2027 Jeep Wrangler vs 2027 Kia Seltos
The Kia Seltos wins clearly, 90.2 to 83.5, on fuel & range, safety. The Jeep Wrangler is ahead on performance and space & cargo. Raise the performance weight from 2 to 3.7 and it flips.
2027 Jeep Wrangler
The 2027 Jeep Wrangler is sold in the U.S. as a gas compact SUV with 6 EPA-rated configurations. The most efficient version, the Wrangler 2dr 4WD, is EPA-rated …
2027 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…
2027 Kia Seltos
Clear winThe Kia Seltos wins clearly, 90.2 to 83.5, on fuel & range, safety. The Jeep Wrangler is ahead on performance and space & cargo. Raise the performance weight from 2 to 3.7 and it flips.
| Category · weight | 2027 Kia Seltosoverall 90.2 | 2027 Jeep Wrangleroverall 83.5 | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pricenot compared | No data | No data | ||||||||||||
| Fuel & rangew 3 | 100 | 70.2 | ||||||||||||
EPA annual fuel cost and combined mpg / MPGe; EV range when both are electric. | ||||||||||||||
| Safetyw 4 | 100 | 77.9 | ||||||||||||
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 | 91 | 97.9 | ||||||||||||
Seats, cargo volume behind the 1st and 2nd rows, rear legroom. | ||||||||||||||
| Performancew 2 | 55.1 | 100 | ||||||||||||
Horsepower, torque and horsepower per ton. | ||||||||||||||
| Tech & comfortnot compared | No data | No data | ||||||||||||
| Warrantynot compared | No data | No data | ||||||||||||
| Overall | 90.2 | 83.5 | ||||||||||||
Trim vs trim · 4 of 7 categories compared
Kia Seltos: base trim LX FWD · Jeep Wrangler: base trim Sport 2-door 4WD. Pick a trim in the tool to compare any other trim.
Raise the performance weight from 2 to 3.7 and the answer flips.
Where the gap is
the biggest differences, from the scorecard's own numbersWhere the 2027 Kia Seltos wins
- It lists 26 standard driver-assist features against 3.
- It is rated 30 combined against 21 (EPA mpg or MPGe).
- It costs $950 a year less to fuel on the EPA's estimate ($2,250 against $3,200).
Where the 2027 Jeep Wrangler answers
- It turns out 260 lb-ft of torque against 132.
- It makes 285 hp against 147.
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
49 specs · manufacturer press kits| Spec | Kia SeltosLX FWD | Jeep WranglerSport 2-door 4WD |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | ||
| Base MSRP (excludes destination) | $24,990 | — |
| Engine Basics | ||
| Aspiration | naturally aspirated | naturally aspirated |
| Cylinder count | 4 | 6 |
| Engine displacement | 1,999 cc | 3,604 cc |
| Engine type (full description) | 2.0L Multi-Port Injection (MPI) Atkinson engine | 3.6-liter Pentastar 60-degree V-type liquid-cooled |
| Fuel injection system | gdi mpi | Sequential, multiport, electronic, returnless |
| Valve configuration | 16 Valves with Roller Swing | DOHC |
| Engine Output | ||
| Horsepower | 147 hp | 285 hp |
| Torque | 132 lb-ft | 260 lb-ft |
| Fuel Economy | ||
| MPG (city) | 28 mpg | 17 mpg |
| MPG (combined) | 30 mpg | 19 mpg |
| MPG (highway) | 33 mpg | 23 mpg |
| Transmission | ||
| Final drive ratio | 6.483 | — |
| Transmission speeds | — | 6 |
| Transmission type | Intelligent Variable Transmission (IVT) | manual |
| Dimensions Exterior | ||
| Ground clearance | 7.5 in | 9.7 in |
| Overall height | 63 in | 73.6 in |
| Overall length | 174 in | 167 in |
| Overall width | 72 in | 73.9 in |
| Wheelbase | 106 in | 96.8 in |
| Cargo | ||
| Cargo volume behind 1st row | 64.2 cu-ft | 72.4 cu-ft |
| Cargo volume behind 2nd row | 27.8 cu-ft | 31.7 cu-ft |
| Total interior volume | — | 104 cu-ft |
| Seating | ||
| Passenger seating capacity | — | 4 |
| Headroom | ||
| Front headroom | 40.5 in | 40.8 in |
| Third-row headroom | 38.9 in | 40.3 in |
| Legroom | ||
| Front legroom | 41.4 in | 41.2 in |
| Third-row legroom | 39 in | 35.7 in |
| Weights | ||
| Curb weight (maximum) | 3,406 lbs | 4,003 lbs |
| Curb weight (minimum) | 3,109 lbs | 4,003 lbs |
| Gross vehicle weight rating | 4,332 lbs | — |
| Suspension | ||
| Front suspension type | MacPherson Strut | Solid axle, link coil, leading arms, track bar, coil springs, stabilizer bar |
| Rear suspension type | Coupled Torsion Beam Axle (FWD) | Solid axle, link coil, trailing arms, track bar, coil springs, stabilizer bar |
| Steering | ||
