Subcompact SUV Showdown · All-New Kia Seltos
Kia Seltos vsHonda HR-V
More warranty. A bigger standard screen. A lower starting price.
Two of the segment’s most cross-shopped subcompact SUVs, head to head. The redesigned Kia Seltos counters the Honda HR-V with nearly double the powertrain warranty, a 12.3-inch standard touchscreen well beyond the HR-V’s 9 inches, and a lower starting price. Here’s how they stack up at Dean McCrary Kia in Mobile, AL.
10yr/100kKia powertrain warranty
147–190 hpTwo engines available
$24,990Starting MSRP*
12.3″Touchscreen standard
64.2 cu-ftMax cargo room
3×Value & design recognition
The Quick Verdict
Four Reasons the Seltos Wins
Put the redesigned Kia Seltos next to the Honda HR-V and it leads on the things buyers actually feel — coverage, price, technology, and cargo room. The short version before the deep dive.
Warranty Leader
2×the coverage
10yr/100k vs HR-V’s 5yr/60k
Kia’s powertrain warranty runs double Honda’s — and every new Seltos here adds Warranty Forever on top.
Value Leader
$1,010lower start
$24,990 vs ~$26,000 HR-V
The Seltos starts lower and still includes more standard tech — a 12.3″ touchscreen from the base LX.
Tech Leader
12.3″standard screen
vs HR-V’s 9″ standard display
Every Seltos trim gets the bigger screen — the HR-V’s 9″ touchscreen doesn’t grow on higher trims.
Cargo Leader
64.2cu-ft max cargo
vs HR-V’s 55.1 cu-ft max
More room for gear — part of why editors have called the redesigned Seltos “the Telluride’s little brother.”
Pricing & Configuration
Trim Range & Starting MSRP
Both open in the mid-$20Ks to high-$20Ks. The Seltos starts lower and includes more standard tech — the HR-V counters with a marginally stronger base engine and an already-tested safety award.
Configuration
Kia SeltosAll-New
Honda HR-V2026
Starting MSRP*
$24,990Lower Start
~$26,000 ⚠
Trim Range
LX → X-Line SX
LX → Sport → EX-L
Powertrains
2 engines, up to 190 hpMore Choice
1 engine, 158 hp (no turbo option)
Standard Touchscreen
12.3″Bigger Std
9″ (all trims)
Off-Road / Notable Trim
X-Line S/SX (8.1″ clearance, standard AWD)
None — no adventure/off-road trim offered
Drivetrain
AWD every trim; standard on X-Line
FWD standard, AWD available — never standard
Engines & Efficiency
Two Engine Choices vs One.
Honda’s single 2.0L edges the Seltos’s standard engine on power — but the Seltos answers with an available 190-hp turbo the HR-V has no way to match.
Kia Seltos
2 Powertrain Options
- 2.0L MPI I4 — 147 hp / 132 lb-ft
- 1.6L Turbo GDI — 190 hp / 195 lb-ft (X-Line SX only)
- IVT (CVT) or 8-speed automatic
- FWD standard, AWD available; standard AWD on X-Line
Honda HR-V
1 Powertrain Option
- 2.0L DOHC i-VTEC I4 — 158 hp / 138 lb-ft
- CVT, all trims
- FWD standard, AWD available
- No turbo or hybrid alternative offered
Powertrain Spec
Kia Seltos
Honda HR-V
Base/Only Engine Horsepower
147 hp (2.0L)
158 hpHonda’s edge
Top Available Horsepower
190 hpTurbo Available
158 hp (no alternative engine)
Best EPA Combined
30 MPG+2 MPG
28 MPG (2WD)
Max Towing
Not factory-rated (U.S.)
Not factory-rated (U.S.)
Max Cargo (seats folded)
64.2 cu-ft+9.1 cu-ft
55.1 cu-ft
Room, Value & Peace of Mind
The Differences You Live With Daily
Both are well-equipped subcompact SUVs. Where the Seltos pulls ahead is coverage, price, and cargo room — where the HR-V pulls ahead is a slightly stronger base engine and an already-earned safety award.
