Kia seltos vs. sportage size

1. Introduction

Kia Seltos, being a car for the masses, will likely be selling in larger numbers than Kia Sportage, so there will be lots of prospects who might have planned to buy Sportage but might get influenced by Seltos. Our size comparison article is aimed at these guys, as we want them to make an informed decision based on a size-related comparison of Seltos and Sportage. As obvious from the name, Kia Seltos is bigger than Kia Sportage. We also have published a feature comparing Sportage with Hyundai Creta, and it was a bit surprising to know that Creta is actually longer than Sportage, and only in width and height Sportage is bigger than Creta. The difference between Seltos and Sportage is a lot more than Creta and Sportage. We have tried to compare the size of these two SUVs in detail with the help of graphics. Both the cars are placed very identically in the respective segments in size, as the new Sportage has also grown bigger than the previous version. [1][2][3]

Kia is going all out to become a strong player in the global automotive market with lots of new models, particularly SUVs. Seltos is a new entrant in this fast-growing segment of urban SUVs. It sits mid-way between the bread-and-butter models like Kia Rio and the more up-market models like Kia Sportage. We have already published various features of Kia Seltos and now doing a comparison of Seltos with Sportage to let you know how much these two models from the same parent company differ from each other. Learn more about: Kia innovative technologies.

2. Exterior Dimensions

The size of an automobile is a great help to the customer. The car industry has autos for almost every niche, from the tiniest things that act as four-wheel-drive accessories to seven passenger SUVs. Furthermore, the price of gas has made mileage a more concerning factor. Mid-size crossovers have become the sweet spot. Customers tend to think that a 2004 Jeep Grand Cherokee lifted is enough for them. Kia has many autos in the crossover market because crossovers are the hottest segment. As a renowned automobile company, Kia has the Astro or the European one, which is also called the Sportage. This car acts as an all-rounder vehicle, from an urban hipster hatchback car with enough ground clearance to an off-road SUV for a family. This car is capable of doing it all. Meanwhile, Kia has approached a newer segment, which is the compact SUV. The solution is the Kia Seltos. This car is rather small because of its name, compact SUV. So, buying this car in a big city is a good solution because it's rather nimble and easy to maneuver. With these circumstances, it's a great idea to compare the size of both cars.

2.1. Length

The engines offered in both vehicles are quite similar with a choice of naturally aspirated or turbocharged petrol engine and a turbocharged diesel. The Seltos is missing a diesel option at the moment, but it is highly likely that the two will share the same 1.6L turbo diesel the Seltos has recently gained in the future. The base engine is a 2.0L "MPi" naturally aspirated inline four-cylinder. This engine is available in both two and all-wheel drive for the S variant or two-wheel drive only for the Sport variant. It has quite modest power and torque outputs of 110kW and 180Nm but is by no means underpowered for the size and weight of the Seltos.

Larger vehicles often have a more refined and upmarket look, and the Kia Sportage is the best example of this. In its fourth generation now, the Sportage has come a long way since its inception in 1993. It has a sleek long bonnet and raked front windscreen. The front headlights are slanted parallel to the A-pillar and are easily distinguishable. At the side of the vehicle, there is a sloping roofline that joins into the subtle rear spoiler. The rear windshield is highly raked, and the taillights bear some resemblance to those of the Nissan Qashqai.

The Kia Seltos measures 4315mm in length, 1800mm in width, and 1645mm in height, and it has a wheelbase of 2610mm. The Kia Sportage, on the other hand, is larger in all respects. It measures 4480mm in length, 1855mm in width, and 1645mm in height, and it has a wheelbase of 2670mm. This means that the Sportage is 165mm longer, 55mm wider, and it has 25mm extra ground clearance. The 60mm longer wheelbase should also mean more interior space and theoretically a better ride. Both vehicles have the same height, so the higher driving position will be carried through from the Seltos. The Seltos obviously has design influence from the Sportage but has a more modern and aggressive look. It has squared wheel arches and a prominent crease that diverges across the bottom of the front and rear doors. It also has a bold chrome strip that extends from the C pillar to the D pillar.

2.2. Width

The Seltos can be compared to the Sportage in terms of platform size, but it is important to note that the Seltos is on an all-new platform, so expect a generation of the Seltos to eventually surpass the current Seltos' size.

