Kia Seltos vs Sportage: Which Kia SUV Should You Buy?
Published October 9, 2026 · Last updated October 9, 2026
The Kia Seltos vs Sportage decision comes down to one question: how much SUV do you need in a city where parking is the hard part? Both seat five, both offer all-wheel drive, both come with a 12.3-inch touchscreen and the full Drive Wise safety suite, and both carry Kia's 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty. The all-new 2027 Kia Seltos is the subcompact: 10 inches shorter, 30 mpg combined and $24,990 to start. The 2027 Kia Sportage is the compact: more rear legroom, 39.6 cubic feet of cargo space, a 41-mpg hybrid and a $28,990 starting price.
Seltos or Sportage: The Short Answer
- Choose the Kia Sportage if you carry passengers or cargo regularly: 41.3 inches of rear legroom, 39.6 cubic feet behind the rear seat, a 40/42/41-mpg Sportage Hybrid from $30,590 and a plug-in hybrid.
- Choose the Kia Seltos if you mostly drive alone or as a couple: a body 10 inches shorter for street parking, 28/33/30 mpg without a hybrid system, a 190-hp turbo on X-Line SX and prices $2,000 to $4,100 lower trim for trim.
- Bottom line for NYC: street parkers and first-time SUV buyers get the better deal in the Seltos; small families and anyone who wants a hybrid should step up to the Sportage.
Model-year timing: This comparison uses the all-new second-generation 2027 Kia Seltos, priced by Kia on June 3, 2026 and in stock at Plaza Kia now, and the 2027 Kia Sportage, Sportage Hybrid and Sportage Plug-in Hybrid, also in stock. Kia had not announced pricing or EPA ratings for the upcoming Seltos Hybrid at the time of writing. Browse new Kia inventory in Brooklyn to see what is on the ground today.
Kia Seltos vs Sportage at a Glance
| Spec | 2027 Kia Seltos | 2027 Kia Sportage | Edge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting MSRP | $24,990 (LX, FWD); $26,690 with AWD. Destination $1,495 | $28,990 (LX, FWD); $30,790 with AWD. Destination $1,495 | Seltos |
| Hybrid starting MSRP | Seltos Hybrid coming; pricing to be announced | $30,590 (Hybrid LX, FWD) | Sportage |
| Seating | 5 | 5 | Tie |
| Length | 174.4 in | 184.4 in | Seltos (parking) |
| Wheelbase | 105.9 in | 108.5 in | Sportage (ride) |
| Width / height | 72.0 in / 63.0–65.0 in | 73.4 in / 65.4–66.9 in | Seltos (garages) |
| Engine | 2.0L I4, 147 hp, 132 lb-ft, IVT; 1.6L turbo, 190 hp, 195 lb-ft, 8-speed automatic (X-Line SX) | 2.5L I4, 187 hp, 178 lb-ft, 8-speed automatic | Sportage (standard); Seltos turbo (top) |
| Hybrid | Coming later in 2026 | 1.6L turbo hybrid, 232 hp, 271 lb-ft; PHEV 268 hp, 34-mi EV range | Sportage |
| Drivetrain | FWD; AWD available on LX, S, EX, standard on X-Line | FWD; AWD available on LX, EX, SX-Prestige, standard on X-Line and X-Pro | Tie |
| EPA mpg (city/hwy/comb) | FWD 28/33/30; AWD 26/30/28; turbo AWD 24/30/26 | FWD 25/33/28; AWD 24/30/26; Hybrid FWD 40/42/41, AWD 35/36/35 | Seltos (gas); Sportage (hybrid) |
| Rear legroom | 39.0 in | 41.3 in | Sportage |
| Cargo behind 2nd row | 27.8 cu ft | 39.6 cu ft | Sportage |
| Cargo behind 1st row | 64.2 cu ft | 74.1 cu ft | Sportage |
| Max towing | Not rated by Kia | 2,500 lb (gas); 2,000 lb (hybrid, PHEV) | Sportage |
| Ground clearance | 7.5 in; 8.1 in (X-Line SX) | 7.1 in; 8.3 in (AWD) | Tie |
| Screens | 12.3-in touchscreen and 12.3-in digital cluster standard; 5-in climate display on EX and up | 12.3-in touchscreen; dual 12.3-in panoramic displays on SX and up | Seltos (standard) |
| IIHS award | 2027 results pending | 2026 Top Safety Pick+ (built after May 2025) | Sportage (for now) |
| Warranty | 5 yr/60,000 mi basic; 10 yr/100,000 mi powertrain | 5 yr/60,000 mi basic; 10 yr/100,000 mi powertrain | Tie |
Size and Dimensions: How Much Bigger Is the Sportage?
