For enhanced safety, the front seat shoulder belts of the Kia Seltos are height-adjustable to accommodate a wide variety of driver and passenger heights. A better fit can prevent injuries and the increased comfort also encourages passengers to buckle up. The Chevrolet Trax doesn't offer height-adjustable seat belts.
The Seltos offers all-wheel drive to maximize traction under poor conditions, especially in ice and snow. The Trax doesn't offer all-wheel drive.
When descending a steep, off-road slope, the Seltos' standard Downhill Brake Control allows you to creep down safely. The Trax doesn't offer Downhill Brake Control.
Both the Seltos and Trax offer rear cross-traffic warning, but the Seltos S/EX/X-Line/SX has Rear Cross-Traffic Collision-Avoidance Assist (automatically applies the brakes) to better prevent a collision when backing near traffic. The Trax's Rear Cross Traffic Alert doesn't automatically brake.
The Seltos' driver alert monitor detects an inattentive driver then sounds a warning and suggests a break. According to the NHTSA, drivers who fall asleep cause about 100,000 crashes and 1500 deaths a year. The Trax doesn't offer a driver alert monitor.
Both the Seltos and the Trax have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, front wheel drive, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, lane departure warning systems, rearview cameras, available daytime running lights and blind spot warning systems.