2023 Subaru Crosstrek vs. 2023 Kia Seltos Comparison – Kelley Blue Book

An auto industry inside tip: a subcompact SUV might be all the car you need. No, they won’t carry seven adults or 1,000 pounds of cement for a weekend project. But if you’re reading this article, you already know you don’t need that regularly.

If what you need is a comfortable commuter you can rely on and the ability to carry a few friends or family members from time to time, the passenger and cargo space in a subcompact crossover is all you need. They’re affordable, easy to live with, and today’s smallest SUVs have enough power for almost any driving situation.

The Subaru Crosstrek is among the most distinctive – an automotive hiking boot with an environmentally friendly plug-in hybrid option. The Kia Seltos is a well-rounded alternative with a longer warranty and fun color choices.

Let’s compare the two.

2023 Subaru Crosstrek

The 2023 Subaru Crosstrek is one of Subaru’s least-expensive models and among the easiest ways to join the legions of fans of our Most Trusted Brand Award winner. It boasts standard all-wheel drive (AWD) and 5-Star crash test scores. Prices start at $23,645.

Subaru Crosstrek Highlights

Standard AWD: With the exception of the sporty little BRZ, there’s no such thing as a Subaru without AWD. Kia has made AWD standard on most, but not all, Seltos trim levels.

5-Star safety scores: Both cars won the Top Safety Pick award from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. But the Crosstrek outperformed the Seltos in the federal government’s crash tests. If safety is your number one consideration, it’s hard to beat a car that aced testing by both of America’s two crash testing agencies.

Available plug-in hybrid (PHEV): America’s automakers, and America’s drivers, are going electric. If an electric car isn’t realistic for how you plan to use your next car, a plug-in hybrid might be. Subaru’s lets you drive up to 17 miles on electricity alone and use gasoline for longer trips. It’s pricey, starting at $36,845. But as your neighbors go electric, you’ll have joined them but kept the ability to take long road trips anywhere gasoline can get you.

Check this week’s Fair Purchase Price or see the Subaru Crosstrek models for sale near you.

2023 Kia Seltos

We just gave the Kia Seltos our Best Buy Award in its class three years in a row. Guess how many years the Kia Seltos has been on the market? Yup. Three. It’s a great jack-of-all-trades, more stylish than most entries in this segment, and modestly priced, starting at $23,340.

Kia Seltos Highlights

Better fuel economy: The base version of the Seltos, the LX, gets 31 mpg in combined driving. The base Crosstrek gets just 25 mpg with its 6-speed manual transmission (and 30 mpg with an automatic). The Crosstrek’s PHEV model changes that equation but costs so much more, at almost $37,000, that you won’t quickly make up the difference at the pump.

Load it up without overpaying: Kia was once a budget automaker, but today its quality scores are much higher than its prices suggest. That’s particularly true as you add on options. The top of the Seltos line, the SX model, with every option Kia put in it, costs just a touch over $30,000. An equivalent maxed-out Crosstrek? Nearly $40,000.

Exceptional warranty: Kia’s 5-year/60,000-mile basic warranty and 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty can’t be beat. The long-term security of a decade of warranty protection can be a real comfort.

Check this week’s Fair Purchase Price or see the Kia Seltos models for sale near you.

Similarities

These two have almost identical starting prices, 2.0-liter 4-cylinder base engines with optional upgraded powertrains, and standard Android Auto and Apple CarPlay.

Conclusion

There are a lot of uninspiring subcompact SUVs. These two don’t fit that description. The Crosstrek has a unique, outdoorsy personality, standard AWD, and a PHEV version that’s one-of-a-kind among subcompact crossovers. The Seltos is incredibly well-rounded, available in an expressive array of colors, and includes a long warranty for peace of mind.

You could be happy with either. Only your own priorities can tell you which one is your car.