Peace of Mind
100kmile warranty
vs HR-V’s 60k-mile powertrain
Ten years or 100,000 miles of Kia powertrain coverage, plus Warranty Forever at Dean McCrary — years of extra protection.
Value
$1,010lower start
vs the HR-V’s ~$26,000 base price
A lower price and a 12.3″ standard touchscreen — well beyond the HR-V’s 9″ display.
Cargo Room
64.2cu-ft max
vs HR-V’s 55.1 cu-ft max
More room for gear on Gulf Coast weekends — part of the Seltos’s Telluride-inspired redesign.
Technology & Safety
Bigger Screen Standard. Honda Sensing Holds Its Own.
Both brands put a real driver-assist suite in every trim. The Seltos’s screen and warranty are larger; Honda Sensing’s standard suite and the HR-V’s current-generation safety award are genuine strengths.
Kia Seltos
12.3″ touchscreen standard, every trim
Full driver-assist suite standard from base LX
Standard wireless Apple CarPlay & Android Auto
Up to 190-hp turbo available (X-Line SX)
Redesigned model’s own crash-test results pending
10-year / 100,000-mile powertrain warranty
Honda HR-V
9″ touchscreen standard — no larger option
Honda Sensing suite standard, every trim (ACC, CMBS, LKAS, Traffic Jam Assist)
Standard wireless Apple CarPlay & Android Auto
158-hp ceiling — no turbo or alternate engine
2026 IIHS Top Safety Pick+ — already earned
5-year / 60,000-mile powertrain warranty
Independent Recognition
Fresh Reviews. Real Recognition.
The redesigned Seltos just launched, so new-generation crash-test scores are pending — and the HR-V already holds a genuine, current-year safety award.
Kelley Blue Book
Best Subcompact SUVs List
The Seltos nameplate has ranked among KBB’s highest-rated subcompact SUVs in recent model years.
U.S. News & World Report
Best New Cars Under $25,000
The LX FWD’s $24,990 starting price keeps the redesigned Seltos in U.S. News’ under-$25k value conversation.
Editorial First Drives
“The Telluride’s Little Brother”
Auto123, Autoblog and Automotive News all praised the redesigned Seltos’s Telluride-inspired styling, cabin tech, and value in first-drive reviews.
NHTSA & IIHS
Strong Marks — Both Nameplates
The outgoing Seltos earned NHTSA’s 5-star overall rating, and the Honda HR-V holds a 2026 IIHS Top Safety Pick+ award for the current generation. The redesigned Seltos awaits its own crash-test results.
Cross-Shopping the HR-V? Drive the Seltos First.
See every Seltos trim in stock, get a real number on your current vehicle, and feel the difference yourself — all in one stop in Mobile.
Seltos vs HR-V — Common Questions
Is the Kia Seltos better than the Honda HR-V?⌄
For most value-focused buyers, yes. The redesigned Kia Seltos starts about $1,010 lower than the Honda HR-V, includes a much larger 12.3-inch touchscreen standard (versus the HR-V’s 9-inch display), backs every purchase with a 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty plus Warranty Forever — double the HR-V’s 5-year/60,000-mile coverage — and offers more max cargo room (64.2 vs 55.1 cu-ft). The HR-V’s real strengths are a slightly higher base engine output and a 2026 IIHS Top Safety Pick+ award already in hand for the current model.
Which has more power, the Seltos or the HR-V?⌄
It depends on the engine. The Honda HR-V’s single 2.0L engine makes 158 hp and 138 lb-ft — more than the Kia Seltos’s standard 147-hp 2.0L. But the Seltos X-Line SX’s available 1.6L turbo produces 190 hp and 195 lb-ft, well above anything Honda offers — the HR-V comes with only one engine choice across its entire lineup.
Is the Kia Seltos cheaper than the Honda HR-V?⌄
Yes. The 2027 Seltos LX starts at $24,990 MSRP versus roughly $26,000 for the base HR-V LX — about $1,010 lower — while adding a much larger 12.3-inch standard touchscreen where the HR-V uses a 9-inch display. Both prices exclude destination.