The Sportage is the bigger SUV by a full class. At 184.4 inches long on a 108.5-inch wheelbase, it is 10 inches longer than the 174.4-inch Seltos and 1.4 inches wider (73.4 vs 72.0 inches). The new Seltos grew for 2027, with a wheelbase 2.4 inches longer than the car it replaces, but it is still a subcompact, about the length of a Kia K4 sedan, while the Sportage sits squarely in the compact class with the Honda CR-V and Toyota RAV4.
For Brooklyn and Queens street parking, 10 inches is the difference between taking the gap on Ocean Avenue and circling the block, and the Seltos's lower roof clears every garage bar in Downtown Brooklyn and Manhattan. Ground clearance is similar: 7.5 inches on a Seltos LX and 7.1 on a front-drive Sportage, rising to 8.1 on the Seltos X-Line SX and 8.3 on all-wheel-drive Sportages.
Interior and Cargo Space
Both seat five, and up front they are closer than the exterior suggests: 41.3 inches of front legroom in the Seltos against 41.4 in the Sportage. The back seat is where the extra length shows. The Sportage offers 41.3 inches of rear legroom, among the best in the compact class, while the Seltos offers 39.0, still generous for a subcompact and enough for two adults on a ride to Sheepshead Bay, but tighter with a rear-facing child seat behind a tall driver.
Cargo is the clearest win for the Sportage: 39.6 cubic feet behind the rear seat and 74.1 with it folded, against 27.8 and 64.2 in the Seltos. That 11.8-cubic-foot gap is a double stroller or a week of groceries. Kia calls the new Seltos's 64.2 cubic feet class-leading for an entry crossover, and its flat load floor and 60/40 split seat make the most of it; the Sportage adds a dual-level cargo floor and, on 2027 X-Line and up, a standard smart power liftgate.
Engines and AWD
The Sportage's standard engine is the stronger one. Every gas Sportage uses a 2.5-liter four-cylinder with 187 hp and 178 lb-ft and an eight-speed automatic. The Seltos LX, S, EX and X-Line S use a 2.0-liter four with 147 hp and 132 lb-ft through an IVT continuously variable transmission, adequate in the city but the trim to test-drive on a Belt Parkway on-ramp before you commit.
At the top of the Seltos range the picture flips. The X-Line SX gets a 1.6-liter turbo with 190 hp and 195 lb-ft, an eight-speed automatic and Kia's torque-vectoring multi-mode all-wheel drive, which makes it the quicker and more entertaining of the two on paper. All-wheel drive is available on the Seltos LX, S and EX for about $1,700 and standard on both X-Line trims; on the Sportage it is a $1,800 option on LX, EX and SX-Prestige and standard on X-Line and X-Pro Prestige. For NYC snow days, either AWD system on winter tires is more than enough.
Fuel Economy (MPG), Including the Sportage Hybrid
Gas to gas, the lighter Seltos wins. A front-drive Seltos is EPA-rated 28 mpg city, 33 highway and 30 combined; a front-drive Sportage is rated 25/33/28. With all-wheel drive the Seltos returns 26/30/28 and the Sportage 24/30/26, and the Seltos X-Line SX turbo is rated 24/30/26, the same as an AWD Sportage with 3 fewer horsepower.
The Sportage wins the overall contest because it has a hybrid and the Seltos, for now, does not. The 2027 Sportage Hybrid is rated 40/42/41 with front-wheel drive and 35/36/35 with AWD, and its 232 hp and 271 lb-ft beat every gas engine in this comparison. For a Flatbush Avenue commute, 40 mpg city against the Seltos's 28 is the number that matters, and the Sportage Hybrid LX at $30,590 is only $2,200 more than a Seltos EX. The Seltos Hybrid arrives later in 2026 with pricing and ratings still to come.
Safety and Technology
Both SUVs come with Kia Drive Wise on every trim: forward collision avoidance with automatic emergency braking, lane keeping and lane following assist, blind-spot collision avoidance, rear cross-traffic avoidance and adaptive cruise control. The new Seltos adds an available Surround View Monitor and Blind-Spot View Monitor, features that previously started a class up. The 2026 Sportage (built after May 2025) earned the 2026 IIHS Top Safety Pick+, the institute's highest award; IIHS had not rated the all-new Seltos at the time of writing.
