2026 Hyundai Santa Cruz vs 2026 Kia Seltos

$29,500 · Crossover

$23,690 · Crossover

Comparison Overview

Choosing between the 2026 Hyundai Santa Cruz and the 2026 Kia Seltos often boils down to balancing price versus utility. If you need a slightly larger footprint and more pep, the Santa Cruz starts at a higher MSRP of $29,500, offering 191 hp and 181 lb-ft of torque from its 8-speed automatic. However, the Seltos undercuts it significantly at $23,690. Where the Seltos truly shines for daily driving is efficiency; it achieves a class-leading 31 MPG combined, beating the Santa Cruz’s 25 MPG combined—a difference of 6 MPG. Furthermore, the Santa Cruz is substantially larger, measuring 195.7 inches in length compared to the Seltos's 172.6 inches, which can matter for city parking. Ultimately, the Seltos saves you $5,810 upfront and offers better fuel economy, while the Santa Cruz gives you more power and a slightly larger frame.

Size Comparison

Performance

Fuel Efficiency

Full Specifications

Our Verdicts

🚗 Best for Commuters

2026 Kia Seltos

The Kia Seltos is the clear winner for commuters due to its superior 31 MPG combined fuel economy compared to the Santa Cruz's 25 MPG.

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Best for Families

2026 Hyundai Santa Cruz

The slightly larger dimensions and greater potential towing/utility implied by the Santa Cruz's crossover style edges out the smaller Seltos for family hauling needs.

🏎️ Best for Enthusiasts

2026 Hyundai Santa Cruz

The 2026 Santa Cruz offers significantly more performance with 191 hp and 181 lb-ft of torque versus the Seltos's 147 hp.

💰 Best Value

2026 Kia Seltos

With an MSRP of $23,690, the Kia Seltos saves buyers $5,810 compared to the Santa Cruz, delivering better core efficiency for less money.

Choose the Hyundai Santa Cruz if...

You prioritize performance, as the Santa Cruz boasts 191 horsepower versus the Seltos's 147 hp.
You need the extra size, evidenced by the Santa Cruz's 195.7-inch length compared to the Seltos's 172.6 inches.
You prefer the feel of a traditional 8-speed shiftable automatic transmission over a CVT.

Choose the Kia Seltos if...

Keeping running costs low is critical, thanks to the Seltos achieving 31 MPG combined.
Your budget is firm, as the Seltos starts $5,810 less expensive at $23,690.
You value efficiency in tight city spaces where the Seltos’s smaller dimensions (70.9 inches wide) are an advantage.

Key Dimensions

Dimension	Hyundai Santa Cruz	Kia Seltos
Length	195.7"	172.6"
Width	75.0"	70.9"
Height	66.7"	63.6"
Wheelbase	118.3"	103.5"

Features Comparison

Safety

Feature	Hyundai	Kia
Blind Spot Monitor	✓	—
Lane Departure Warning	✓	✓
Lane Keeping Assist System	✓	✓
Rear Cross Traffic Alert	✓	—
Driver Attention Alert	✓	✓
Pre-Collision Safety System	✓	✓
Post-Collision Safety System	✓	—
Dual Front Side-Mounted Airbags	✓	✓
Dual Rear 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	✓	✓
Brake Assist	✓	—
Tire Pressure Monitoring System	✓	✓
Automatic Headlights	✓	✓
LED Headlights	✓	—
Daytime Running Lights	✓	—
Front Headrests	2	2
Front Height Adjustable Headrests	✓	✓
Rear Headrests	3	3
Rear Height Adjustable Headrests	✓	—
Rear Center 3-Point Seatbelt	✓	✓
Anti-Theft Alarm System (Remote)	✓	✓
Engine Immobilizer	✓	✓
Rear Fixed Headrests	—	✓

Engine

Feature	Hyundai	Kia
Base Engine Displacement	2.5 L	2.0 L
Number of Cylinders	inline 4	inline 4
Base Engine Type	gas	gas
Horsepower	191 hp @ 6100 rpm	147 hp @ 6200 rpm
Torque	181 lb-ft @ 4000 rpm	132 lb-ft @ 4500 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	Hyundai	Kia
Transmission Type	8-speed shiftable automatic	continuously variable-speed automatic
Drivetrain Type	front wheel drive	front wheel drive
Hill Descent Control	✓	✓

Fuel

Feature	Hyundai	Kia
Fuel Type	regular unleaded	regular unleaded
EPA Fuel Economy (City/Highway)	22/30 MPG	28/34 MPG
EPA Fuel Economy (Combined)	25 MPG	31 MPG
EPA Driving Range (City/Highway)	389.4/531.0 mi.	369.6/448.8 mi.
Fuel Tank Capacity	17.7 gal.	13.2 gal.

Comfort & Convenience

Feature	Hyundai	Kia
Push Button Start	✓	—
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	✓	✓
Rear Cupholders	✓	—
Front Door Pockets	✓	✓
Front Seatback Storage	✓	—
Single Zone Climate Control	✓	✓
Interior Air Filtration	✓	—
Extended Cabin Heating/Cooling	✓	—
Dual Vanity Mirrors	✓	✓
Rear Door Pockets	—	✓
Rear Ventilation Ducts	—	✓

In Car Entertainment

Feature	Hyundai	Kia
Infotainment Display	12.3 in	8.0 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	Hyundai	Kia
One-Touch Power Windows	1	1
Keyless Entry	✓	—
Heated Mirrors	✓	✓
Remote Keyless Entry	—	✓

Frontseats

Feature	Hyundai	Kia
Front Head Room	40.2 in.	40.0 in.
Front Leg Room	41.4 in.	41.4 in.
Front Shoulder Room	57.7 in.	55.5 in.
Front Hip Room	54.5 in.	53.0 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	Hyundai	Kia
Rear Head Room	39.6 in.	38.4 in.
Rear Leg Room	36.5 in.	38.0 in.
Rear Shoulder Room	56.1 in.	54.9 in.
Rear Hip Room	53.5 in.	48.8 in.
Split-Folding Rear Seatback	✓	✓
Reclining Rear Seats	—	✓

Tires and Wheels

Feature	Hyundai	Kia
Wheel Finish	Painted Alloy	Painted Alloy
Wheel Size	18 x 7.5 in	17 x 7.0 in
Tire Type	All Season	All Season
Tire Size	245/60R18	P215/55R17
Spare Tire Type	Temporary	Temporary
Spare Tire Location	Underbody Mounted	Inside Mounted

Suspension

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

Warranty

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

Frequently Asked Questions

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

What is the major cost difference between the 2026 Santa Cruz and the 2026 Seltos?

The 2026 Hyundai Santa Cruz has an MSRP of $29,500, meaning it costs $5,810 more than the base 2026 Kia Seltos, which starts at $23,690.

Which crossover is significantly better on fuel economy?

The Kia Seltos is the more efficient choice, delivering 31 MPG combined (28 city/34 highway) compared to the Santa Cruz’s 25 MPG combined (22 city/30 highway).

Is the performance difference between these two noticeable?

Yes, the Santa Cruz has a 44 horsepower advantage, producing 191 hp compared to the Seltos’s 147 hp, which should make the Santa Cruz feel noticeably quicker.

How much cargo space difference is there?

While the Santa Cruz is larger overall, the provided specification shows the Seltos has 26.6 cubic feet of cargo capacity; the Santa Cruz's specific cargo volume was not detailed here.

Do these vehicles use different types of automatic transmissions?

Yes, the Santa Cruz uses a traditional 8-speed shiftable automatic transmission, while the Seltos utilizes a continuously variable-speed automatic (CVT).