Suzuki S-Cross vs Kia Seltos
A detailed look at how two of Australia's most popular SUVs compare on price, running costs, safety, and everyday livability.
Specifications and pricing correct at time of publishing. Prices are RRP before on-road costs unless stated otherwise. Always confirm with the manufacturer or dealer before purchasing.
Data checked: specs 8 Oct 2026, price 8 Sep 2026
Driver assistance, as the maker lists it
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.
Suzuki S-Cross: we're still completing 0-100km/h, warranty and turning circle.
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.
$33,650est. RRP
- no option data for this car
$31,250RRP
- 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.
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Price Breakdown
The Suzuki S-Cross starts from $33,650 (our estimated RRP; the brand lists drive-away prices only) before on-road costs, while the Kia Seltos opens at $31,250. Both land at the same RRP, so on-road costs and dealer deals become the real differentiator.
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 $37,015 and $34,375 respectively.
Over 5 years, the running costs favour the Suzuki S-Cross by roughly $1,425 in fuel alone.
Safety Rundown
ANCAP safety ratings have not been published for both models yet. We will update this section when crash test results are available.
Recalls on our record
Suzuki S-Cross
- REC-001260 · published 21 Apr 2016Magyar Suzuki Corporation has identified a possibility that during production the front seat back may have been assembled with incorrect stitch seam spacing, outside of the manufacturing control value around the area of the side airbag.Year range on the notice: the notice prints no build range
- REC-001259 · published 20 Apr 2016Magyar Suzuki Corporation has identified a possibility that during production the front seat back may have been assembled with incorrect stitch seam spacing, outside of the manufacturing control value around the area of the side airbag.Year range on the notice: the notice prints no build range
- REC-001258 · published 22 Feb 2016The rear axle bolts may loosen, come away or break, potentially causing the vehicle to become inoperable.Year range on the notice: the notice prints no build range
- 1 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 Suzuki S-Cross features a 7-inch touchscreen, while the Kia Seltos gets a 8-inch display. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard across both.
The Suzuki S-Cross stands out with Apple CarPlay and heated front seats — 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 Suzuki S-Cross gets fabric upholstery while the Kia Seltos offers cloth. Climate control is 2-zone in the Suzuki S-Cross and 1-zone in the Kia Seltos.
Drivetrain
The Suzuki S-Cross lines up producing 103kW and 220Nm of torque, sent through a 6-speed automatic to a 2WD 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 Kia Seltos has the clear power advantage at 110kW vs 103kW. For most buyers, the way each car feels day-to-day matters more than outright acceleration.
Space & Comfort
The Suzuki S-Cross measures 4,305mm long on a 2,600mm wheelbase, 80mm shorter than the Kia Seltos at 4,385mm (2,630mm wheelbase). The longer wheelbase on the Kia Seltos generally means more rear legroom.
Boot space is 430L in the Suzuki S-Cross and 468L in the Kia Seltos, giving the Kia Seltos a 38L advantage.
For towing, the Suzuki S-Cross leads with a 1,500kg braked capacity vs 1,100kg. That 400kg difference matters if you regularly hitch up.
Turning Circle
Kerb-to-kerb diameter. Smaller turns easier in tight carparks and U-turns.
10.6m diameter
Good
Based on 10.6m turning circle:
- U-turn on standard street (7m+ wide)
- Standard parking bay
- Tight carparks
- Narrow laneways
Turning circle ratings
Interactive simulator: U-turns, parking & towing
Turning Circle
Kerb-to-kerb diameter. Smaller turns are easier in tight carparks and U-turns.
Good
Needs a 3-point turn (one reverse)
Needs about 9.3 m to swing round without stopping. Road is 9.0 m.
U-turn on a wide street
≥ 10 m: clears in one
U-turn on a standard street
7 m: 3-point turn
Standard parking bay
1.8 m wide: fits with room
Tight carpark aisle
6 m: swings in
Narrow laneway
3.5 m: no room to turn
Turning circle ratings
Standard widths: AU local streets carry ~5.5–7 m of carriageway; main roads ~9–12 m. AS 2890.1 carpark aisles are ~5.8–6.6 m for 90° bays (2.6 m wide × 5.4 m deep).
Road, aisle, swing and off-tracking figures are indicative estimates from the published turning circle. Verify in person before relying on them.
True Cost to Own
Based on 15,000km of annual driving, fuel costs roughly $1,682/year for the Suzuki S-Cross and $1,967/year for the Kia Seltos. That is a $285 annual difference in favour of the Suzuki S-Cross.
Who Should Buy Which?
Buy the Suzuki S-Cross if: You want lower running costs, need stronger towing, or prefer Suzuki's approach to design and ownership experience.
Buy the Kia Seltos if: You prioritise performance, need more boot space, or prefer Kia's approach to design and ownership experience.
The Verdict
Kia Seltos: Top CarSorted Score, 72 vs 66
The Kia Seltos comes out ahead on the CarSorted Score (72 vs 66), taking 2 of 4 key spec rows below. The deciding gaps: reliability (Kia Seltos ahead by 21), value (Kia Seltos ahead by 13), fuel economy (Suzuki S-Cross ahead by 9). The Suzuki S-Cross will save you roughly $285 a year in fuel. If boot space matters, the Kia Seltos has a clear edge. The best pick depends on what you value most. Explore the full specs for each model below.
One enquiry, local dealers' best price on each. Free for you to use. If you buy, the dealer may pay us a commission.
Common questions
Which is cheapest, Suzuki S-Cross and Kia Seltos?
The Kia Seltos is the cheapest at $31,250 before on-road costs. That undercuts the Suzuki S-Cross by $2,400.
Which is the most fuel-efficient?
The Suzuki S-Cross uses the least fuel at 5.9L/100km on the combined cycle.
What are the ANCAP safety ratings?
None of Suzuki S-Cross and Kia Seltos carry a published ANCAP rating yet, so there is no crash result to compare. Check back as they are tested.
Which has the most boot space?
The Kia Seltos has the largest boot at 468L with the seats up.
Which can tow the most?
The Suzuki S-Cross has the highest braked towing capacity at 1,500kg.
Which is the most powerful?
The Kia Seltos makes the most power at 110kW.
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Disclaimer: All information in this comparison was believed to be correct at the time of publishing (20 April 2026). Prices are manufacturer recommended retail prices (RRP) and may vary by state, dealer, and options. Driveaway costs include estimated on-road costs for Victoria. Fuel economy figures are WLTP/ADR combined cycle. Specifications can change without notice. Always verify with the manufacturer before making a purchase decision. CarSorted does not accept payment for recommendations.
Auto-generated from CarSorted's specification data · 20 April 2026
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