Kia Rio vs. Kia Seltos
iSeeCars' unbiased and data-driven comparison of the Kia Rio and Kia Seltos contrasts the two cars across a broad spectrum of vehicle specifications to determine which car is better. In addition to comparing pricing and specs, iSeeCars uses all the ratings, rankings, and insights from its comprehensive analyses of each vehicle model, including calculations of reliability, safety, depreciation, value retention, and the vehicle's projected lifetime recalls (based on analyzing over 25 billion data points). This in-depth evaluation is used to identify which vehicle represents a better overall choice for shoppers who are considering both the Kia Rio and the Kia Seltos.
When comparing the Kia Rio's and the Kia Seltos's specifications and ratings, the Kia Rio has the advantage in the areas of new vehicle base pricing, typical lower range of pricing for one- to five-year-old used cars, and fuel efficiency and resale value. The Kia Seltos has the advantage in the areas of interior volume and base engine power. Based on this comparison of the Kia Rio's and the Kia Seltos's specifications and ratings, the Kia Rio is a better car than the Kia Seltos.
Pricing: A used 2023 Kia Rio ranges from $13,977 to $19,993 while a used 2023 Kia Seltos is priced between $18,180 to $25,713. For a new model, the Kia Rio's price is between $17,934 and $20,795, with the Kia Seltos priced between $23,890 and $32,336.
Resale/Retained Value: Looking at the 5-year depreciation rate for both models, the Kia Rio loses 35.6 percent of its value and the Kia Seltos loses 44.4 percent of its value. This means the Kia Rio retains 8.8 percentage points more of its value and has the advantage of higher resale value versus the Kia Seltos.
Engine Power and Fuel Efficiency Comparison: For engine performance, the Kia Rio’s base engine makes 120 horsepower, and the Kia Seltos base engine makes 146 horsepower. The Rio is rated to deliver an average of 36 miles per gallon, with a highway range of 488 miles. The Seltos is rated to deliver an average of 29 miles per gallon, with a highway range of 409 miles. This gives the Kia Rio the fuel efficiency and maximum range advantage over the Kia Seltos. Both models use regular unleaded.
Passenger Space Comparison: The Kia Seltos, a crossover/subcompact SUV, has the advantage of offering more interior volume, reflected in more front head room, front shoulder room, rear head room, rear shoulder room, rear leg room, and cargo space. The Kia Rio, a subcompact car, has the advantage in the area of front leg room.
Safety Ratings: The Kia Seltos has an average safety rating of 4.42 out of 5 Stars based on NHTSA's crash test ratings.
New Car Pricing
Asking Price:
17934 - 20795
Starting MSRP:
16750
Category Avg Starting MSRP:
(Subcompact Cars)
22144
Category Starting MSRP Range:
(Subcompact Cars)
15980 - 32400
New Car Pricing
Asking Price:
23890 - 32336
Starting MSRP:
23340
Category Avg Starting MSRP:
(Subcompact SUVs)
25483
Category Starting MSRP Range:
(Subcompact SUVs)
19650 - 34950
Used Car Pricing
Avg Used Car Price:
16883
Price Range:
13977 - 19993
Category Avg Price:
(Subcompact Cars)
21488
Category Avg Price Range:
(Subcompact Cars)
15025 - 30886
# Used Cars for Sale Nationally:
230
Avg Mileage of Used Cars for Sale:
49937
# Good or Great Deals:
71
Used Car Pricing
Avg Used Car Price:
21905
Price Range:
18180 - 25713
Category Avg Price:
(Subcompact SUVs)
23866
Category Avg Price Range:
(Subcompact SUVs)
19042 - 30187
# Used Cars for Sale Nationally:
551
Avg Mileage of Used Cars for Sale:
49750
# Good or Great Deals:
362
Kia Rio Scores & Rankings
Overall Score:
8.1 / 10
Reliability:
7.4 / 10
Retained Value:
8.8 / 10
Safety:
Not available
Kia Seltos Scores & Rankings
Overall Score:
Not available
