Compare the2026 Kia SeltosVS 2025 Ford Bronco Sport

Both the Seltos and the Bronco Sport have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, height adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, lane departure warning systems, rearview cameras, driver alert monitors, available all wheel drive, daytime running lights, blind spot warning systems, rear parking sensors and rear cross-path warning.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does 35 MPH front crash tests on new vehicles. In this test, results indicate that the Kia Seltos is safer than the Ford Bronco Sport:

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety does 40 MPH moderate front offset crash tests on new cars. In this updated test, results indicate that the Seltos is safer than the Bronco Sport:

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does side impact tests on new vehicles. In this test, which crashes the vehicle into a flat barrier at 38.5 MPH and into a post at 20 MPH, results indicate that the Kia Seltos is safer than the Ford Bronco Sport:

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

The Seltos comes with a full 5-year/60,000-mile basic warranty, which covers the entire truck and includes 24-hour roadside assistance. The Bronco Sport’s 3-year/36,000-mile basic warranty expires 2 years or 24,000 miles sooner.

Kia’s powertrain warranty covers the Seltos 5 years and 40,000 miles longer than Ford covers the Bronco Sport. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 10 years or 100,000 miles. Coverage on the Bronco Sport ends after only 5 years or 60,000 miles.

A hardened steel chain, with no maintenance needs, drives the camshafts in the Seltos’ engine. A rubber cam drive belt that needs periodic replacement drives the Bronco Sport’s camshafts. If the Bronco Sport’s belt breaks, the engine could be severely damaged when the pistons hit the opened valves.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2025 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Kia vehicles are better in initial quality than Ford vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Kia above average in initial quality. With 12 more problems per 100 vehicles, Ford is rated below average.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2025 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Kia vehicles are more reliable than Ford vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Kia above average in long-term dependability. With 6 more problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, Ford is rated below average.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ March 2025 Auto Issue reports that Kia vehicles are more reliable than Ford vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Kia 4 places higher in reliability than Ford.

The Seltos SX’s standard 1.6 turbo 4-cylinder produces 9 more horsepower (190 vs. 181) and 5 lbs.-ft. more torque (195 vs. 190) than the Bronco Sport’s standard 1.5 turbo 3-cylinder.

As tested in Motor Trend the Kia Seltos 4 cyl. is faster than the Ford Bronco Sport turbo 3 cyl.:

On the EPA test cycle the Seltos gets better mileage than the Bronco Sport:

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Kia Seltos uses regular unleaded gasoline. The Bronco Sport Badlands requires premium for maximum efficiency, which can cost on average about 84.9 cents more per gallon.

The Seltos has a standard locking fuel door. The fuel filler door is not lockable on the Bronco Sport. A locking fuel door helps prevent fuel theft and vandalism, such as sugar in the tank.

The Seltos has a standard continuously variable transmission (CVT). With no “steps” between gears, it can keep the engine at the most efficient speed for fuel economy, or keep it at its peak horsepower indefinitely for maximum acceleration. The Bronco Sport doesn’t offer a CVT.

The Seltos stops much shorter than the Bronco Sport:

The Seltos’ standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 55 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Bronco Sport’s standard 65 series tires. The Seltos SX’s tires have a lower 45 series profile than the Bronco Sport’s optional 60 series tires.

The Seltos SX handles at .84 G’s, while the Bronco Sport Outer Banks pulls only .79 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The Seltos S AWD executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1.9 seconds quicker than the Bronco Sport Outer Banks (26.7 seconds @ .65 average G’s vs. 28.6 seconds @ .56 average G’s).

For better maneuverability, the Seltos’ turning circle is 2.6 feet tighter than the Bronco Sport’s (34.8 feet vs. 37.4 feet).

The Kia Seltos may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 450 to 550 pounds less than the Ford Bronco Sport.

For excellent aerodynamics, the Seltos has standard flush composite headlights. The Bronco Sport has recessed headlights that spoil its aerodynamic shape and create extra drag.

For enhanced passenger comfort on long trips the Seltos’ rear seats recline. The Bronco Sport’s rear seats don’t recline.

To make loading and unloading groceries and cargo easier when your hands are full, the Seltos’ power liftgate can be opened just by waiting momentarily behind the back bumper, leaving your hands completely free. The Seltos’ power liftgate can also be opened or closed by pressing a button. The Bronco Sport doesn’t offer a power or hands-free opening liftgate.

Consumer Reports rated the Seltos’ headlight performance “Very Good,” a higher rating than the Bronco Sport’s headlights, which were rated “Fair.”

Optional air-conditioned seats in the Seltos SX keep the driver and front passenger comfortable and take the sting out of hot seats in Summer. The Bronco Sport doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats.

The Seltos is available in both front-wheel drive and four-wheel drive configurations. The Bronco Sport doesn’t offer a two-wheel drive configuration.

According to iSeeCars.com the 2025 Kia Seltos retains 55.6% of its original value after 5 years, more than the 48.91% resale value of the 2025 Ford Bronco Sport after five years, which can save the Kia’s owner up to $4874.02298 in depreciation.

Consumer Reports® recommends both the Kia Seltos and the Ford Bronco Sport, based on reliability, safety and performance.