Head-to-head
2027 Hyundai Santa Fe vs 2027 Kia Seltos
The Hyundai Santa Fe wins clearly, 92.9 to 85.4, on performance, safety, fuel & range. The Kia Seltos is ahead on price.
A
2027 Hyundai Santa Fe
The 2027 Hyundai Santa Fe is sold in the U.S. as a hybrid and gas compact SUV with 5 EPA-rated configurations. The most efficient version, the Santa Fe Hybrid F…
vs
A2027 Kia Seltos
The 2027 Kia Seltos is sold in the U.S. as a gas compact SUV with 3 EPA-rated configurations. The most efficient version, the Seltos FWD, is EPA-rated at 30 mpg…
Verdict · default weights
2027 Hyundai Santa Fe
Clear winThe Hyundai Santa Fe wins clearly, 92.9 to 85.4, on performance, safety, fuel & range. The Kia Seltos is ahead on price.
Price 2027 Kia Seltos leads by 29.2
Performance 2027 Hyundai Santa Fe leads by 44.3
Safety 2027 Hyundai Santa Fe leads by 16.6
| Category · weight | 2027 Hyundai Santa Feoverall 92.9 | 2027 Kia Seltosoverall 85.4 | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pricew 4 | 70.8 | 100 | ||||||||||||
Base MSRP of the trim (or the model's lowest trim). Lower is better. | ||||||||||||||
| Fuel & rangew 3 | 100 | 82.6 | ||||||||||||
EPA annual fuel cost and combined mpg / MPGe; EV range when both are electric. | ||||||||||||||
| Safetyw 4 | 100 | 83.4 | ||||||||||||
NHTSA 5-Star rating, WhichTrim Safety Signal (open recalls by severity), owner complaints, standard driver-assist features (from the press kit, or from what the manufacturer filed with NHTSA where there is none). Open park-outside / do-not-drive advisories cost 25 points. | ||||||||||||||
| Space & cargow 2 | 94.2 | 79.5 | ||||||||||||
Seats, cargo volume behind the 1st and 2nd rows, rear legroom. | ||||||||||||||
| Performancew 2 | 100 | 55.7 | ||||||||||||
Horsepower, torque and horsepower per ton. | ||||||||||||||
| Tech & comfortw 3 | 100 | 95 | ||||||||||||
Standard (1) and optional (0.5) infotainment, convenience, climate and interior features from the manufacturer's press kit. | ||||||||||||||
| Warrantynot compared | No data | No data | ||||||||||||
| Overall | 92.9 | 85.4 | ||||||||||||
Trim vs trim · 6 of 7 categories compared
Hyundai Santa Fe: base trim SE FWD · Kia Seltos: base trim LX FWD. Pick a trim in the tool to compare any other trim.
Change what matters to you →Scores are 0–100 per category from the data on this page. The weights are yours to set.
Where the gap is
the biggest differences, from the scorecard's own numbersWhere the 2027 Hyundai Santa Fe wins
- It has drawn fewer owner complaints (1 against 3 filed with NHTSA).
- It turns out 311 lb-ft of torque against 132.
- It makes 277 hp against 147.
Where the 2027 Kia Seltos answers
- It starts $10,310 lower ($24,990 against $35,300 base MSRP).
- It gives rear passengers 39 in of legroom against 30.
What they share
- A Safety Signal of 100.
Ranked by how far apart the two score on each measure, so a price gap and a horsepower gap are compared on the same scale. Every figure is on this page.