| Steering type | Rack & Pinion / Electric | Electro-hydraulic power |
| Turning radius (curb-to-curb) | — | 32.7 ft |
| Brakes | ||
| Front brake diameter | — | 330 mm |
| Front brake type | ventilated disc | vented rotor |
| Parking brake type | Electronic | — |
| Rear brake diameter | — | 328 mm |
| Rear brake type | solid disc | solid rotor |
| Wheels | ||
| Wheel diameter | 16 in | 17 in |
| Wheel material | forged alloy | steel |
| Wheel width | 6.5 in | 7.5 in |
| Tires | ||
| Tire size | P205/65R16 | P245/75R17 |
| Fuel System | ||
| Fuel tank capacity | 13.2 gal | 17.5 gal |
| Minimum recommended octane | — | 87 |
| Connected Services | ||
| Connected services brand | Kia Connect | — |
| Shoulder Room | ||
| Front shoulder room | 56.5 in | 55.8 in |
| Third-row shoulder room | 55.4 in | 57.7 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
94 features · differences first, then sharedSafety25 differ · 27 listed
| Feature | Kia SeltosLX FWD | Jeep WranglerSport 2-door 4WD |
|---|---|---|
| Forward Collision Avoidance Assist with car, pedestrian and cyclist detection (FCA) | std | — |
| Smart Cruise Control with Stop and Go (SCC2) | std | — |
| Lane Following Assist (LFA2) | std | — |
| Lane Departure Warning System (LDWS) | std | — |
| Lane Keep Assist System (LKAS) with Active steering | std | — |
| Rear-view camera display | std | — |
| Downhill Brake Control (DBC) | std | — |
| Driver Attention Warning (DAW) | std | — |
| Front & Rear Parking Sensors (PDW-F/R) | std | — |
| Front & Rear Parking Sensors (PDW-F/R) | std | — |
| Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children (LATCH) | std | — |
| Trailer Stability Assist (TSA) | std | — |
| Adjustable front headrests, 4-way | std | — |
| All-speed Traction Control | — | 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 | — |
| High Beam Assist (HBA) | std | — |
| Hill Start Assist Control (HAC) | std | — |
| Intelligent Speed Limit Warning (ISLW) | std | — |
| Rear Occupant Alert (ROA) | std | — |
| Rear seat-mounted side airbags | std | — |
| Immobilizer | std | — |
| Tire-Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) High Line | std | — |
| Electronic Stability Control | std | std |
| Four-wheel Anti-lock Brakes | std | std |
Infotainment7 differ · 7 listed
| Feature | Kia SeltosLX FWD | Jeep WranglerSport 2-door 4WD |
|---|---|---|
| 12.3-in. Touchscreen, Bluetooth, SAT, Kia Connect, HD Radio, Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, OTA (ccNC Lite) | std | — |
| 12.3-in. Touchscreen, Bluetooth, SAT, Kia Connect, HD Radio, Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, OTA (ccNC Lite) | std | — |
| 6-speakers | std | — |
| Bluetooth® Multi-connection (connect up to two devices simultaneously) | std | — |
| Front USBc charger (x2) | std | — |
| Front USBc connection (x1) | std | — |
| Rear USBc charger (x2) | std | — |
Convenience5 differ · 5 listed
| Feature | Kia SeltosLX FWD | Jeep WranglerSport 2-door 4WD |
|---|---|---|
| Smart Key and push-button start, includes immobilizer and remote start button on key fob | std | — |
| 12V power outlet (x1), in center console | std | — |
| Auto-up/down and safety operation driver's window | std | — |
| Power door locks with driver and passenger control | std | — |
| Remote keyless entry with burglar alarm, panic button and immobilizer | std | — |
Climate1 differ · 1 listed
| Feature | Kia SeltosLX FWD | Jeep WranglerSport 2-door 4WD |
|---|---|---|
| Manual Air conditioner | std | — |
Seating5 differ · 5 listed
| Feature | Kia SeltosLX FWD | Jeep WranglerSport 2-door 4WD |
|---|---|---|
| 60/40 split-folding rear seats with recline | std | — |
| Heated front seats (3-level) | opt | — |
| 6-way manual adjustable driver's seat | std | — |
| 6-way manual adjustable passenger's seat including height adjuster | std | — |
| Cloth seat cover | std | — |
Interior11 differ · 11 listed
| Feature | Kia SeltosLX FWD | Jeep WranglerSport 2-door 4WD |
|---|---|---|
| 12.3-inch Digital Cluster with integrated 4.2-inch TFT | std | — |
| Door pocket bottle holder | std | — |
| Four-spoke design, SynTex Steering Wheel | std | — |
| Front center armrest with storage box and cup holders | std | — |
| LED luggage lamp | std | — |
| LED room lamp | std | — |
