2025 Kia Seltos vs 2026 Hyundai Santa Cruz

$24,690 · Crossover

$29,500 · Crossover

Comparison Overview

The most significant measurable divergence between the 2025 Kia Seltos and the 2026 Hyundai Santa Cruz is the $4,810 MSRP gap, with the Santa Cruz starting at $29,500 versus the Seltos' $24,690. This price difference correlates with substantial performance disparities: the Santa Cruz delivers 191 hp and 181 lb-ft of torque, outperforming the Seltos’ 146 hp and 132 lb-ft. Conversely, fuel economy favors the smaller Seltos, achieving 29 combined MPG compared to the Santa Cruz’s 25 combined MPG. Dimensionally, the Santa Cruz is significantly larger, boasting a length of 195.7 inches compared to the Seltos' 172.6 inches, suggesting superior passenger or cargo space, although the base Seltos offers 26.6 cu ft of cargo volume. The Seltos employs a less engaging CVT transmission paired with standard AWD, whereas the Santa Cruz uses an 8-speed shiftable automatic and is primarily FWD in its base configuration.

Size Comparison

Performance

Fuel Efficiency

Full Specifications

Our Verdicts

🚗 Best for Commuters

2025 Kia Seltos

The Kia Seltos wins for commuting due to its superior combined fuel economy of 29 MPG, offsetting the Santa Cruz’s 25 MPG rating.

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Best for Families

2026 Hyundai Santa Cruz

The 2026 Santa Cruz offers greater exterior dimensions (195.7 inches long) which typically translate to a more spacious family interior than the Seltos.

🏎️ Best for Enthusiasts

2026 Hyundai Santa Cruz

The Hyundai Santa Cruz provides substantially higher power output with 191 hp and 181 lb-ft of torque compared to the Seltos' 146 hp.

💰 Best Value

2025 Kia Seltos

The Kia Seltos offers a much lower entry price of $24,690, representing a better cost-to-utility ratio for efficiency-minded buyers.

Choose the Kia Seltos if...

The primary concern is minimizing fuel expenditure, given its 29 combined MPG rating versus 25 MPG for car 2.
The budget is strictly under $25,000, as its MSRP is $4,810 less than the Santa Cruz.
All-wheel drive capability (standard) is preferred over the base front-wheel drive configuration of the Santa Cruz.

Choose the Hyundai Santa Cruz if...

Maximum performance is required, leveraging the 191 hp engine and 8-speed shiftable automatic transmission.
A physically larger vehicle is necessary, as the Santa Cruz is over 23 inches longer than the Seltos.
A traditional automatic transmission feel is preferred over the Seltos' continuously variable-speed automatic (CVT).

Key Dimensions

Dimension	Kia Seltos	Hyundai Santa Cruz
Length	172.6"	195.7"
Width	70.9"	75.0"
Height	63.4"	66.7"
Wheelbase	103.5"	118.3"

Features Comparison

Safety

Feature	Kia	Hyundai
Lane Departure Warning	✓	✓
Lane Keeping Assist System	✓	✓
Driver Attention Alert	✓	✓
Pre-Collision Safety System	✓	✓
Dual Front Side-Mounted Airbags	✓	✓
Front Head Airbags	✓	✓
Rear Head Airbags	✓	✓
Passenger Airbag Occupant Sensing Deactivation	✓	✓
Electronic Stability Control	✓	✓
Traction Control System	✓	✓
LATCH System	✓	✓
Rear Door Child Safety Locks	✓	✓
Anti-lock Brakes (ABS)	4-Wheel	4-Wheel
Front Ventilated Disc Brakes	✓	✓
Rear Solid Disc Brakes	✓	✓
Tire Pressure Monitoring System	✓	✓
Automatic Headlights	✓	✓
Front Headrests	2	2
Front Height Adjustable Headrests	✓	✓
Rear Headrests	3	3
Rear Fixed Headrests	✓	—
Rear Center 3-Point Seatbelt	✓	✓
Anti-Theft Alarm System (Remote)	✓	✓
Engine Immobilizer	✓	✓
Blind Spot Monitor	—	✓
Rear Cross Traffic Alert	—	✓
Post-Collision Safety System	—	✓
Dual Rear Side-Mounted Airbags	—	✓
Brake Assist	—	✓
LED Headlights	—	✓
Daytime Running Lights	—	✓
Rear Height Adjustable Headrests	—	✓

Engine

Feature	Kia	Hyundai
Base Engine Displacement	2.0 L	2.5 L
Number of Cylinders	inline 4	inline 4
Base Engine Type	gas	gas
Horsepower	146 hp @ 6200 rpm	191 hp @ 6100 rpm
Torque	132 lb-ft @ 4500 rpm	181 lb-ft @ 4000 rpm
Number of Valves	16	16
Camshaft Type	Double overhead cam (DOHC)	Double overhead cam (DOHC)
Variable Valve Timing	Variable	Variable
Fuel Injection Type	—	✓

Drive Train

Feature	Kia	Hyundai
Transmission Type	continuously variable-speed automatic	8-speed shiftable automatic
Drivetrain Type	all wheel drive	front wheel drive
Center Differential Type	Limited Slip	—
Hill Descent Control	✓	✓

Fuel

Feature	Kia	Hyundai
Fuel Type	regular unleaded	regular unleaded
EPA Fuel Economy (City/Highway)	27/31 MPG	22/30 MPG
EPA Fuel Economy (Combined)	29 MPG	25 MPG
EPA Driving Range (City/Highway)	356.4/409.2 mi.	389.4/531.0 mi.
Fuel Tank Capacity	13.2 gal.	17.7 gal.