What is the warranty difference between Kia and Honda?⌄
Kia’s powertrain coverage runs twice as long: 10 years/100,000 miles versus Honda’s 5 years/60,000 miles (both offer a 3-year/36,000-mile basic limited warranty). Every new Seltos at Dean McCrary Kia also includes Warranty Forever on top of the factory coverage.
Does the Honda HR-V offer hands-free highway driving?⌄
No. Honda Sensing’s Lane Keeping Assist System and Traffic Jam Assist help center the HR-V in its lane, but both require the driver’s hands on the wheel at all times — no HR-V trim offers a hands-free highway driving mode. The Kia Seltos’s driver-assist suite is also hands-on; neither vehicle offers hands-free highway driving in this comparison.
What does the Honda HR-V do better than the Seltos?⌄
The HR-V has real strengths: a slightly more powerful standard engine (158 hp vs the Seltos’s 147 hp), a 2026 IIHS Top Safety Pick+ award already earned by the current generation (the redesigned Seltos awaits its own crash-test results), Honda Sensing’s comprehensive standard driver-assist suite, and Honda’s long-standing reliability reputation. If base-engine output or an already-tested safety award is the priority, the HR-V is worth a look. For price, standard screen size, warranty, and cargo room, the Seltos leads.
Where can I compare the Seltos and HR-V near Mobile, AL?⌄
Dean McCrary Kia at 1733 E I-65 Service Rd S in Mobile stocks the all-new Seltos lineup — convenient to Daphne, Spanish Fort, Saraland, Fairhope, and the Alabama Gulf Coast. Come drive a Seltos and see the difference in person.
Seltos vs HR-V · Gulf Coast
Shopping a Subcompact SUV Near Mobile?
Dean McCrary Kia serves Gulf Coast families from Mobile to the Eastern Shore with the area’s deepest Seltos selection. If you’re cross-shopping the Honda HR-V, here’s why to start here.
- Live inventory of every Seltos trim — LX through X-Line SX
- A fair number on your trade — value your current vehicle in minutes
- Upfront pricing and Warranty Forever on every new Seltos
- Kia-certified service, factory maintenance, and genuine parts
Dean McCrary Kia
Address1733 E I-65 Service Rd S, Mobile, AL 36606
Sales(251) 471-3326
Sales HoursMon–Sat 8:30 AM–6:00 PM
Sources & Verification
Comparison reflects the all-new Kia Seltos against the 2026 Honda HR-V. Specifications and pricing compiled from manufacturer materials (kia.com, hondanews.com, automobiles.honda.com), Kelley Blue Book, and dealer-published spec sheets, and are current as of publication. MSRP shown is base, excluding destination, taxes, title, and dealer fees; AWD and higher trims add cost. Horsepower, torque, and cargo figures are independent attributes and may not be achieved simultaneously. EPA-estimated fuel economy is for comparison only; your mileage will vary. Figures marked ⚠ were confirmed via secondary/aggregator sources after hondanews.com/honda.com declined automated access; see the review queue for detail.
Honda, HR-V, and Honda Sensing are trademarks of Honda Motor Co., Ltd. Kia, Seltos, and X-Line references are used for descriptive comparison. Awards include prior- and current-generation Seltos honors. This comparison reflects the dealer’s perspective and is intended for informational purposes only. Pricing and offers subject to change — contact Dean McCrary Kia for current pricing.
Kia Seltos vs Honda HR-V Comparison — Dean McCrary Kia, Mobile AL
The all-new Kia Seltos compares favorably to the Honda HR-V on warranty (10-year/100,000-mile powertrain vs 5-year/60,000-mile), starting price (about $24,990 vs $26,000), standard touchscreen size (12.3-inch vs 9-inch), and max cargo room (64.2 vs 55.1 cu-ft). The HR-V’s real edge is a slightly stronger base engine and a 2026 IIHS Top Safety Pick+ award already earned. Dean McCrary Kia in Mobile, Alabama stocks the all-new Seltos lineup, serving Daphne, Spanish Fort, Saraland, and Fairhope.