The Kia Sportage has a width of 73.0 inches, so it is only 2.1 inches wider than the Seltos. The Sportage is taller than the Seltos by 2.2 inches with an average height of 66.5 inches. The Sportage has a wheelbase of 105.1 inches, and its turning circle is the same as the Seltos at 34.8 feet. The Sportage has more ground clearance than the Seltos with a range of 6.4-6.8 inches for its AWD models and 6.3-6.4 inches for its FWD models.

The 2021 Kia Seltos is 70.9 inches wide and 64.2 inches tall. Its wheelbase is 103.5 inches long, and it has a 34.8-foot turning circle. The Seltos has a ground clearance range of 7.3 inches for AWD models and 7.2 inches for FWD models. An important thing to note about the Seltos and its ground clearance is that it doesn't have an air suspension system. This means its ground clearance will remain static, no matter the vehicle's speed. This is important for off-road driving because it eliminates the error involved with the suspension height calibration and the need to change the vehicle's speed to raise the suspension.

2.3. Height

The Sportage, on the other hand, has a ground clearance of 172mm at the lowest setting, lower than the Seltos. But the Sportage has a 165cm higher setting, which is 8mm lower than the lowest setting of the Seltos but 3mm higher than the highest setting of the Seltos. Ground clearance will certainly impact whether a vehicle is purchased in rural areas, but the additional settings for the Sportage may offer it a broader appeal.

The difference is most apparent when comparing the height of the two models. At 163cm, the Seltos is quite low when compared with other Kia SUVs and similarly sized SUVs from other brands. The intent behind this may be for the Seltos to be a slightly raised, more rugged alternative to a hatchback. It is worth noting that the ground clearance of the Seltos is 177mm, which is quite standard for an SUV and 27mm higher than the Kia Rio.

Both at first glance and upon closer inspection, it's noted that the Kia Sportage is the larger vehicle. It is 197cm longer, 6cm wider, and 12cm taller than the Kia Seltos. When designing for international markets, it is important to customize for regional dimensions if a company wants maximum size efficiency. As such, Kia's decision to make the Sportage and Seltos different sizes was likely with the intent of appealing to different markets or different customer segments within the same market.

The size of a vehicle is a key consideration for any potential buyer. Whether it's to fit into a small city parking space or to accommodate tall family members, the size of a vehicle can be a deal breaker. As such, size is likely to have a significant correlation with a vehicle's appeal in foreign markets, especially in countries that may not be able to accommodate bigger vehicles. Furthermore, the size of a vehicle can be indicative of its stability, handling, and fuel efficiency. Considering the Kia Seltos and Sportage will be sold in a number of different markets, including the USA, Canada, and Europe, it's important to evaluate the size of the models and consider how it will impact their sales.

3. Interior Space

Looking at cargo volume, this is another key element in considering how much stuff you can actually fit in your new car. If you ever plan on going away on a trip or doing a big shop, it's an important factor to consider. Boot space in the Kia Sportage stands larger at 466L compared to the Kia Seltos at 433L. Furthermore, folding down the split-folding rear seats in both models, the Kia Sportage can offer more overall space of 1455L compared to the 1393L that the Seltos has to offer. Although this isn't a major difference, it may be significant for some people. These volume capacities do, however, reflect the overall physical size and dimensions of the vehicles themselves.

Passenger capacity is one category in which both the Kia Seltos and Kia Sportage differ. Looking at the Kia Seltos first, in terms of leg room and head room, the Seltos is definitely the more spacious of the two. Although the Seltos is a comfortable ride for driver and passengers alike, the seating experience is a notably more enjoyable one in the back seat which boasts more passenger room. Which in turn, will make it easier for an adult to sit comfortably in the back seat. This is also shown by more leg room in the back of the Seltos. Both the Kia Seltos and Kia Sportage are comfortable for the front seat passengers and drivers though. Head room in the Seltos is generous at 1020mm in the front, 965mm in the rear. The Sportage is slightly lesser with 997mm in the front and 993mm in the rear. Hip room is also more beneficial in the Seltos. Majorly to do with this, is the fact that the Sportage is simply a bigger car. Measurements and seat/armchair height is obviously higher in the Sportage. As a result, the Kia Seltos is definitely a passenger-friendly car compared to the Kia Sportage, which is more for drivers and solo drivers.

3.1. Passenger Capacity

Legroom was less impressive, however, with the Seltos leaving just enough space for my 196cm driving position thanks to a cutout in the back of the front seat, while there was nowhere for my knees in the Sportage. Anyone sitting in the back of either car will, however, find oodles of legroom, with the Seltos offering quite an impressive amount considering the generously sized boot. It also features a sliding rear seat in S and Sport grades to allow passengers to juggle the space between the boot and rear seat.

