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2024 Kia Seltos compared with the 2023 Toyota Rav4 Hybrid

Safety

© 1999 - 2024Advanta-STAR Automotive Research, all rights reserved. This vehicle comparison and all of the content in it are provided only by license from Advanta-STAR Automotive Research Corporation of America (“Advanta-STAR”). If you are not a legally licensed user of this vehicle comparison, it is against federal law to access it, copy it, forward it, or use it in any manner whatsoever. Any unauthorized use of this vehicle comparison is a violation of U.S. and international law and is punishable criminally and civilly. Removal of this watermark/notification without prior written license and approval received from Advanta-STAR is an agreement, understanding, and/or stipulation by the person(s), entities, agents, attorneys, and any other persons involved in the removal of this watermark/notification (including but not limited to Search Optics, LLC and any and all parent entities, sister entities, and subsidiary entities of Search Optics, LLC and/or any other entity, agent, attorney, and persons related in any manner to Search Optics, LLC) to: 1) an agreed upon amount of liquidated monetary damages of a minimum of $1,250,000.00 US Dollars in favor of Advanta-STAR; 2) the jurisdiction and enforcement of any legal claims associated with this matter asserted by Advanta-STAR in the United States Federal District Court in Portand, Oregon; and 3) service of process of any legal claims asserted by Advanta-STAR associated with this matter may be accomplished by First-Class Postage by the United States Postal Service or comparable service. LPCXV-Q1KA3 13.59.123.182 2024-10-31

In the past twenty years hundreds of infants and young children have died after being left in vehicles, usually by accident. When turning the vehicle off, drivers of the Seltos are reminded to check the back seat if they opened the rear door before starting out. The Rav4 Hybrid doesn't offer a back seat reminder.

When descending a steep, off-road slope, the Seltos' standard Downhill Brake Control allows you to creep down safely. The Rav4 Hybrid doesn't offer Downhill Brake Control.

Both the Seltos and the Rav4 Hybrid have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, height adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, lane departure warning systems, rearview cameras, driver alert monitors, available all wheel drive, daytime running lights, blind spot warning systems and rear cross-path warning.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does 35 MPH front crash tests on new vehicles. In this test, results indicate that the Kia Seltos is safer than the Toyota Rav4 Hybrid:

Seltos

Rav4 Hybrid

Driver

STARS

5 Stars

4 Stars

HIC

129

152

Neck Injury Risk

24%

29.3%

Neck Stress

237 lbs.

306 lbs.

Neck Compression

23 lbs.

56 lbs.

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does side impact tests on new vehicles. In this test, which crashes the vehicle into a post at 20 MPH, results indicate that the Kia Seltos is safer than the Toyota Rav4 Hybrid:

Seltos

Rav4 Hybrid

Into Pole

STARS

5 Stars

5 Stars

Max Damage Depth

13 inches

14 inches

HIC

225

299

Spine Acceleration

33 G's

36 G's

Hip Force

433 lbs.

835 lbs.

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

Warranty

© 1999 - 2024Advanta-STAR Automotive Research, all rights reserved. This vehicle comparison and all of the content in it are provided only by license from Advanta-STAR Automotive Research Corporation of America (“Advanta-STAR”). If you are not a legally licensed user of this vehicle comparison, it is against federal law to access it, copy it, forward it, or use it in any manner whatsoever. Any unauthorized use of this vehicle comparison is a violation of U.S. and international law and is punishable criminally and civilly. Removal of this watermark/notification without prior written license and approval received from Advanta-STAR is an agreement, understanding, and/or stipulation by the person(s), entities, agents, attorneys, and any other persons involved in the removal of this watermark/notification (including but not limited to Search Optics, LLC and any and all parent entities, sister entities, and subsidiary entities of Search Optics, LLC and/or any other entity, agent, attorney, and persons related in any manner to Search Optics, LLC) to: 1) an agreed upon amount of liquidated monetary damages of a minimum of $1,250,000.00 US Dollars in favor of Advanta-STAR; 2) the jurisdiction and enforcement of any legal claims associated with this matter asserted by Advanta-STAR in the United States Federal District Court in Portand, Oregon; and 3) service of process of any legal claims asserted by Advanta-STAR associated with this matter may be accomplished by First-Class Postage by the United States Postal Service or comparable service. LPCXV-Q1KA3 13.59.123.182 2024-10-31

