Why would a brand have two subcompact SUVs? That’s probably one of the first questions someone might ask when looking at Kia’s offerings when it comes to the Seltos and Niro. Given that the brand has a wide selection of smaller SUVs, you might find yourself scratching your head, wondering why you would look up a Kia Seltos for sale versus a Niro? Or why would you opt for a Seltos versus a Soul? Well, it’s kind of obvious why you might prefer a Seltos over the Soul, given that the design is completely different, and there is a stark pricing difference between the two as well. They cater to two different markets looking for a subcompact.
However, the Kia Seltos and Kia Niro have very similar design language, are very similar in size, and have very similar performance specs. So why go with one over the other, and why would you even have these choices to begin with? The biggest reason is that they actually serve different demographics within the subcompact SUV segment, just like the Seltos and the Soul. This is highlighted not so much in terms of their form but definitely in terms of their function. In that regard, it’s important to talk about what segments both vehicles are targeting with their features and why.
Performance Differences Between the Seltos and Niro
One of the main reasons you might prefer one subcompact SUV over the other is its performance capabilities. In the case of the Seltos and Niro, the performance differences aren’t massive but are absolutely noticeable. This is because the Niro is designed as an electrified vehicle from the ground up and is only available as a hybrid, a plug-in hybrid, and an EV. In contrast, the Seltos is only available with a traditional gasoline engine. The electrified nature of the Niro basically sacrifices some power for efficiency.
The 2025 Niro features an efficient 1.6L four-cylinder engine that makes 139 hp and 195 lb-ft of torque for the hybrid. The plug-in hybrid adds an 11.1 kWh battery pack and makes 180 hp and 195 lb-ft of torque. The fully electric version has a single electric motor and a 64.8 kWh battery pack for 201 hp and 188 lb-ft of torque. There’s a good amount of power and performance in the Niro that makes it responsive for its size. However, by comparison, the Seltos offers a bit more performance while also being slightly less expensive.
The 2025 Seltos has two powertrains. The starting powertrain is a 2.0L four-cylinder that manages 146 hp and 132 lb-ft of torque, while the available option is a turbocharged 1.6L four-cylinder that provides 195 hp and 195 lb-ft of torque. However, while the Seltos is a bit more powerful, it is less efficient, getting 31 MPG combined with the base engine and 25 MPG combined with the turbocharged engine. In contrast, the Niro Hybrid gets 53 MPG combined, while the Niro PHEV has an electric range of 33 miles, and the Niro EV has a range of 253 miles.
Cargo Space Differences Between the Seltos and Niro
The powertrain options also impact the cargo capacity. The Niro Hybrid and Niro EV offer 22.8 cu.ft. of cargo capacity in the rear and up to 63.7 cu.ft. of cargo volume with the rear seat folded down. By comparison, the Seltos has 26.6 cu.ft. of cargo volume in the rear cargo area and up to 62.8 cu.ft. of cargo volume with the rear seat folded down.
While the Niro has slightly more total cargo space in the standard hybrid and EV variants, it has significantly less cargo space than the Seltos in its plug-in hybrid version, offering only 19.4 cu.ft. of cargo space in the rear cargo area and 54.6 cu.ft. of cargo volume with the rear seats folded down. The reason for this is that the PHEV has a larger battery pack, which means you’re gaining more range at the expense of cargo capacity.
Pricing Differences Between the Seltos and Niro
Despite the similarities in design and size, the electrified powertrains of the Niro result in it costing slightly more than the Seltos. The 2025 Niro has a starting MSRP of $26,990 for the standard hybrid, whereas the 2025 Seltos has a starting MSRP of $24,690. The Niro gets significantly more pricey when you consider the PHEV or the EV iterations, with the PHEV having a starting MSRP of $34,490 and the EV having a starting MSRP of $39,600.
The Niro’s electrified design gives you better fuel economy than the Seltos but at the cost of a higher upfront price. Some might argue that in the long run, the electrified design will save you money at the gas pump, but that will depend on how much you drive, where you drive, and what your charging options look like (if you are considering a PHEV or EV version). If you put a lot of city miles on your car and have access to charging at home or work, then the Niro can save you money in the long run. However, if you don’t drive much, mostly drive on the highway, or don’t have good charging options, the savings might be less than you expect.
Why Would You Choose a Seltos Over a Niro?
Let’s say the MSRP differences are negligible to you, and you’re just looking at functionality. You get more standard safety features in the Niro and better fuel economy. You might be wondering, why would you want to go with a Seltos over a Niro? Well, there are the added costs of functionality you have to consider. With the Seltos, you get similar or better cargo capacity and better overall performance.
This logic also seems to prevail among SUV shoppers looking for subcompacts. Despite the Niro having been around on the market since the 2017 model year, the Seltos has soundly managed to outsell it even though it only appeared on the market for the 2021 model year. If you look at the sales charts, the Seltos has soundly beaten out the Niro, almost doubling the Niro in sales in America in 2023 and 2024. So shoppers definitely seem to lean toward the Seltos.
Will a Seltos Hybrid Ever Happen?
Okay, so let’s say that you really like the Seltos, but you prefer the hybrid design or even the all-electric options of the Niro. What do you do? Most people would just opt for the Niro. However, Kia seems to have other plans in mind. Despite the Niro and Seltos both occupying a specific niche in the subcompact segment, Kia is looking to expand the Seltos into hybrid territory in 2026, with production reportedly starting as early as 2025. According to rumors and spy shots, the new Seltos Hybrid will take on a new visage to fit in with Kia’s most recent design language. But wouldn’t a hybrid Seltos cannibalize the Niro?
With the Niro only being available in hybrid or electric formats, it does make you wonder what may happen to it when the Seltos Hybrid launches? Of course, that’s still a ways off, and for now, most people will be shopping based on new and used models of the Kia Niro and Kia Seltos for sale currently on the market. In that regard, you have your hybrid or electric Niro or your traditional gasoline-powered Seltos, and so far, it seems like most of the market is completely fine with the Seltos. But that could change when a Seltos Hybrid comes around, at which point Kia may have to reshuffle the lineup to make the Niro stand out a bit more in the subcompact segment.
Are You Considering a Kia Seltos or a Kia Niro?
With the differences outlined and the advantages made clear between Kia’s two subcompact SUVs, which one do you feel best represents your interests in a Kia? Is the traditional gasoline-powered Seltos more to your liking, or do you prefer the electrified options of the Niro? Is performance and capacity important to you? And how do you feel about a potential Seltos Hybrid? What is clear is that so far, the majority of the market seems to really like the Seltos, and adding more options to one of Kia’s best-sellers only makes a world of sense, but the verdict is still out on how well that will work out. In the meantime, expect the Seltos to continue to make headway with its upward sales momentum thanks to its sleek design, accessible performance, and travel reliability if market trends are anything to go by.
