Kia Seltos vs Hyundai Kona

In the 2024 Kia Seltos, changes from previous models were relatively subtle but effective. The updates included a refreshed headlight and grille design, as well as a light strip connecting smaller taillight assemblies, generating a modern front and rear appearance without heavy redesign costs. Our test model sported the new “Pluton Blue,” a color that proved to be visually appealing.

Inside, the Seltos featured two new interior color options: “Gentle Brown” and “Midnight Green.” However, our test car retained the standard black interior. The most prominent update inside was a large digital panel stretching across two-thirds of the dash, incorporating a fully digital instrument panel and an enlarged touchscreen infotainment system.

Trim options for the Seltos included LX, S, EX, X-Line, and SX. The base LX trim provided essential features like 17-inch alloy wheels, cloth upholstery, and manually adjustable front seats, along with a pair of USB ports, Bluetooth connectivity, and an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

The S trim added enhancements such as fog lights, LED daytime running lights, silver roof rails, and heated side mirrors with integrated turn signals. It also offered the larger, fully digital instrument panel and a 10.25-inch touchscreen. Combination cloth-and-synthetic leather upholstery and single-zone automatic climate control were interior upgrades, with heated seats available as an option.

In the EX trim, buyers enjoyed solar glass for the front doors and windshield, synthetic leather upholstery, a 10-way power-adjustable driver’s seat, heated front seats, and a wireless device charging pad.

The X-Line trim, replacing the Nightfall Edition, featured 18-inch alloy wheels with a gloss black finish, tinted windows, and black sport design roof rails. However, it did lose features like the wireless charging pad and power-adjustable driver's seat, likely to keep costs in check.

The flagship SX trim included 18-inch alloy wheels, LED bi-function headlights, LED fog lights, and a rear cargo cover. The SX trim offered a power-adjustable driver’s seat, leather-wrapped flat-bottomed steering wheel, and a Bose premium stereo system. The SX could be upgraded with the SX Sunroof Package, which added a power sunroof, hands-free power tailgate, ventilated front seats, and Digital Key 2.0.

Conversely, the 2024 Hyundai Kona had been designed with an EV-first approach, reflected in its aesthetic and under-the-hood technology. Its grille was reminiscent of the Ioniq 5, featuring a single-piece appearance typical of modern EVs. The Kona adopted Hyundai's “seamless horizon” design with a lone LED headlight strip spanning the front end.

Despite the nearly 6-inch increase in overall length, the Kona retained its recognizable silhouette. Notable visual updates included the parametric surface design on the doors and more pronounced, angular black body cladding on the SE, SEL, and Limited trims. The N-Line trim sported body-colored wheel arches for a distinct, sporty appearance.

Standard across the lineup, the Kona featured LED headlights, taillights, and daytime running lights. The seamless horizon design reappeared at the rear with a singular taillight wrapping around the vehicle's sides. Wheel sizes ranged from 17 inches standard to 19 inches for the N-Line and Limited trims.

Inside, the Kona boasted a redesigned and spacious cabin. The gear shift had moved to a stalk on the steering column, creating more storage space between the driver and front passenger. The most impactful change was the curved display housing the driver-information and infotainment screens, complemented by updated vents, climate controls, and dash layout.

The 2024 Kia Seltos offered two distinct engine choices. The base 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine produced 146 horsepower and 132 pound-feet of torque, combined with Kia’s Intelligent Variable Transmission (IVT), a type of continuously variable transmission (CVT) with simulated “gears” for a more dynamic experience. The LX trim came standard with all-wheel drive (AWD), while the S and EX trims allowed buyers to choose between front-wheel drive (FWD) and AWD.

The X-Line and SX trims were equipped with a turbocharged 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine that generated 195 horsepower and 195 lb-ft of torque. This engine, paired with a new eight-speed automatic transmission, provided more power and efficiency compared to the previous model years' seven-speed automatic. AWD came as standard for these turbo variants.

During testing, the 20-horsepower increase in the turbocharged engine was particularly impactful, providing a marked improvement in acceleration. While the engine did emit some noise under hard acceleration, Kia had made efforts to minimize engine and road noise infiltration. Compared to competitors like the Toyota Corolla Cross and Honda HR-V, the Seltos’ engine was notably quieter.

Turbo lag was observable at lower speeds, but activating Sport mode enhanced responsiveness. The Seltos featured a Drive Mode dial with options for Normal, Eco, Sport, and Smart modes, with the latter adapting to the driver's style and conditions.

Driving through diverse New England terrains, the Seltos demonstrated strong performance with well-weighted steering, responsive turning, and minimal body roll during hard corners. It managed potholes and rough pavements adeptly. Although the brakes felt touchy initially, they either adjusted during the drive or the driver grew accustomed to them.

Boasting 7.3 inches of ground clearance, the Seltos was capable of handling mild off-road ventures, such as trips to remote campsites or ski lodges.

The 2024 Hyundai Kona continued with its predecessor's engine lineup. The SE and SEL trims came with a naturally aspirated 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine delivering 147 horsepower and 132 lb-ft of torque paired with a CVT. The N-Line and Limited trims had a turbocharged 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine generating 190 horsepower and 195 lb-ft of torque, now paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. Paddle shifters were included in the N-Line and Limited trims, with availability as part of the SEL Convenience Package for those who preferred a manual shifting experience.