On tech, the Seltos is the surprise. Every 2027 Seltos, including the $24,990 LX, has a 12.3-inch touchscreen, a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, with a 5-inch climate display on EX and up. The Sportage pairs its standard 12.3-inch touchscreen with a second 12.3-inch cluster only from SX up, and adds Harman Kardon audio, a 360-degree camera and Highway Driving Assist 2 on SX-Prestige. Trim for trim, the Seltos gives you more screen for the money; the Sportage gives you more features at the top.
Trims and Price Compared
The Seltos is cheaper at every step, and the gap is widest at the bottom. The front-drive Seltos LX starts at $24,990, $4,000 below the Sportage LX at $28,990, and both carry a $1,495 destination charge. A Seltos EX FWD ($28,390) is $2,400 below a Sportage EX ($30,790), and the loaded Seltos X-Line SX turbo at $32,790 is $2,000 below the Sportage X-Line at $34,790. The lineups overlap between roughly $28,000 and $33,000, where a top Seltos meets an entry Sportage or a Sportage Hybrid LX.
2027 Kia Seltos trims
LX $24,990 ($26,690 AWD), S $26,390 ($28,090 AWD), EX $28,390 ($30,090 AWD), X-Line S $28,990 (AWD) and X-Line SX $32,790 (AWD, 1.6L turbo), plus a $1,495 destination charge. Seltos Hybrid pricing is to be announced. Compare the trims in detail in Kia Seltos Trims Compared: LX vs S vs EX vs SX, or browse new Kia Seltos inventory at Plaza Kia.
2027 Kia Sportage trims
LX $28,990 ($30,790 AWD), EX $30,790 ($32,590 AWD), SX $34,590, X-Line $34,790 (AWD), SX-Prestige $36,590 ($38,390 AWD) and X-Pro Prestige $39,890 (AWD). Sportage Hybrid: LX $30,590, S $31,290 ($32,890 AWD), EX $32,290 ($33,890 AWD), X-Line $35,790 (AWD) and SX-Prestige $40,690 (AWD). Sportage Plug-in Hybrid: X-Line $40,590 and X-Line Prestige $47,390, both AWD. Destination is $1,495. See every trim side by side in Kia Sportage Trims Compared: LX vs EX vs X-Line vs SX-Prestige, or browse new Kia Sportage inventory.
Kia revises national incentives monthly and Plaza Kia layers its own offers on top, so check the current Kia sales promotions (updated monthly) and Kia incentives and rebates, and explore Kia financing. Trading in? Get a Kelley Blue Book Instant Cash Offer on your current car before you visit.
Seltos or Sportage: Which Should You Buy?
Street parker
Ten inches shorter, 30 mpg combined and $24,990 to start, with a 12.3-inch touchscreen and digital cluster on every trim.
Daily commuter
40 mpg city, 232 hp and front-wheel drive from $30,590, about $2,200 more than a Seltos EX and far cheaper to fuel.
Small family with a stroller
41.3 inches of rear legroom and 39.6 cubic feet of cargo space, 11.8 more than the Seltos, plus a 2026 IIHS Top Safety Pick+.
Most fun under $33,000
190-hp turbo, torque-vectoring AWD and 8.1 inches of clearance for $32,790, $2,000 less than a Sportage X-Line.
Final Scorecard
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | Seltos | $24,990 vs $28,990 |
| Rear-seat room | Sportage | 41.3 vs 39.0 in of rear legroom |
| Cargo | Sportage | 39.6 / 74.1 vs 27.8 / 64.2 cu ft |
| Parking size | Seltos | 174.4 vs 184.4 in long |
| Standard engine | Sportage | 187 hp vs 147 hp |
| Fuel economy (gas) | Seltos | 30 vs 28 mpg combined (FWD) |
| Hybrid | Sportage | 41 mpg Sportage Hybrid available now; Seltos Hybrid pending |
| Standard tech | Seltos | Dual 12.3-in displays on every trim |
| Safety award | Sportage | 2026 IIHS Top Safety Pick+; Seltos rating pending |
| Overall for NYC drivers | Split | Seltos for price and parking; Sportage for space and the hybrid |
Still deciding? Need a third row? Read Kia Sportage vs Sorento: Which Kia SUV Should You Buy?. Weighing all three small Kias? See Kia Niro vs Sportage vs Seltos: Which Small Kia SUV?. Cross-shopping other subcompacts? See Kia Seltos vs Kona, CX-30, Taos and More.
