Compare the2027 Kia Seltos VS 2026 Hyundai Tucson

Both the Seltos and the Tucson 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.

The Seltos X-Line SX’s standard 1.6 turbo 4-cylinder produces 3 more horsepower (190 vs. 187) and 17 lbs.-ft. more torque (195 vs. 178) than the Tucson’s 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder.

On the EPA test cycle the Seltos gets better mileage than the Tucson:

			MPG
Seltos
	FWD	2.0 DOHC 4-cyl.	28 city/33 hwy
	AWD	2.0 DOHC 4-cyl.	26 city/30 hwy
Tucson
	FWD	2.5 DOHC 4-cyl.	25 city/33 hwy
	AWD	2.5 DOHC 4-cyl.	24 city/30 hwy

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 Tucson doesn’t offer a CVT.

The Seltos X-Line SX’s tires provide better handling because they have a lower 45 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Tucson Limited’s 55 series tires.

For better maneuverability, the Seltos’ turning circle is 3.4 feet tighter than the Tucson’s (35.2 feet vs. 38.6 feet).

The Kia Seltos may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 250 to 300 pounds less than the Hyundai Tucson.

The Seltos is 8.3 inches shorter than the Tucson, making the Seltos easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The Seltos has .4 inches more front headroom, .6 inches more front hip room and .1 inches more rear hip room than the Tucson.

The Seltos’ standard driver’s power window opens or closes with one touch of the window control, making it more convenient at drive-up windows and toll booths. The Tucson’s standard driver’s power window switch has to be held the entire time to close it fully.

The Seltos’ standard outside mirrors include heating elements to clear off the mirrors for better visibility. Hyundai only offers heated mirrors on the Tucson SEL/XRT/Limited.

Both the Seltos and the Tucson offer rear vents. For greater rear passenger comfort, the Seltos offers optional rear air conditioning vents to keep rear occupants cool in summer or warm in winter. The Tucson doesn’t offer rear air conditioning vents, only heat vents.