Testing the Kona Limited on an August drive from Baltimore to the Maryland countryside, the vehicle showed good handling and intuitive steering but lacked in acceleration even with the turbocharged engine. The terrain highlighted the Kona’s nimble handling, especially in narrow city streets.

The Kona lineup offered standard FWD, with AWD available for an additional $1,500. AWD reduced fuel economy estimates slightly, from 26 city, 32 highway, and 28 combined mpg to 24 city, 29 highway, and 26 combined mpg.

The 2024 Kia Seltos provided notable cargo capacity, offering up to 62.8 cubic feet with the rear seats folded. With the seats up, it provided 26.6 cubic feet of cargo space. The range-topping SX trim had an optional hands-free power liftgate for added convenience.

Inside, the Seltos featured an upright seating position with substantial headroom giving better driver visibility and ample legroom for rear passengers. Even taller occupants found comfortable seating arrangements in both the front and rear, an impressive feature for a subcompact SUV.

Storage solutions included decent-sized in-door cupholders and cubbies for both front and rear passengers. The front center console featured an open design tray suitable for storing essentials like keys, wallet, and phone. The SX trim included a removable cargo cover, durable enough to allow items to be placed on top of it.

The 2024 Hyundai Kona benefited significantly from its increased length, providing 38.2 inches of rear-seat legroom, three inches more than the 2023 Kona and a substantial six inches more than the Toyota Corolla Cross. The narrow, molded front seats improved the comfort and spaciousness for rear passengers. Headroom expanded to 38.3 inches both front and rear with the sunroof.

Cargo capacity dramatically increased to 25.5 cubic feet with the rear seats up and up to 63.7 cubic feet with them folded, a nearly 20-cubic-foot gain over the previous generation. The Kona Limited trim featured a power hands-free liftgate for easier access.

Interior storage saw enhancements like a handy shelf on the passenger side of the dash, perfect for phones or sunglasses, and a guardrail for securing items on the wireless charging pad. However, the center console trailed behind in terms of covered storage space, sufficient only for small items.

Seat materials varied across trims, with the SE and SEL trims getting cloth seats, N-Line getting a leather/suede combination, and the Limited featuring H-Tex leatherette replacing previous leather-trimmed options. The Limited trim also included newly standard ventilated front seats and a heated steering wheel. Heated front seats became standard starting with the N-Line trim, with availability as an option for SEL trims.

Across its trims, the 2024 Kia Seltos maintained a consistent large digital bezel, with screen size varying by trim. The base system included an 8-inch touchscreen and a 4.2-inch digital screen for the instrument cluster. Higher trims offered a 10.25-inch fully digital instrument panel and infotainment screen. Both systems featured logical layouts and included Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

Kia notably retained physical controls like volume and tuning dials and hard buttons for climate controls, enhancing usability. The responsive touchscreen integrated well with Kia’s UVO infotainment system and Apple CarPlay. Connectivity options included USB-A and USB-C ports, and most trims featured a six-speaker stereo, with the SX trim upgrading to an eight-speaker Bose system. Digital Key 2 Touch, a smartphone app allowing remote access and key sharing, was available.

In the 2024 Hyundai Kona, a 12.3-inch infotainment system touchscreen became standard, a significant upgrade from the previous 8-inch and 10.25-inch displays. Although wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were initially available only on the lower trims, an impending over-the-air update promised to bring this feature to the top trims as well. Meanwhile, higher trims offered wired connections, wireless device charging, and a new Wi-Fi hotspot. Sound was enhanced with a Bose system replacing the previous Harman Kardon setup.

The Kona maintained two USB-C ports up front and two at the rear of the center console for backseat passengers. Dual 12.3-inch screens creating a panoramic view were optional with the Convenience Package and standard on N-Line and Limited trims, bringing advanced over-the-air update capability to the model. Hyundai’s Bluelink connected services became standard, including a lifetime subscription.

Standard safety features in the 2024 Kia Seltos included forward collision avoidance with pedestrian and cyclist detection, lane-departure warning, lane-follow assist, automatic high beams, and driver attention warning. The S trim added blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert with Safe Exit Warning, designed to alert occupants to approaching vehicles when opening doors in busy areas.

The SX trim provided additional advanced safety features like smart cruise control with stop-and-go functionality, traffic sign recognition, and highway driving assist. It also incorporated junction-turning capabilities into the forward collision warning system and a drive-away warning feature to alert inattentive drivers when stopped in traffic.

Hyundai equipped the 2024 Kona extensively with advanced driver assistance systems. Standard features included Safe Exit Warning, blind-spot collision avoidance, and rear cross-traffic collision avoidance. New standard features for 2024 included high-beam assist and adaptive cruise control on the N-Line and Limited trims. The Limited trim also gained Surround View Monitor and blind-spot view monitor systems.

Hyundai’s Level 2 semi-autonomous Highway Driving Assist offered lane-keep assist, providing smooth steering inputs even around highway curves. Although slightly resistant to manual override on backroads, the system was intuitive and effectively aligned with driver intentions.