The Seltos comes with a full 5-year/60,000-mile basic warranty, which covers the entire truck and includes 24-hour roadside assistance. The Rav4 Hybrid's 3-year/36,000-mile basic warranty expires 2 years or 24,000 miles sooner.

Kia's powertrain warranty covers the Seltos 5 years and 40,000 miles longer than Toyota covers the Rav4 Hybrid. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 10 years or 100,000 miles. Coverage on the Rav4 Hybrid ends after only 5 years or 60,000 miles.

Reliability

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J.D. Power and Associates' 2023 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Kia vehicles are better in initial quality than Toyota vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Kia above average in initial quality. With 24 more problems per 100 vehicles, Toyota is rated below average.

J.D. Power and Associates' 2022 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the statistics that show that Kia vehicles are more reliable than Toyota vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Kia first in reliability, above the industry average. With 13 more problems per 100 vehicles, Toyota is ranked fifth.

Engine

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As tested in Motor Trend the Seltos X-Line/SX 1.6 turbo 4-cylinder is faster than the Toyota Rav4 Hybrid:

Seltos

Rav4 Hybrid

Zero to 60 MPH

6.9 sec

7.5 sec

Quarter Mile

15.4 sec

15.6 sec

Speed in 1/4 Mile

91.2 MPH

90.4 MPH

Fuel Economy and Range

© 1999 - 2024Advanta-STAR Automotive Research, all rights reserved. This vehicle comparison and all of the content in it are provided only by license from Advanta-STAR Automotive Research Corporation of America (“Advanta-STAR”). If you are not a legally licensed user of this vehicle comparison, it is against federal law to access it, copy it, forward it, or use it in any manner whatsoever. Any unauthorized use of this vehicle comparison is a violation of U.S. and international law and is punishable criminally and civilly. Removal of this watermark/notification without prior written license and approval received from Advanta-STAR is an agreement, understanding, and/or stipulation by the person(s), entities, agents, attorneys, and any other persons involved in the removal of this watermark/notification (including but not limited to Search Optics, LLC and any and all parent entities, sister entities, and subsidiary entities of Search Optics, LLC and/or any other entity, agent, attorney, and persons related in any manner to Search Optics, LLC) to: 1) an agreed upon amount of liquidated monetary damages of a minimum of $1,250,000.00 US Dollars in favor of Advanta-STAR; 2) the jurisdiction and enforcement of any legal claims associated with this matter asserted by Advanta-STAR in the United States Federal District Court in Portand, Oregon; and 3) service of process of any legal claims asserted by Advanta-STAR associated with this matter may be accomplished by First-Class Postage by the United States Postal Service or comparable service. LPCXV-Q1KA3 13.59.123.182 2024-10-31

Both the Seltos 2.0 and the Rav4 Hybrid have a standard automatic start/stop engine feature to stop unnecessary fuel waste and pollution at stoplights and heavy traffic. All Seltos 2.0s have a standard disable switch for the system, so a driver can keep the engine from shutting off when the vehicle stops temporarily.

Brakes and Stopping

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The Seltos stops much shorter than the Rav4 Hybrid:

Seltos

Rav4 Hybrid

70 to 0 MPH

160 feet

179 feet

Car and Driver

60 to 0 MPH

113 feet

143 feet

Motor Trend

60 to 0 MPH (Wet)

133 feet

145 feet

Consumer Reports

Tires and Wheels

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For better traction, the Seltos AWD X-Line/SX's tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Rav4 Hybrid (235/45R18 vs. 225/65R17).

