Compare the2027 Kia Seltos VS 2027 Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid

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

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 Hyundai vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Kia above average in long-term dependability. With 26 more problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, Hyundai is rated below average.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ March 2026 Auto Issue reports that Kia vehicles are more reliable than Hyundai vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Kia 2 places higher in reliability than Hyundai.

An eight-speed automatic is standard on the Kia Seltos X-Line SX, for better acceleration and lower engine speed on the highway. Only a six-speed automatic is available for the Santa Fe Hybrid.

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 Santa Fe Hybrid doesn’t offer a CVT.

The Seltos offers an optional space-saver spare tire so you can replace a flat tire and drive to have the flat repaired or replaced. A spare tire isn’t available on the Santa Fe Hybrid; it requires you to depend on roadside assistance and your vehicle will have to be towed.

For better maneuverability, the Seltos’ turning circle is 2.7 feet tighter than the Santa Fe Hybrid’s (35.2 feet vs. 37.9 feet).

For greater off-road capability the Seltos LX has a greater minimum ground clearance than the Santa Fe Hybrid (7.5 vs. 7 inches), allowing the Seltos to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged. The Seltos X-Line SX’s minimum ground clearance is 1.1 inches higher than on the Santa Fe Hybrid (8.1 vs. 7 inches).

The Kia Seltos may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 1050 to 1300 pounds less than the Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid.

The Seltos is 1 foot, 3.8 inches shorter than the Santa Fe Hybrid, making the Seltos easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The Seltos has a much larger cargo volume than the Santa Fe Hybrid with its rear seat up (27.8 vs. 14.6 cubic feet).