| Soft PVC gear shift knob | std | — |
| Sunvisor vanity mirrors | std | — |
| Day/night interior rear view mirror | std | — |
| Tilt and telescopic steering column | std | — |
| LED overhead console lamp | std | — |
Exterior20 differ · 20 listed
| Feature | Kia SeltosLX FWD | Jeep WranglerSport 2-door 4WD |
|---|---|---|
| 16-inch Alloy wheels with dark gray finish | std | — |
| Acoustic laminated windshield | 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 | — |
| LED Multi-Focus Reflector (MFR) headlights | std | — |
| LED outside mirror turn signal indicators | std | — |
| LED positioning lamp | std | — |
| LED Star Map Signature Daytime Running Lights (DRL) | std | — |
| Low Gloss Black-painted steel wheels, 17 x 7.5 in. | — | std |
| Matte black lower door garnish | std | — |
| P245/75R17 on/off-road black sidewall tires (Nexen Roadian HTX2) | — | std |
| Privacy glass (rear side, tailgate) | std | — |
| Rear combination lamps | std | — |
| Tinted glass (windshield, front doors) | std | — |
| Rear-window defroster with timer | std | — |
| Rear spoiler with LED high mounted stop light | std | — |
| Temporary Compact Spare Tire | opt | — |
Powertrain11 differ · 11 listed
| Feature | Kia SeltosLX FWD | Jeep WranglerSport 2-door 4WD |
|---|---|---|
| Front Wheel Drive (FWD) | std | — |
| 2.0L Multi-Port Injection (MPI) 4-cylinder engine | std | — |
| 3.6-Liter Pentastar V-6 Engine (285 hp) | — | std |
| 850RE Automatic Eight-Speed Overdrive Transmission | — | std |
| D478 Manual Six-Speed with Overdrive Transmission | — | std |
| Drive Mode Select (DMS): Normal, Sport | std | — |
| Engine Stop-Start (ESS) | — | std |
| Intelligent Variable Transmission (IVT) | std | — |
| Motor Driven Power Steering (MDPS) | std | — |
| NV241 Command-Trac Transfer Case (part-time, 2.72:1 low range) | — | std |
| SULEV 30 emissions | std | — |
Chassis5 differ · 5 listed
| Feature | Kia SeltosLX FWD | Jeep WranglerSport 2-door 4WD |
|---|---|---|
| Coupled Torsion Beam Axle (CTBA) rear suspension | std | — |
| Electro-hydraulic power steering | — | std |
| High-pressure gas-charged monotube shock absorbers | — | std |
| MacPherson strut front suspension | std | — |
| Multi-link rear suspension | opt | — |
Cargo2 differ · 2 listed
| Feature | Kia SeltosLX FWD | Jeep WranglerSport 2-door 4WD |
|---|---|---|
| Cargo net hooks | std | — |
| Dual-level cargo floor | std | — |
Highlighted rows are where the two differ. Wording is the manufacturer's own.
Safety record
NHTSA recalls, complaints, NCAPKia Seltos
Top recalls
No recalls on file.
Jeep Wrangler
Top recalls
No recalls on file.
Ownership
EPA, manufacturer warranty| Kia SeltosLX FWD | Jeep WranglerSport 2-door 4WD | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $24,990 (base trim) | — (base trim) |
| Price range across trims | $24,990 – $32,790 14 trims | — 11 trims |
| Powertrains | GAS | GAS |
| EPA configuration compared | Seltos FWD | Wrangler 2dr 4WD |
| Combined mpg / MPGe | 30 | 21 |
| EPA annual fuel cost | $2,250 | $3,200 |
| EV range | — | — |
| Basic warranty | — | — |
| Powertrain warranty | — | — |
| Roadside assistance | — | — |
Common questions
Source: EPA, NHTSA and manufacturer press kitsWhich is better, the 2027 Kia Seltos or the 2027 Jeep Wrangler?
The Kia Seltos wins clearly, 90.2 to 83.5, on fuel & range, safety. The Jeep Wrangler is ahead on performance and space & cargo. Raise the performance weight from 2 to 3.7 and it flips. On WhichTrim's default weights the 2027 Kia Seltos scores 90.2 and the 2027 Jeep Wrangler 83.5. The weights are yours to change — move what you care about and the verdict recalculates on the page.
Which has the better safety record, the 2027 Kia Seltos or the 2027 Jeep Wrangler?
2027 Kia Seltos: no NHTSA rating yet, grade A, 0 recalls. 2027 Jeep Wrangler: 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 Kia Seltos and the 2027 Jeep Wrangler?
Where the 2027 Kia Seltos wins: it lists 26 standard driver-assist features against 3, is rated 30 combined against 21 (EPA mpg or MPGe), and costs $950 a year less to fuel on the EPA's estimate ($2,250 against $3,200). Where the 2027 Jeep Wrangler answers: it turns out 260 lb-ft of torque against 132 and makes 285 hp against 147. What they share: a Safety Signal of 100.