Specifications side by side
53 specs · manufacturer press kits| Spec | Hyundai Santa FeSE FWD | Kia SeltosLX FWD |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | ||
| Base MSRP (excludes destination) | $35,300 | $24,990 |
| Engine Basics | ||
| Aspiration | twin turbo | naturally aspirated |
| Cylinder count | 4 | 4 |
| Engine displacement | 2,497 cc | 1,999 cc |
| Engine type (full description) | Smartstream 2.5L Turbo GDI + MPI DOHC 16-valve Inline 4-cylinder | 2.0L Multi-Port Injection (MPI) Atkinson engine |
| Fuel injection system | gdi mpi | gdi mpi |
| Valve configuration | DOHC 16-Valve | 16 Valves with Roller Swing |
| Engine Output | ||
| Horsepower | 277 hp | 147 hp |
| Torque | 311 lb-ft | 132 lb-ft |
| Fuel Economy | ||
| MPG (city) | 20 mpg | 28 mpg |
| MPG (combined) | 24 mpg | 30 mpg |
| MPG (highway) | 29 mpg | 33 mpg |
| Transmission | ||
| Final drive ratio | 3.510 | 6.483 |
| Transmission speeds | 8 | — |
| Transmission type | automatic | Intelligent Variable Transmission (IVT) |
| Dimensions Exterior | ||
| Ground clearance | 7 in | 7.5 in |
| Overall height | 67.7 in | 63 in |
| Overall length | 190 in | 174 in |
| Overall width | 74.8 in | 72 in |
| Wheelbase | 111 in | 106 in |
| Cargo | ||
| Cargo volume behind 1st row | 79.6 cu-ft | 64.2 cu-ft |
| Cargo volume behind 2nd row | 40.5 cu-ft | 27.8 cu-ft |
| Cargo volume behind 3rd row | 14.6 cu-ft | — |
| Total interior volume | 167 cu-ft | — |
| Seating | ||
| Passenger seating capacity | 7 | — |
| Headroom | ||
| Front headroom | 41.1 in | 40.5 in |
| Second-row headroom | 40.6 in | — |
| Third-row headroom | 37.7 in | 38.9 in |
| Legroom | ||
| Front legroom | 44.4 in | 41.4 in |
| Second-row legroom | 42.3 in | — |
| Third-row legroom | 30 in | 39 in |
| Weights | ||
| Curb weight (maximum) | 4,343 lbs | 3,406 lbs |
| Curb weight (minimum) | 4,343 lbs | 3,109 lbs |
| Gross vehicle weight rating | 5,534 lbs | 4,332 lbs |
| Suspension | ||
| Front suspension type | MacPherson strut with coil springs | MacPherson Strut |
| Rear suspension type | Multi-link Independent, separated spring & shocks | Coupled Torsion Beam Axle (FWD) |
| Steering | ||
| Steering type | Motor Driven Power Steering (MDPS), rack and pinion, column-mounted | Rack & Pinion / Electric |
| Turning radius (curb-to-curb) | 37.9 ft | — |
| Brakes | ||
| Front brake diameter | 325 mm | — |
| Front brake type | ventilated disc | ventilated disc |
| Parking brake type | Electric with Auto Vehicle Hold | Electronic |
| Rear brake diameter | 325 mm | — |
| Rear brake type | solid disc | solid disc |
| Wheels | ||
| Wheel diameter | 18 in | 16 in |
| Wheel material | forged alloy | forged alloy |
| Wheel width | 7.5 in | 6.5 in |
| Tires | ||
| Tire size | 235/60 R18 | P205/65R16 |
| Fuel System | ||
| Fuel tank capacity | 17.7 gal | 13.2 gal |
| Minimum recommended octane | 87 | — |
| Connected Services | ||
| Connected services brand | Blue Link | Kia Connect |
| Shoulder Room | ||
| Front shoulder room | 59.5 in | 56.5 in |
| Second-row shoulder room | 58.1 in | — |
| Third-row shoulder room | 53.5 in | 55.4 in |
Green marks the better value where the direction is unambiguous (more room, more power, lower price). Blank rows are specs the press kit does not publish.