The Seltos has a very flexible interior and in its highest spec can be quite luxurious, while the cabin of the base LX can make you feel like it's cost-cutting with a sea of hard plastics. It's a similar story with the Sportage, with the interior for the GT-Line and above being much nicer on the eye than the lower spec models with their sea of hard plastics. Both, however, offer heaps of headroom and a good view out thanks to their comparatively high rooflines, and both offer reach and rake adjustment for the steering wheel.

3.2. Cargo Volume

Kia Seltos has a cargo volume of 26.1 cubic feet, and this is with the rear seats upright. With the rear seats folded down, this totals 62.8 cubic feet. The battery pack and AWD mechanism inevitably cut this space down a bit in the hybridized Seltos, but it's still a very usable 24.2 cubic feet behind the rear seats and a competitive 57.3 cubic feet with the seats stowed. The new Sportage is offering 30.7 cubic feet behind the rear seats, plus 30.7 cubic feet behind the rear seats and a 60/40 split-folding function. That's a combined 61.4 cubic feet of space in an easy-to-load-and-use cargo area. Kia's really carved out a niche for itself in the compact crossover segment by being on the sportier, more rugged end of the vehicle sizing spectrum. This seems to be a good thing because the Seltos has been a hot seller, and the new Sportage is shaping up to be a popular item as well. Both of these new crossovers can be quite suitable for the task of moving people and stuff from point A to point B in a comfortable and spacious manner. The summary here is that Seltos has, on paper, a slight advantage in cargo volume compared to the new Sportage. But in reality, the difference could prove to be quite a bit greater than what Kia is reporting. Photos and videos of a 26.1 cubic foot Seltos cargo area with a nearby 2019 Sportage prove that the Seltos is not too far off from surpassing the new Sportage when it comes to actual size.

4. Conclusion

The large differences in feature and size options are expected to give the consumer a clear decision on what model is the best fit for their needs. Buyers who are looking for the first level of an AWD CUV and have a tight budget may be more enticed by the lowest trim level Seltos than an LX Sportage. The Seltos offers much more versatility than the Sportage, including rugged and refined looks and a traditional AWD lock button. It is to be assumed that those who are looking for a larger vehicle with a more luxurious feel and are not too concerned about price and fuel economy will opt to get a Sportage in the EX trim level or higher, especially considering that there will be a small price gap between a fully loaded Seltos and a base model Sportage. Both models' competitors should not affect sales, as many of the competitors are smaller in size, and both Kias are priced very competitively with them. Kia is expecting the Seltos to be a conquest model and attract new consumers instead of cannibalizing CUV buyers. This means that it largely depends on attracting buyers who have never owned a Kia before and giving them a product that they like. All in all, Kia has a strong entry into the subcompact CUV segment with a vehicle that is a great all-around value, and the nearly twenty-year-old Sportage still offers a viable choice to consumers who are cross-shopping the similarly sized Honda CR-V and Toyota RAV4.

Due to the dimensional differences between the two models, there will be only a few cubic feet difference when space is measured with the rear seats up, but the back seat and cargo area is much larger on the Sportage when the rear seats are folded down. The Seltos is expected to be more versatile for cargo because of the popular "fridge and recline" feature where the bottom cushion of the rear seats can be flipped up towards the back of the front seats. When this is done, the seats lock in place, so they won't move around when being cleaned, and the back of the front seat can be used as a footrest for the rear passenger. This feature, according to Kia officials, is something that has never been seen before in this segment. The Sportage, on the other hand, will offer more rear seat comfort and legroom than the Seltos, and the cargo area will be longer and wider. This indicates that even though the Seltos is smaller in size than the Sportage, it will offer a competitive amount of cabin and cargo room compared to the larger Sportage. With very few subcompact and compact CUVs combining a low price point and large amounts of space, the Seltos and Sportage offer a unique proposition. To learn more read our guide: Size and space comparison.

References:

[1] K. D. Klinich, "Survey of Vehicle Controls and Displays," 2023. umich.edu

[2] M. S. Vörös, "Kia Corporation´ s Equity Valuation," 2021. ucp.pt

[3] S. An, J. Park, H. Kim, H. Kang et al., "An Ergonomic Study on the Operation Method and In-Vehicle Location of an Automotive Electronic Gearshift," Applied Sciences, 2024. mdpi.com

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