The Seltos' standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 55 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Rav4 Hybrid LE/XLE's standard 65 series tires. The Seltos AWD X-Line/SX's tires have a lower 45 series profile than the Rav4 Hybrid's optional 60 series tires.

Suspension and Handling

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The Seltos has standard front and rear gas-charged shocks for better control over choppy roads. The Rav4 Hybrid's suspension doesn't offer gas-charged shocks.

The Seltos has vehicle speed sensitive variable-assist power steering, for low-effort parking, better control at highway speeds and during hard cornering, and a better feel of the road. The Rav4 Hybrid doesn't offer variable-assist power steering.

The Seltos SX handles at .84 G's, while the Rav4 Hybrid Woodland Edition pulls only .78 G's of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The Seltos S AWD executes Motor Trend's “Figure Eight” maneuver 1.7 seconds quicker than the Rav4 Hybrid XSE (26.7 seconds @ .65 average G's vs. 28.4 seconds @ .61 average G's).

For better maneuverability, the Seltos' turning circle is 1.3 feet tighter than the Rav4 Hybrid's (34.8 feet vs. 36.1 feet).

Chassis

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The Kia Seltos may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 450 to 750 pounds less than the Toyota Rav4 Hybrid.

The Seltos is 8.3 inches shorter than the Rav4 Hybrid, making the Seltos easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

Passenger Space

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The Seltos has .5 inches more front headroom, .4 inches more front legroom, .2 inches more rear legroom and 5.1 inches more rear hip room than the Rav4 Hybrid.

Ergonomics

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The Seltos' driver power window, power lock and cruise control switches are lit from behind, making them plainly visible and easier to operate at night. The Rav4 Hybrid's power window (except driver window) and power lock switches are unlit, making them difficult to find at night and operate safely.

The Seltos' variable intermittent wipers have an adjustable delay to allow the driver to choose a setting that best clears the windshield during light rain or mist. The Rav4 Hybrid LE's standard fixed intermittent wipers only have one fixed delay setting, so the driver will have to manually switch them between slow and intermittent.

Consumer Reports rated the Seltos' headlight performance “Very Good,” a higher rating than the Rav4 Hybrid's headlights, which were rated “Good.”

Model Availability

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The Seltos is available in both front-wheel drive and four-wheel drive configurations. The Rav4 Hybrid doesn't offer a two-wheel drive configuration.

Recommendations

© 1999 - 2024Advanta-STAR Automotive Research, all rights reserved. This vehicle comparison and all of the content in it are provided only by license from Advanta-STAR Automotive Research Corporation of America (“Advanta-STAR”). If you are not a legally licensed user of this vehicle comparison, it is against federal law to access it, copy it, forward it, or use it in any manner whatsoever. Any unauthorized use of this vehicle comparison is a violation of U.S. and international law and is punishable criminally and civilly. Removal of this watermark/notification without prior written license and approval received from Advanta-STAR is an agreement, understanding, and/or stipulation by the person(s), entities, agents, attorneys, and any other persons involved in the removal of this watermark/notification (including but not limited to Search Optics, LLC and any and all parent entities, sister entities, and subsidiary entities of Search Optics, LLC and/or any other entity, agent, attorney, and persons related in any manner to Search Optics, LLC) to: 1) an agreed upon amount of liquidated monetary damages of a minimum of $1,250,000.00 US Dollars in favor of Advanta-STAR; 2) the jurisdiction and enforcement of any legal claims associated with this matter asserted by Advanta-STAR in the United States Federal District Court in Portand, Oregon; and 3) service of process of any legal claims asserted by Advanta-STAR associated with this matter may be accomplished by First-Class Postage by the United States Postal Service or comparable service. LPCXV-Q1KA3 13.59.123.182 2024-10-31

Consumer Reports® recommends both the Kia Seltos and the Toyota Rav4 Hybrid, based on reliability, safety and performance.