Compare the2027 Kia Seltos VS 2026 Lexus UX

The Seltos X-Line SX offers an optional 360 degree parking monitor to allow the driver to see objects all around the vehicle on a screen. The UX only offers a rear monitor and front and rear parking sensors that beep or flash a light. That doesn’t help with obstacles to the sides.

Both the Seltos and the UX 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, plastic fuel tanks, 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 and rear cross-path warning.

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 UX’s 4-year/50,000-mile basic warranty expires 1 year or 10,000 miles sooner.

Kia’s powertrain warranty covers the Seltos 4 years and 30,000 miles longer than Lexus covers the UX. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 10 years or 100,000 miles. Coverage on the UX ends after only 6 years or 70,000 miles.

There are over 3 times as many Kia dealers as there are Lexus dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Seltos’ warranty.

The Seltos X-Line SX’s standard 1.6 turbo 4-cylinder produces 43 lbs.-ft. more torque (195 vs. 152) than the UX’s 2.0 DOHC 4-cylinder hybrid.

The Seltos has 2.6 gallons more fuel capacity than the UX (13.2 vs. 10.6 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

The Seltos stops shorter than the UX:

	Seltos	UX
70 to 0 MPH	181 feet	185 feet	Car and Driver

For better traction, the Seltos X-Line SX’s tires are larger than the largest tires available on the UX (235/45R19 vs. 225/50R18).

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 UX’s 50 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Seltos X-Line SX has standard 19-inch wheels. The UX’s largest wheels are only 18-inches.

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 UX; it requires you to depend on its run-flat tires, which limits mileage and speed before they are repaired. If a run-flat is damaged beyond repair by a road hazard your vehicle will have to be towed.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Seltos’ wheelbase is 2 inches longer than on the UX (105.9 inches vs. 103.9 inches).

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the Seltos is 1.9 inches wider in the front and 2.3 inches wider in the rear than the track on the UX.

For greater off-road capability the Seltos LX has a 1.2 inches greater minimum ground clearance than the UX (7.5 vs. 6.3 inches), allowing the Seltos to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged. The Seltos X-Line SX’s minimum ground clearance is 1.8 inches higher than on the UX (8.1 vs. 6.3 inches).

The Kia Seltos may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 50 to 350 pounds less than the Lexus UX.

The front grille of the Seltos uses electronically controlled shutters to close off airflow and reduce drag when less engine cooling is needed. This helps improve highway fuel economy. The UX doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

The Seltos has 13 cubic feet more passenger volume than the UX (103.4 vs. 90.4).

The Seltos has 3.3 inches more front headroom, 1.3 inches more front hip room, 1.5 inches more front shoulder room, 2.6 inches more rear headroom, 5.9 inches more rear legroom, 1.7 inches more rear hip room and 2.5 inches more rear shoulder room than the UX.

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

The Seltos has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the UX (27.8 vs. 17.1 cubic feet).

Standard on the Seltos uses the Electronic Stability Control sensors to detect trailer sway, then uses individual brakes to counteract any swaying and help keep the tow vehicle and trailer steady. The UX doesn’t offer electronic trailer sway control.

The Seltos has a much higher standard payload capacity than the UX (1223 vs. 890 lbs.).

The Seltos has a much higher maximum payload capacity than the UX (1224 vs. 890 lbs.).

The power windows standard on both the Seltos and the UX have locks to prevent small children from operating them. When the lock on the Seltos is engaged the driver can still operate all of the windows, for instance to close one opened by a child. The UX prevents the driver from operating the other windows just as it does the other passengers.

The Kia Seltos outsold the Lexus UX by almost seven to one during 2025.