Compare the2025 Kia SeltosVS 2025 Lexus UX

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Chassis
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Ergonomics
Recommendations

Safety

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In a Vehicle-to-Vehicle Frontal Crash Prevention 2.0 test conducted by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), the Kia Seltos achieved a “Acceptable” rating - the second highest possible - for its performance in forward collision warning and automatic braking systems, demonstrating its excellent capabilities in preventing collisions. The Lexus UX has not been tested.

Both the Seltos and the UX have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, front wheel drive, height adjustable front shoulder belts, plastic fuel tanks, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, lane departure warning systems, rearview cameras, driver alert monitors, available all wheel drive, daytime running lights, blind spot warning systems, rear parking sensors and rear cross-path warning.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does 35 MPH front crash tests on new vehicles. In this test, results indicate that the Kia Seltos is safer than the Lexus UX:

	Seltos	UX
	Driver
STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
Neck Injury Risk	24%	33%
Neck Stress	237 lbs.	371 lbs.
	Passenger
STARS	4 Stars	4 Stars
Chest Compression	.6 inches	.7 inches
Neck Stress	127 lbs.	163 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	144/44 lbs.	345/566 lbs.

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety does 40 MPH moderate front offset crash tests on new cars. In this updated test, results indicate that the Seltos is safer than the UX:

	Seltos	UX
Overall Evaluation	ACCEPTABLE	MARGINAL
Structure	GOOD	GOOD
	Driver Injury Measures
Head/Neck Rating	GOOD	GOOD
Chest Rating	GOOD	GOOD
Thigh/hip Rating	GOOD	GOOD
Restraints	GOOD	GOOD
	Rear Passenger Injury Measures
Chest Rating
Thigh Rating	GOOD	GOOD
Restraints	ACCEPTABLE	POOR

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does side impact tests on new vehicles. In this test, which crashes the vehicle into a post at 20 MPH, results indicate that the Kia Seltos is safer than the Lexus UX:

	Seltos	UX
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	225	292
Spine Acceleration	33 G’s	44 G’s
Hip Force	433 lbs.	919 lbs.

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

Warranty

The Seltos comes with a full 5-year/60,000-mile basic warranty, which covers the entire truck and includes 24-hour roadside assistance. The UX’s 4-year/50,000-mile basic warranty expires 1 year or 10,000 miles sooner.

Kia’s powertrain warranty covers the Seltos 4 years and 30,000 miles longer than Lexus covers the UX. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 10 years or 100,000 miles. Coverage on the UX ends after only 6 years or 70,000 miles.

There are over 3 times as many Kia dealers as there are Lexus dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Seltos’ warranty.

Reliability

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2024 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Kia vehicles are better in initial quality than Lexus vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Kia fourth in initial quality, above the industry average. With 11 more problems per 100 vehicles, Lexus is ranked 8th.

Engine

The Seltos X-Line/SX’s standard 1.6 turbo 4-cylinder produces 43 lbs.-ft. more torque (195 vs. 152) than the UX’s 2.0 DOHC 4-cylinder hybrid.

As tested in Motor Trend the Seltos X-Line/SX 1.6 turbo 4-cylinder is faster than the Lexus UX:

	Seltos	UX
Zero to 60 MPH	6.9 sec	8 sec
Quarter Mile	15.4 sec	16.1 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	91.2 MPH	85.9 MPH

Fuel Economy and Range

Both the Seltos 2.0 and the UX have a standard automatic start/stop engine feature to stop unnecessary fuel waste and pollution at stoplights and heavy traffic. All Seltos 2.0s have a standard disable switch for the system, so a driver can keep the engine from shutting off when the vehicle stops temporarily.

The Seltos has 2.6 gallons more fuel capacity than the UX (13.2 vs. 10.6 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

Brakes and Stopping

The Seltos stops much shorter than the UX:

	Seltos	UX
70 to 0 MPH	160 feet	185 feet	Car and Driver
60 to 0 MPH	113 feet	128 feet	Motor Trend
60 to 0 MPH (Wet)	133 feet	143 feet	Consumer Reports

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the Seltos AWD X-Line/SX’s tires are larger than the largest tires available on the UX (235/45R18 vs. 225/50R18).

The Seltos AWD X-Line/SX’s tires provide better handling because they have a lower 45 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the UX’s 50 series tires.

The Seltos has a standard space-saver spare tire so you can replace a flat tire and drive to have the flat repaired or replaced. A spare tire isn’t available on the UX; it requires you to depend on its run-flat tires, which limits mileage and speed before they are repaired. If a run-flat is damaged beyond repair by a road hazard your vehicle will have to be towed.

Suspension and Handling

The Seltos SX handles at .84 G’s, while the UX 300h F Sport Handling pulls only .79 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The Seltos S AWD executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1.4 seconds quicker than the UX AWD (26.7 seconds @ .65 average G’s vs. 28.1 seconds @ .62 average G’s).

For greater off-road capability the Seltos has a greater minimum ground clearance than the UX (7.3 vs. 6.3 inches), allowing the Seltos to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

Chassis

The Kia Seltos may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 200 to 500 pounds less than the Lexus UX.

The Seltos is 4.4 inches shorter than the UX, making the Seltos easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

Passenger Space

The Seltos has 8.6 cubic feet more passenger volume than the UX (99 vs. 90.4).

The Seltos has 2.8 inches more front headroom, .5 inches more front shoulder room, 2.1 inches more rear headroom, 4.9 inches more rear legroom, .5 inches more rear hip room and 1.8 inches more rear shoulder room than the UX.

For enhanced passenger comfort on long trips the Seltos’ rear seats recline. The UX’s rear seats don’t recline.

Cargo Capacity

The Seltos has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the UX (26.6 vs. 17.1 cubic feet).

Ergonomics

The power windows standard on both the Seltos and the UX have locks to prevent small children from operating them. When the lock on the Seltos is engaged the driver can still operate all of the windows, for instance to close one opened by a child. The UX prevents the driver from operating the other windows just as it does the other passengers.

Consumer Reports rated the Seltos’ headlight performance “Very Good,” a higher rating than the UX’s headlights, which were rated “Good.”

Recommendations

Consumer Reports® recommends both the Kia Seltos and the Lexus UX, based on reliability, safety and performance.

The Kia Seltos outsold the Lexus UX by almost seven to one during 2024.

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