Why this affordable Korean SUV is a better choice than the Honda HR-V

Small SUVs have become one of the most competitive segments in the market, with every automaker offering a mix of practicality, comfort, and value. The Honda HR-V has long been a go-to choice for those seeking reliability and efficiency, but one Korean contender has stepped up with a compelling blend of refinement, technology, and driving dynamics that make it hard to overlook.

This SUV delivers a premium feel at a budget-friendly price, offering an upscale interior, intuitive infotainment, and features you wouldn’t expect in its class. It also offers more pep than you’d expect and a ride quality that is usually reserved for much more expensive SUVs.

For buyers who want something stylish, well-equipped, and impressively affordable, this Korean SUV makes a strong case for skipping the usual choices like the HR-V and opting for something that goes above and beyond expectations.

The 2026 Kia Seltos starts cheaper and comes better equipped

The subcompact SUV segment may not be the most popular segment, but if you’re wanting a cheap and cheerful car that offers comfort and practicality, it has a couple of real gems to choose from. While the Honda HR-V may be one of the most popular models in the segment, we think that the Kia Seltos makes an incredibly strong argument for itself.

2026 Kia Seltos trims and pricing

The Honda HR-V is one of the most popular options in the subcompact SUV segment. However, it features a starting price of $26,200, and to get the most bang-for-your-buck, you should probably skip the base model. Kia’s little urban crawling SUV, however, starts almost $3,000 lower than the Honda, and it actually comes loaded with a pretty impressive list of standard features. Even if you do climb the Kia’s trim ladder, you’ll still likely spend less than you would on an HR-V.

While we think that every trim level of the Seltos offers pretty great value, we think that the price and list of equipment on the EX is just too good to pass up. It comes fitted with niceties like faux-leather upholstery and ten-way power-adjustable front seats, which give it a pseudo-luxury vibe. You also get things like heated front seats, wireless smartphone charging, and a large dual-screen setup with built-in navigation. If you opt for the optional all-wheel drive, you also get a power-operated liftgate.

Warranties and maintenance

• Limited Warranty: Five years or 60,000 miles
• Powertrain Warranty: Ten years or 100,000 miles
• Complimentary Scheduled Maintenance: None

Japanese brands have a pretty good reputation when it comes to reliability and maintenance costs. However, their rivals from Korea are steadily catching up. To make the deal even sweeter, Kia offers one of the most comprehensive warranty packages on the market. The bumper-to-bumper coverage is a year to two years longer than what most of its rivals offer, but it is the ten-year powertrain warranty that really grabs our attention. Unfortunately, Kia doesn’t offer any complimentary maintenance, though.

Kia’s Seltos is not just more efficient than the HR-V, but it is perkier too

Credit: Kia

Generally, most people buy subcompact SUVs because they want something affordable that is light on fuel. If that is your goal, then the Seltos definitely checks the right boxes. Compared to the Honda HR-V, the Kia edges out ahead in terms of efficiency. Kia also offers an optional powertrain that delivers much more of a punch than you’d expect from something that competes in this generally pretty mundane segment.

2026 Kia Seltos performance specs

The standard powertrain in the 2026 Kia Seltos is a pretty humble four-cylinder. While it isn’t going to attract any enthusiasts, it still feels better off the line than the Honda HR-V, which takes around 9.4 seconds to get to 60 miles per hour. This engine pairs with a CVT and front-wheel drive, with all-wheel drive being optional. If you are looking for some extra grunt, the SX trim instead comes equipped with a turbocharged four-cylinder. This model comes standard with all-wheel drive, and it gets a traditional eight-speed auto instead of a CVT.

There are some options in this segment that are better suited to those looking for fun, such as the Mazda CX-30 and the Volkswagen Taos. However, the Kia does handle reasonably well and stays composed through corners. Its ride quality is by far its more impressive feature though, with it absorbing bumps and imperfections in the road exceptionally well for a crossover that costs as little as the Seltos does.

Fuel economy

Despite being quicker and slightly more powerful, the Kia Seltos pulls ahead of the HR-V again when it comes to fuel economy. The Honda manages 28 miles per gallon combined with front-wheel drive and 27 miles per gallon combined with all-wheel drive. This means you get two to three more miles per gallon in Kia’s subcompact SUV. Obviously, the more powerful turbocharged engine takes a hit when it comes to efficiency, and we’d stick to the base engine if saving money on gas is your main directive.

Considering you’re getting a reasonably practical crossover, the Seltos performs pretty well when it comes to efficiency. The EPA estimates that the front-wheel-drive Seltos will save you $750 in fuel over five years, compared to the cost of the average new vehicle. This assumes that you drive around 15,000 miles a year and that 45 percent of that is on highways and 55 percent is in urban areas.

You get much more space inside the small Korean SUV than you’d expect

Credit: Kia

Most subcompact SUVs, while more practical than small sedans, offer a relatively small cargo area and a cramped back row of seats. However, the Seltos is impressively spacious, offering more practicality and versatility than most of the other options in this segment. As well as this, Kia has managed to make the interior feel more premium than its price tag would suggest, using good materials and offering some pretty great tech too.

Interior dimensions and comfort

In terms of interior space, the Kia Seltos is much bigger than most subcompact SUVs. Even tall passengers will feel pretty comfortable in the back seats, with more than enough legroom on offer. It matches the Honda HR-V, which is often considered one of the more practical choices in the segment. The Seltos does, however, offer a little more cargo space than the Honda, with up to 54.9 cubic feet on offer if you fold the rear seats away.

While still very contemporary, we like that Kia has found a good middle ground between new design elements and practical things like buttons and dials. The Korean automaker has also used pretty nice materials throughout the cabin, especially if you go for the higher trims. There are plenty of high-end features on offer here as well, including heated and ventilated seats, an available power-operated sunroof, and ambient interior lighting.

Infotainment and technology

The standard setup in the 2026 Kia Seltos is an eight-inch infotainment display and a small 4.2-inch display that sits between your analog gauges. Get any model other than the base trim, though, and you’ll instead get a 10.25-inch infotainment screen that shares a bezel with the gauges. Opt for the EX or the SX, and you’ll also get a 10.25-inch fully digital gauge display. All models come equipped with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto capability.

Every Seltos features plenty of USB ports within the cabin, with some models also coming equipped with a wireless smartphone charging pad. The standard sound system is pretty average, but a premium Bose system is available on higher trim levels. Kia’s small SUV can be equipped with digital key capability, which allows you to use your smartphone as the key to your car.