Equipment, feature by feature
135 features · differences first, then sharedSafety23 differ · 40 listed
| Feature | Hyundai Santa FeSE FWD | Kia SeltosLX FWD |
|---|---|---|
| Blind-Spot Collision Warning (BCW) | std | — |
| Forward Collision Avoidance-Assist with Pedestrian, Cyclist, and Junction-Turning Detection | std | — |
| Rear Cross-Traffic Collision Avoidance Assist (RCCA) | std | — |
| 1st Row seat side airbags (2) | std | — |
| Driver advanced front airbag / Passenger advanced front airbag | std | — |
| Lane Departure Warning System (LDWS) | — | std |
| Roof-mounted Side-curtain Airbags with Rollover Sensors | std | — |
| Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children (LATCH) | — | std |
| Rear side airbag / 2nd Row seat side airbags (2) | std | — |
| Safe Exit Warning (SEW) | std | — |
| Adjustable front headrests, 4-way | — | std |
| Burglar Alarm | std | — |
| Driver's knee airbag | std | — |
| Electric Parking Brake with Automatic Vehicle Hold | std | — |
| Electronic Parking Brake with Auto Hold | — | std |
| Front Driver side advanced airbags | — | std |
| Front Passenger side advanced airbags | — | std |
| Front Thorax, Pelvis and Curtain airbags | — | std |
| Intelligent Speed Limit Warning (ISLW) | — | std |
| Rear seat-mounted side airbags | — | std |
| Roof-mounted Side-curtain Airbags with Rollover Sensors | std | — |
| Traction Control System | std | — |
| Vehicle Stability Management | std | — |
| Forward Collision Avoidance Assist with car, pedestrian and cyclist detection (FCA) | std | std |
| Smart Cruise Control with Stop and Go (SCC2) | std | std |
| Lane Following Assist (LFA2) | std | std |
| Lane Keep Assist System (LKAS) with Active steering | std | std |
| Rear-view camera display | std | std |
| Downhill Brake Control (DBC) | std | std |
| Driver Attention Warning (DAW) | std | std |
| Front & Rear Parking Sensors (PDW-F/R) | std | std |
| Front & Rear Parking Sensors (PDW-F/R) | std | std |
| Trailer Stability Assist (TSA) | std | std |
| Antilock Brakes System (ABS) | std | std |
| Electronic Stability Control (ESC) | std | std |
| High Beam Assist (HBA) | std | std |
| Hill Start Assist Control (HAC) | std | std |
| Rear Occupant Alert (ROA) | std | std |
| Immobilizer | std | std |
| Tire-Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) High Line | std | std |
Infotainment15 differ · 16 listed
| Feature | Hyundai Santa FeSE FWD | Kia SeltosLX FWD |
|---|---|---|
| 12.3-in. Touchscreen, Bluetooth, SAT, Kia Connect, HD Radio, Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, OTA (ccNC Lite) | — | std |
| 12.3" ccNC Lite AVT Head Unit (Non-Navigation) | std | — |
| 6-speakers | — | std |
| Blue Link® Connected Car System | std | — |
| Bluetooth® Hands-free with Wireless Audio Streaming | std | — |
| Bluetooth® Multi-connection (connect up to two devices simultaneously) | — | std |
| Front high-power USB Charge Ports (2) / Rear USB Charge Ports (2) | std | — |
| Front USBc charger (x2) | — | std |
| Front USBc connection (x1) | — | std |
| HD Radio® | std | — |
| Rear Seat Quiet Mode | std | — |
| Rear USBc charger (x2) | — | std |
| SHIFTRONIC® manual shift paddle shifters | std | — |
| SiriusXM® | std | — |
| Steering wheel-mounted audio and cruise controls | std | — |
| 12.3-in. Touchscreen, Bluetooth, SAT, Kia Connect, HD Radio, Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, OTA (ccNC Lite) | std | std |
Convenience8 differ · 9 listed
| Feature | Hyundai Santa FeSE FWD | Kia SeltosLX FWD |
|---|---|---|
| Smart power liftgate | std | — |
| Proximity Key System with remote engine start (on key fob) | std | — |
| 12V power outlet (x1), in center console | — | std |
| Auto-up/down and safety operation driver's window | — | std |
| Power Door and Liftgate Locks | std | — |
| Power door locks with driver and passenger control | — | std |
| Remote keyless entry with burglar alarm, panic button and immobilizer | — | std |
| 12-volt Power Outlet | std | — |
| Smart Key and push-button start, includes immobilizer and remote start button on key fob | std | std |
Climate2 differ · 2 listed
| Feature | Hyundai Santa FeSE FWD | Kia SeltosLX FWD |