Comfort & Convenience

Feature	Kia	Hyundai
Tilt and Telescopic Steering Wheel	✓	✓
Audio Controls on Steering Wheel	✓	✓
Cruise Control on Steering Wheel	✓	✓
Electric Power Steering	✓	✓
Rear View Camera	✓	✓
Cruise Control	✓	✓
Front Cupholders	✓	✓
Front Door Pockets	✓	✓
Rear Door Pockets	✓	—
Single Zone Climate Control	✓	✓
Rear Ventilation Ducts	✓	—
Dual Vanity Mirrors	✓	✓
Push Button Start	—	✓
Rear Cupholders	—	✓
Front Seatback Storage	—	✓
Interior Air Filtration	—	✓
Extended Cabin Heating/Cooling	—	✓

In Car Entertainment

Feature	Kia	Hyundai
Infotainment Display	8.0 in	12.3 in
AM/FM Stereo	✓	✓
Speaker System	6	6
Android Auto (Wireless)	✓	✓
Apple CarPlay (Wireless)	✓	✓
USB Port	✓	✓
USB Port with External Media Control	✓	✓
Satellite Radio	—	✓
Satellite Radio Trial Period	—	3 months

Power Feature

Feature	Kia	Hyundai
One-Touch Power Windows	1	1
Remote Keyless Entry	✓	—
Heated Mirrors	✓	✓
Keyless Entry	—	✓

Frontseats

Feature	Kia	Hyundai
Front Head Room	40.0 in.	40.2 in.
Front Leg Room	41.4 in.	41.4 in.
Front Shoulder Room	55.5 in.	57.7 in.
Front Hip Room	53.5 in.	54.5 in.
Seat Material: Cloth	✓	✓
Front Seat Type: Bucket	✓	✓
Driver Seat Manual Adjustments	6-way	6-way
Driver Seat Height Adjustment	✓	✓
Passenger Seat Manual Adjustments	4-way	—

Rearseats

Feature	Kia	Hyundai
Rear Head Room	38.4 in.	39.6 in.
Rear Leg Room	38.0 in.	36.5 in.
Rear Shoulder Room	54.7 in.	56.1 in.
Rear Hip Room	52.8 in.	53.5 in.
Split-Folding Rear Seatback	✓	✓
Reclining Rear Seats	✓	—

Tires and Wheels

Feature	Kia	Hyundai
Wheel Material	Alloy	—
Wheel Size	17 x 7.0 in	18 x 7.5 in
Tire Type	All Season	All Season
Tire Size	P215/55R	245/60R18
Spare Tire Type	Temporary	Temporary
Spare Tire Location	Inside Mounted	Underbody Mounted
Wheel Finish	—	Painted Alloy

Suspension

Feature	Kia	Hyundai
Four-Wheel Independent Suspension	✓	✓
Front Stabilizer Bar	✓	—
Rear Stabilizer Bar	✓	—

Warranty

Feature	Kia	Hyundai
Basic Warranty	5 yr./ 60000 mi.	5 yr./ 60000 mi.
Drivetrain Warranty	10 yr./ 100000 mi.	10 yr./ 100000 mi.
Corrosion/Rust Warranty	5 yr./ 100000 mi.	7 yr./ unlimited mi.
Roadside Assistance	5 yr./ 60000 mi.	5 yr./ unlimited mi.

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about comparing the 2025 Kia Seltos and 2026 Hyundai Santa Cruz.

What is the measurable difference in driving dynamics between the two models?

The Santa Cruz offers significantly more power with 191 hp and a traditional 8-speed automatic transmission, suggesting a more spirited drive. Conversely, the Seltos uses a CVT mated to a 146 hp engine, optimized for efficiency rather than performance.

How much more expensive is the 2026 Hyundai Santa Cruz than the 2025 Kia Seltos?

The 2026 Santa Cruz has a base MSRP of $29,500, making it $4,810 more expensive than the $24,690 starting price of the 2025 Seltos.

Which vehicle is better for highway driving based on MPG figures?

The Kia Seltos is better, achieving 31 highway MPG compared to the Santa Cruz’s 30 highway MPG, translating to a 1 MPG advantage on the open road.

Does the smaller Seltos offer competitive cargo space?

Yes, the Kia Seltos provides 26.6 cubic feet of cargo capacity, which is a strong figure for its compact size, although the physically larger Santa Cruz likely surpasses this volume.

What are the respective drivetrain configurations for these base models?

The 2025 Kia Seltos comes standard with All-Wheel Drive and a CVT. The 2026 Hyundai Santa Cruz comes standard with Front Wheel Drive and an 8-speed shiftable automatic transmission.