Crossovers have become increasingly popular over the course of the last two decades. And while they made up just 4% of the market in 2000, today, they make up about 40% of it.
If you’re a big believer in the crossover and you would like to invest in a new one, then Kia has you covered. The South Korean carmaker has several different crossover vehicles available at this time, including the 2022 Kia Seltos and the 2022 Kia Sportage.
So, what are the differences between the 2022 Kia Seltos and the Kia Sportage? We’ll walk you through some of the biggest ones so you can decide which crossover would work best for you.
Here are several key attributes you should keep in mind as you’re trying to figure out whether you should go with a 2022 Kia Seltos or a 2022 Kia Sportage:
Exterior
It won’t take any time to start noticing some of the key differences between the 2022 Kia Seltos and the Kia Sportage. You’ll begin spotting them as soon as you see the two crossovers parked next to one another.
The 2022 Kia Seltos is the smaller of the two crossovers. It features a boxier, more muscular design than the Kia Sportage. The Sportage, on the other hand, is larger than the Seltos with a slightly more luxurious look due to its smooth lines and features.
The 2022 Kia Seltos and the Kia Sportage are more compact compared to many other Kia SUVs and SUVs in general. However, Kia has made them compact in two unique ways that can help you set them apart.
Cabin Interior and Cargo Storage
From the outside looking in, you might automatically assume that the 2022 Kia Sportage would be much bigger on the interior than the 2022 Kia Seltos. But believe it or not, this isn’t the case. The Seltos delivers in this department over the Sportage.
When you fold the rear seats in the Seltos, it will provide you with over 62 cubic feet of space. That means that you’ll get more maximum cargo storage in the Seltos as opposed to the Sportage.
Notably, the Seltos will also set you up with more headroom than the Sportage will by a slight margin. You and your passengers will get between 30.5 and 40 inches of headroom in the Seltos, which is between 0.5 and 0.9 extra inches of headroom than you’ll find in the Sportage.
Engine
While the 2022 Kia Seltos wins out in terms of its spacious interior and additional cargo storage, the 2022 Kia Sportage comes out on top with its more powerful engine. If you’re looking for a Kia crossover that packs a punch with its engine, the Sportage will be the better option for you.
You can get your hands on a Sportage that runs on a 2.0L turbo-four engine that can produce up to 240 horsepower and 260 lb-ft of torque. That puts it at the top of its class as far as power is concerned.
The Seltos, on the other hand, comes with an optional 1.6L turbo-four engine that’ll only give you 175 horsepower and 195 lb-ft of torque. And while those are respectable numbers, they aren’t going to be enough to put the Seltos on par with the Sportage.
Gas Mileage
You’ll be able to get pretty good gas mileage in the 2022 Kia Seltos and the 2022 Kia Sportage. However, the Seltos will ultimately get the nod here since it can set you up with a better fuel economy overall.
The Kia Seltos can get up to 29 mpg in the city and up to 35 mpg on the highway. The Kia Sportage can only eke out up to 23 mpg in the city and up to 30 mpg on the highway.
Entertainment Features
You might think Kia would jam-pack the 2022 Kia Sportage with better entertainment features than the 2022 Kia Seltos. But somewhat surprisingly, the Seltos includes the upgraded tech features inside.
When you climb into the 2022 Kia Seltos, you’ll immediately notice that it has a 10.25-inch touch screen and Kia’s latest multimedia system. The interface for this system is swift and intuitive, allowing you to customize your home screen just as you like.
The 2022 Kia Sportage still uses an older multimedia system with only an 8.0-inch touch screen. This means that you won’t be able to customize this system as much as you’ll be able to on the new version found in the Seltos.
Remember that Kia also gives those who purchase a 2022 Seltos the opportunity to upgrade to an eight-speaker Bose audio system that features ambient lighting that pulsates while music plays. It’s a cool feature that isn’t currently found in the Sportage.
Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price
The 2022 Kia Seltos and the 2022 Kia Sportage are both on the more affordable side compared to many of the other SUVs on the market today. But if you’re on a tight budget, you’ll find that the Seltos will come at a slightly lower price point than the Sportage.
The 2022 Kia Seltos starts at $22,590, while the 2022 Kia Sportage starts at $24,090.
2022 Kia Seltos vs. Kia Sportage: Which One Should You Buy?
Now that you’re aware of some of the key differences between the 2022 Kia Seltos and the Kia Sportage, you should have a better feel for which one would be your best option. They both bring some great things to the table, but you’ll need to choose which will suit your lifestyle better.
Regardless of which side of the fence you fall on, and if you happen to be in the Corinth, Texas, area, our Kia dealership can help you test drive the latest Kia vehicles. Or, take a trip down to our dealership to learn more about how the 2022 Kia Seltos and the 2022 Kia Sportage stack up against one another.
Contact us today to arrange your test drive for any Kia models.