Reliability:
Not available
Retained Value:
8.2 / 10
Safety:
7.4 / 10
iSeeCars Reliability Insights for Kia Rio
Remaining Life Expectancy (years):
6.8
Typical Category Remaining Life Expectancy:
(Subcompact Cars)
8.7
Category Remaining Life Expectancy Range:
(Subcompact Cars)
6.1 - 13.5
Chance of Reaching 200k Miles for a New Car:
0.042
iSeeCars Reliability Insights for Kia Seltos
Remaining Life Expectancy (years):
Typical Category Remaining Life Expectancy:
(Subcompact SUVs)
9.8
Category Remaining Life Expectancy Range:
(Subcompact SUVs)
7.1 - 11.7
Chance of Reaching 200k Miles for a New Car:
Expected 30-year Lifetime Recalls
Expected Lifetime Recalls:
1.8959220238278798
Typical Category Recalls:
(Subcompact Cars)
1.7
Category Range for Recalls:
(Subcompact Cars)
1.3 - 7.9
Expected 30-year Lifetime Recalls
Expected Lifetime Recalls:
4.415082184524615
Typical Category Recalls:
(Subcompact SUVs)
2.8
Category Range for Recalls:
(Subcompact SUVs)
1.2 - 14.0
Kia Rio Rankings
Ranking
5 out of / 10Ranking
7 out of / 10Ranking
10 out of / 31Ranking
15 out of / 31Ranking
15 out of / 31Ranking
17 out of / 31Ranking
20 out of / 31Ranking
21 out of / 31Ranking
27 out of / 31Kia Seltos Rankings
Ranking
2 out of / 21Ranking
2 out of / 21Ranking
5 out of / 21Ranking
7 out of / 54Ranking
7 out of / 21Ranking
7 out of / 21Ranking
7 out of / 14Ranking
8 out of / 21Ranking
9 out of / 21Ranking
10 out of / 21Ranking
11 out of / 21Ranking
16 out of / 66Ranking
18 out of / 66Ranking
27 out of / 66Ranking
31 out of / 66Ranking
32 out of / 66Ranking
42 out of / 66Ranking
43 out of / 66Ranking
46 out of / 66Ranking
46 out of / 66Available Body Styles
Sedan
Available Body Styles
SUV
Available Drivetrain Options
Gasoline
Available Drivetrain Options
Gasoline
Kia Rio Trim Levels
LX, S
Kia Seltos Trim Levels
EX, LX, Nightfall, S, SX
Warranty Information
Warranty, Bumper-to-Bumper:
5 years / 60000 miles
Warranty, Powertrain:
10 years / 100000 miles
Warranty, Roadside Assistance:
5 years / 60000 miles
Warranty Information
Warranty, Bumper-to-Bumper:
5 years / 60000 miles
Warranty, Powertrain:
10 years / 100000 miles
Warranty, Roadside Assistance:
5 years / 60000 miles
Safety Ratings
NHTSA Safety Rating (last 5 year average):
Not yet available
2026 NHTSA Overall Rating:
Not yet available
2026 NHTSA Front Crash Overall Rating:
Not yet available
2026 NHTSA Side Crash Overall Rating:
Not yet available
2026 NHTSA Rollover Rating:
Not yet available
IIHS Safety Rating:
Not yet available
Safety Ratings
NHTSA Safety Rating (last 5 year average):
4.42 out of 5 Stars
2026 NHTSA Overall Rating:
4 out of 5 Stars
2026 NHTSA Front Crash Overall Rating:
4 out of 5 Stars
2026 NHTSA Side Crash Overall Rating:
5 out of 5 Stars
2026 NHTSA Rollover Rating:
4 out of 5 Stars
IIHS Safety Rating:
Not yet available
Base Drivetrain Specs
Horsepower:
120 hp @ 6300 rpm
Torque:
112 foot-lbs @ 4500 rpm
Power-to-Weight Ratio (higher is better):
0.043 hp per pound
Towing capacity:
Not yet available
Base Drivetrain Specs
Horsepower:
146 hp @ 6200 rpm
Torque:
132 foot-lbs @ 4500 rpm
Power-to-Weight Ratio (higher is better):
0.047 hp per pound
Towing capacity:
Not yet available
Engine Specifications
Engine Size:
1.6 liters
Engine Configuration:
Inline
Number of Cylinders:
4
Transmission:
Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT Automatic)
Standard/Optional Drivetrain Type:
FWD
EPA Fuel Economy
(City/Highway/Combined MPG):
32 / 41 / 36
Range (city/hwy):
381 / 488 miles
Recommended Fuel Type:
Regular Unleaded
Engine Specifications
Engine Size:
2 liters
Engine Configuration:
Inline
Number of Cylinders:
4
Transmission:
Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT Automatic)
Standard/Optional Drivetrain Type:
AWD / FWD
EPA Fuel Economy
(City/Highway/Combined MPG):