|---|---|---|
| Dual FATC with Touch Segment LCD | std | — |
| Manual Air conditioner | — | std |
Seating6 differ · 8 listed
| Feature | Hyundai Santa FeSE FWD | Kia SeltosLX FWD |
|---|---|---|
| 60/40 split-folding rear seats with recline | — | std |
| Heated front seats (3-level) | — | opt |
| 2-way Lumbar Support (Driver's seat power aircell type) | std | — |
| 3rd row seating with Room Lamp | std | — |
| 6-way manual adjustable passenger's seat including height adjuster | — | std |
| 60/40 split second row fold-flat seats with Recline and Center Armrest | std | — |
| 6-way manual adjustable driver's seat | std | std |
| Cloth seat cover | std | std |
Interior18 differ · 19 listed
| Feature | Hyundai Santa FeSE FWD | Kia SeltosLX FWD |
|---|---|---|
| 4.2" TFT Color LCD Multi-information Display | std | — |
| 12.3-inch Digital Cluster with integrated 4.2-inch TFT | — | std |
| Bi-directional Center Console Armrest with Two-Level Storage Compartment | std | — |
| Door pocket bottle holder | — | std |
| Four-spoke design, SynTex Steering Wheel | — | std |
| Front center armrest with storage box and cup holders | — | std |
| Interior Lights, Map lights and Cargo-area Light (LED) | std | — |
| Leather-wrapped Steering Wheel | std | — |
| LED luggage lamp | — | std |
| LED room lamp | — | std |
| Soft PVC gear shift knob | — | std |
| Sunvisor vanity mirrors | — | std |
| Tilt-and-Telescopic Steering Wheel | std | — |
| LED illuminated with extendable sunvisor vanity mirrors | std | — |
| Tilt and telescopic steering column | — | std |
| Cloth headliner | std | — |
| LED overhead console lamp | — | std |
| Trip odometer | std | — |
| Day/night interior rear view mirror | std | std |
Exterior23 differ · 26 listed
| Feature | Hyundai Santa FeSE FWD | Kia SeltosLX FWD |
|---|---|---|
| Full LED Projector Headlights with LED Headlight Accents | std | — |
| 16-inch Alloy wheels with dark gray finish | — | std |
| 18" Alloy Wheels (black machine finished / hyper silver) | std | — |
| Auto light control | — | std |
| Black radiator grille | — | std |
| Black side sills | — | std |
| Black window DLO surround (beltline) | — | std |
| Conventional blade type windshield wipers | — | std |
| Heated Side Mirrors | std | — |
| LED Multi-Focus Reflector (MFR) headlights | — | std |
| LED outside mirror turn signal indicators | — | std |
| LED positioning lamp | — | std |
| LED rear combination lamps | std | — |
| Matte black lower door garnish | — | std |
| Privacy glass (rear side, tailgate) | — | std |
| Rear combination lamps | — | std |
| Rear quarter glass Privacy | std | — |
| Tinted glass (windshield, front doors) | — | std |
| Solar Front Glass | std | — |
| Solar Front Glass and Privacy Rear Glass | std | — |
| Bodycolor Rear Spoiler | std | — |
| Rear spoiler with LED high mounted stop light | — | std |
| Temporary Compact Spare Tire | std | opt |
| Acoustic laminated windshield | std | std |
| LED Star Map Signature Daytime Running Lights (DRL) | std | std |
| Rear-window defroster with timer | std | std |
Powertrain6 differ · 8 listed
| Feature | Hyundai Santa FeSE FWD | Kia SeltosLX FWD |
|---|---|---|
| 2.0L Multi-Port Injection (MPI) 4-cylinder engine | — | std |
| Idle Stop & Go | std | — |
| Intelligent Variable Transmission (IVT) | — | std |
| Motor Driven Power Steering (MDPS) | — | std |
| Shift-By-Wire to maximize interior design creativity & storage | std | — |
| SULEV 30 emissions | — | std |
| Front Wheel Drive (FWD) | std | std |
| Drive Mode Select (DMS): Normal, Sport | std | std |
Chassis3 differ · 3 listed
| Feature | Hyundai Santa FeSE FWD | Kia SeltosLX FWD |
|---|---|---|
| Coupled Torsion Beam Axle (CTBA) rear suspension | — | std |
| MacPherson strut front suspension | — | std |
| Multi-link rear suspension | — | opt |
Cargo4 differ · 4 listed
| Feature | Hyundai Santa FeSE FWD | Kia SeltosLX FWD |
|---|---|---|
| Cargo net hooks | — | std |
| Dual-level cargo floor | — | std |
| Trailer Prep Package (Pre-wiring) | std | — |
| Underfloor storage tray | std | — |
Highlighted rows are where the two differ. Wording is the manufacturer's own.
