $324 a week in repayments ($75,000 RRP, before on-road costs; assumes $5,000 deposit, 5 yrs at 7.5% p.a.). An estimate, not a loan offer.
The Kia Seltos starts $43,750 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 Lexus ESDriva 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
ANCAP's published record does not give the Kia Seltos a rating. ANCAP's published record does not give the Lexus ES 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 5 of 10 key systems on the Kia Seltos and 4 on the Lexus ES.
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
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.
Lexus ES
- REC-005374 · published 6 Apr 2020The fuel pump on affected vehicles may stop operating.Year range on the notice: 2013 - 2019
- REC-005366 · published 31 Jul 2019Some brake booster pumps may be manufactured improperly, and may cause the brake assist function to stop operating while driving.Year range on the notice: 2019
A recall covers the builds its notice lists, not every car of a model. Check your VIN at vehiclerecalls.gov.au.
Feature Showdown
The Kia Seltos features a 8-inch touchscreen, while the Lexus ES gets a 14-inch display. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard across both.
The Lexus ES counters with panoramic roof, heated front seats, power tailgate and ambient lighting. Which feature set matters more depends on your daily routine and priorities.
Interior trim differs: the Kia Seltos gets cloth upholstery while the Lexus ES offers nulux (synthetic leather). Climate control is 1-zone in the Kia Seltos and 2-zone in the Lexus ES.
Equipment few rivals have, on either carShowHide
Drivetrain
The Kia Seltos 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 9.2 seconds.
The Lexus ES responds with a Petrol making 144kW, paired to a cvt driving the front wheels.
The Lexus ES has the clear power advantage at 144kW vs 110kW. For most buyers, the way each car feels day-to-day matters more than outright acceleration.
Space & Comfort
The Kia Seltos measures 4,385mm long on a 2,630mm wheelbase, 760mm shorter than the Lexus ES at 5,145mm (2,950mm wheelbase). The longer wheelbase on the Lexus ES generally means more rear legroom.
Boot space is 468L in the Kia Seltos and 493L in the Lexus ES, giving the Lexus ES a 25L advantage.
The Kia Seltos turns in a 10.6 m circle, kerb to kerb; the Lexus ES's turning circle is not on our record.
Cost to own
At 15,000 km a year, fuel for the Kia Seltos costs about $1,967 a year (6.9 L/100km) and fuel for the Lexus ES about $1,283 a year (4.5 L/100km), at $1.90 a litre and 32c a kWh. That is $684 a year less for the Lexus ES.
Warranty: 7 years / Unlimited (Kia Seltos) and 5 years / Unlimited (Lexus ES).
Where each one leads
The Kia Seltos: the lower starting price ($31,250 against $75,000) and the longer warranty (7 years against 5).
The Lexus ES: more power (144kW against 110kW), the bigger boot with the seats up (493L against 468L) and lower fuel or energy costs on our assumptions ($1,283 a year against $1,967).
The Verdict
Lexus ES scores higher, 73 vs 68
The Lexus ES scores 73 to the Kia Seltos's 68 on the CarSorted Score, and leads 3 of the 5 spec rows that separate them. The biggest gaps: technology (Lexus ES ahead by 35 points), fuel economy (Lexus ES ahead by 21 points), safety (Lexus ES ahead by 10 points). At 15,000 km a year, fuel for the Lexus ES costs about $684 less (4.5 L/100km against 6.9 L/100km, at $1.90 a litre). Warranty: 7 years on the Kia Seltos, 5 on the Lexus ES.
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 Lexus ESDriva 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, Kia Seltos and Lexus ES?
The Kia Seltos is the cheapest at $31,250 before on-road costs. That undercuts the Lexus ES by $43,750.
Which is the most fuel-efficient?
The Lexus ES uses the least fuel at 4.5L/100km on the combined cycle.
What are the ANCAP safety ratings?
ANCAP's published record does not give a rating to Kia Seltos and Lexus ES, so there is no crash result to compare.
Which has the most boot space?
The Lexus ES has the largest boot at 493L 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 at 7 years / unlimited km.
Which is the most powerful?
The Lexus ES makes the most power at 144kW.
Track the Kia Seltos & Lexus ES
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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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