Kia Seltos vs Mazda CX-30

The Mazda CX-30 G20 Pure is $29,990 against the Kia Seltos S's $31,250, a $1,260 saving for the Mazda. Both are sharply priced for the small-SUV class and both hold their value well in a deep, popular used market.

Running costs lean to the Mazda, its 6.3L/100km uses about $1,795 a year over 15,000km versus roughly $1,965 for the Seltos's 6.9L/100km. The Seltos answers with the bigger ownership card: one of the longest 7-year / unlimited-kilometre warranties against Mazda's 5 years, two extra years of factory backing that matters over a typical ownership period.

Neither of these has an ANCAP rating. The Seltos is published as unrated and the CX-30 has no rating on record, so there is no independent crash score for either car and nothing to compare on stars. What you can compare is equipment, and both come with comprehensive active safety: autonomous emergency braking, lane-keep assist, blind-spot monitoring and adaptive cruise, standard. Both are well-built, sensible small SUVs with ISOFIX points in the rear. If a published ANCAP result is a must, you will need to look outside this pair.

The Seltos is the more practical of the two. Despite a near-identical footprint, Kia's boxier styling packages a notably roomier rear seat and a bigger, more useful boot, plus a slightly higher driving position that many buyers prefer. It feels the more family-friendly choice.

The CX-30 plays the premium card. Its interior is beautifully finished with quality materials and Mazda's elegant, driver-focused design, and the rotary infotainment controller is safer to use on the move than a touchscreen. The trade-off is a snugger rear seat and smaller boot, the CX-30 prioritises feel over outright space. Both are well-equipped at this entry grade.

Both run 2.0-litre petrol engines, with the CX-30 making slightly more, 114kW and 200Nm against the Seltos's 110kW and 180Nm, and using a little less fuel (6.3 vs 6.9L/100km). The Mazda's six-speed automatic is one of the best in the class, smooth and responsive, which helps it feel the more polished drive despite a leisurely 0–100 time on paper.

Both are front-wheel drive and both are tuned for comfortable, easy commuting rather than outright pace. The CX-30 is the more engaging and efficient; the Seltos is the more relaxed and spacious. Neither is a performance car, and both have higher-output turbo variants available further up their ranges if you want more urge. For most buyers, the choice comes down to cabin feel and economy (CX-30) versus space and warranty (Seltos).