27 / 31 / 29
Range (city/hwy):
356 / 409 miles
Recommended Fuel Type:
Regular Unleaded
Standard/Optional Features
Android Auto:
Standard
Apple CarPlay:
Standard
Bench Seats:
Standard
Bluetooth:
Standard
Navigation System:
Standard
Power outlet:
Standard
Roadside assistance:
Standard
Voice Recognition:
Standard
Alloy wheels:
Available
Internet Radio:
Available
Keyless Entry:
Available
Keyless Ignition:
Available
Satellite radio:
Available
Adaptive Cruise Control:
N/A
Air Suspension:
N/A
Automatic Parking:
N/A
Captain's seat:
N/A
Cooled/Ventilated Seats:
N/A
Front Bench Seats:
N/A
Heated Seats
N/A
Heated Steering Wheel:
N/A
Leather Upholstery:
N/A
Massage Seats:
N/A
Paddle Shifters:
N/A
Panoramic Sunroof/Moonroof
N/A
Parking Sensors:
N/A
Power Lift Gate:
N/A
Quad Seats:
N/A
Roof Rack:
N/A
Sunroof/Moonroof:
N/A
Trailer Hitch:
N/A
Wifi:
N/A
Wireless Smartphone Charging:
N/A
Standard/Optional Features
Android Auto:
Standard
Apple CarPlay:
Standard
Bench Seats:
Standard
Bluetooth:
Standard
Navigation System:
Available
Power outlet:
Standard
Roadside assistance:
Available
Voice Recognition:
Standard
Alloy wheels:
Standard
Internet Radio:
N/A
Keyless Entry:
Standard
Keyless Ignition:
Available
Satellite radio:
Available
Adaptive Cruise Control:
Available
Air Suspension:
N/A
Automatic Parking:
N/A
Captain's seat:
N/A
Cooled/Ventilated Seats:
N/A
Front Bench Seats:
N/A
Heated Seats
Available
Heated Steering Wheel:
N/A
Leather Upholstery:
Available
Massage Seats:
N/A
Paddle Shifters:
N/A
Panoramic Sunroof/Moonroof
N/A
Parking Sensors:
N/A
Power Lift Gate:
N/A
Quad Seats:
N/A
Roof Rack:
Available
Sunroof/Moonroof:
Available
Trailer Hitch:
Available
Wifi:
N/A
Wireless Smartphone Charging:
Available
Safety Features
Backup camera:
Standard
360-Degree Camera:
N/A
Blind Spot Monitoring:
N/A
Driver Attention Monitoring:
N/A
Forward Collision Warning:
N/A
Lane Departure Warning:
N/A
Lane Keeping Assist:
N/A
Pedestrian Detection:
N/A
Rear Cross-Traffic Alert:
N/A
Rear Seat Reminder:
N/A
Safety Features
Backup camera:
Standard
360-Degree Camera:
N/A
Blind Spot Monitoring:
Available
Driver Attention Monitoring:
Standard
Forward Collision Warning:
Standard
Lane Departure Warning:
Standard
Lane Keeping Assist:
Standard
Pedestrian Detection:
Standard
Rear Cross-Traffic Alert:
Available
Rear Seat Reminder:
Standard
Interior Dimensions
Front Head Room:
38.9 inches
Front Leg Room:
42.1 inches
Front Shoulder Room:
54.1 inches
Rear Head Room:
37.4 inches
Rear Leg Room:
33.5 inches
Rear Shoulder Room:
53.3 inches
Cargo Space:
13.7 cubic feet
Cargo Space, 2nd-row seat folded down:
Not yet available
Overall Interior Volume:
89.9 cubic feet
Interior Dimensions
Front Head Room:
40 inches
Front Leg Room:
41.4 inches
Front Shoulder Room:
55.5 inches
Rear Head Room:
38.4 inches
Rear Leg Room:
38 inches
Rear Shoulder Room:
54.7 inches
Cargo Space:
26.6 cubic feet
Cargo Space, 2nd-row seat folded down:
62.8 cubic feet
Overall Interior Volume:
126.2 cubic feet
Exterior Dimensions
Curb Weight:
2767 lbs
Width:
67.9 inches
Height:
57.1 inches
Length:
172.6 inches
Wheelbase:
101.6 inches
Ground Clearance:
5.5 inches
Exterior Dimensions
Curb Weight:
3087 lbs
Width:
70.9 inches
Height:
63.6 inches
Length:
172 inches
Wheelbase:
103.5 inches
Ground Clearance:
7.3 inches
Standard Wheel/Tire Information
Wheel Size:
15.0 x 5.5 inches
Wheel Type:
steel
Tire Size:
P185/65R15
Standard Wheel/Tire Information
Wheel Size:
17.0 x 7.0 inches
Wheel Type:
aluminum alloy
Tire Size:
215/55R17
Exterior Colors
Black
Aurora Black
Silver
Silky Silver
White
Clear White
Blue
Not available
Gray
Not available
Exterior Colors
Black
Cherry Black
Silver
Not available
White
Snow White Pearl
Blue
Neptune Blue
Gray
Steel Gray
Interior Colors
Black
Black
Interior Colors
Black
Black