Free home delivery within 25 miles. Plaza Kia delivers your new or pre-owned vehicle to your door — free within a 25-mile radius, which covers all five NYC boroughs and much of Nassau County. Our service department also offers pickup and drop-off across the entire NYC metro area.
Ask Our Team About DeliveryKia Seltos vs Sportage: Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Sportage bigger than the Seltos?
Yes. The 2027 Kia Sportage is 184.4 inches long on a 108.5-inch wheelbase; the all-new 2027 Seltos is 174.4 inches on a 105.9-inch wheelbase, so the Sportage is 10 inches longer, 1.4 inches wider and about 2.4 inches taller. The difference shows most in the back: 41.3 inches of rear legroom in the Sportage against 39.0 in the Seltos, and 39.6 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seat against 27.8.
Which is cheaper, Seltos or Sportage?
The Seltos. A 2027 Seltos LX starts at $24,990 MSRP with front-wheel drive, $4,000 below the 2027 Sportage LX at $28,990; both carry a $1,495 destination charge. The gap narrows higher up: a Seltos EX FWD is $28,390 against $30,790 for a Sportage EX, and the top Seltos X-Line SX at $32,790 is $2,000 below the Sportage X-Line at $34,790 and $2,200 above a Sportage Hybrid LX.
Does the Seltos come with AWD?
Yes. All-wheel drive is available on the Seltos LX, S and EX for about $1,700 more than front-wheel drive, and standard on both X-Line trims; the X-Line SX pairs it with the 190-hp turbo and Kia's torque-vectoring multi-mode AWD. The Sportage offers AWD on LX, EX and SX-Prestige for $1,800 and standard on X-Line and X-Pro Prestige, and the Sportage Hybrid and Plug-in Hybrid also offer AWD.
Which gets better gas mileage, the Seltos or the Sportage?
Gas to gas, the Seltos: 28 mpg city, 33 highway and 30 combined with front-wheel drive against the Sportage's 25/33/28, and 26/30/28 against 24/30/26 with AWD. The Sportage wins overall because it offers a hybrid that the Seltos does not yet: the 2027 Sportage Hybrid FWD is rated 40/42/41, the best figures of any Kia SUV. A Seltos Hybrid is coming, but Kia had not announced its pricing or ratings at the time of writing.
Is the 2027 Kia Seltos all new?
Yes. The 2027 Seltos is a second-generation redesign with a longer wheelbase, a wider stance, Telluride-inspired styling and a cabin with a standard 12.3-inch touchscreen and 12.3-inch digital cluster. It is priced from $24,990 and reached dealers in the summer of 2026. The 2027 Sportage carries over the generation introduced for 2023 with a 2026 refresh; new for 2027 are a standard panoramic sunroof and power liftgate on X-Line and a new Road Rider Brown color.
Which Kia SUV is better for New York City, the Seltos or the Sportage?
For one or two people who park on the street, the Seltos: it is 10 inches shorter, cheaper and returns 30 mpg combined without a hybrid system. For a family of four or anyone who hauls a stroller or weekend luggage, the Sportage: it has 2.3 more inches of rear legroom, 11.8 more cubic feet of cargo space and the 41-mpg Sportage Hybrid. Both have Kia's 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty and the full Drive Wise safety suite on every trim.
Test-Drive the Seltos and Sportage at Plaza Kia
Plaza Kia (2746 Nostrand Ave, Brooklyn) keeps both SUVs in stock, so you can drive the Kia Seltos and Kia Sportage back to back in one visit and try the back seat and cargo area with your own gear. Family-owned since 1975, Plaza Auto Mall serves drivers from Brooklyn, Queens, Staten Island, Manhattan and Long Island, with free delivery within 25 miles. No Hassle, No Pressure, No Middlemen. Browse new Kia inventory, look at certified pre-owned Kias, book service, or call Plaza Kia at (877) 545-6543.
*MSRP excludes destination ($1,495), taxes, title and registration fees. Specifications and pricing are based on manufacturer information available as of October 9, 2026 and are subject to change; Seltos Hybrid pricing and ratings had not been announced. Towing varies by configuration. EPA ratings are estimates; actual mileage will vary. Plug-in electric range is a Kia estimate. See dealer for details.