Safety record
NHTSA recalls, complaints, NCAPHyundai Santa Fe
Safety Signal 100 A
NHTSA overall —
Frontal / side / rollover — / — / —
Recalls 0
Owner complaints 1 · 0 crashes · 0 fires
Most complained about Electrical System (1), Engine (1)
Top recalls
No recalls on file.
Kia Seltos
Safety Signal 100 A
NHTSA overall —
Frontal / side / rollover — / — / —
Recalls 0
Owner complaints 3 · 0 crashes · 0 fires
Most complained about Unspecified (2), Service Brakes (1), Visibility/Wiper (1)
Top recalls
No recalls on file.
Ownership
EPA, manufacturer warranty| Hyundai Santa FeSE FWD | Kia SeltosLX FWD | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $35,300 (base trim) | $24,990 (base trim) |
| Price range across trims | $35,300 – $50,750 21 trims | $24,990 – $32,790 14 trims |
| Powertrains | HEV, GAS | GAS |
| EPA configuration compared | Santa Fe Hybrid FWD | Seltos FWD |
| Combined mpg / MPGe | 36 | 30 |
| EPA annual fuel cost | $1,850 | $2,250 |
| EV range | — | — |
| Basic warranty | — | — |
| Powertrain warranty | — | — |
| Roadside assistance | — | — |
Common questions
Source: EPA, NHTSA and manufacturer press kitsWhich is better, the 2027 Hyundai Santa Fe or the 2027 Kia Seltos?
The Hyundai Santa Fe wins clearly, 92.9 to 85.4, on performance, safety, fuel & range. The Kia Seltos is ahead on price. On WhichTrim's default weights the 2027 Hyundai Santa Fe scores 92.9 and the 2027 Kia Seltos 85.4. The weights are yours to change — move what you care about and the verdict recalculates on the page.
Which is cheaper, the 2027 Hyundai Santa Fe or the 2027 Kia Seltos?
The 2027 Kia Seltos starts lower — $24,990 against $35,300, a gap of $10,310 at the trims compared here. Both are manufacturer MSRPs before destination, options and dealer charges.
Which has the better safety record, the 2027 Hyundai Santa Fe or the 2027 Kia Seltos?
2027 Hyundai Santa Fe: no NHTSA rating yet, grade A, 0 recalls. 2027 Kia Seltos: no NHTSA rating yet, grade A, 0 recalls. Crash ratings come from NHTSA's own tests; the grade is WhichTrim's read of the recall record, and the two can disagree.
What are the biggest differences between the 2027 Hyundai Santa Fe and the 2027 Kia Seltos?
Where the 2027 Hyundai Santa Fe wins: it has drawn fewer owner complaints (1 against 3 filed with NHTSA), turns out 311 lb-ft of torque against 132, and makes 277 hp against 147. Where the 2027 Kia Seltos answers: it starts $10,310 lower ($24,990 against $35,300 base MSRP) and gives rear passengers 39 in of legroom against 30. What they share: a Safety Signal of 100.