2023 Volvo XC90 vs 2024 Kia Seltos

The 2023 Volvo XC90 marked a significant departure from the brand's past design ethos, which was often likened to utilitarian appliances. This model showcased a purposeful yet understated aesthetic, with a stout front end and an assertive grille that avoided being overly flashy. The signature "Thor’s Hammer" headlights added a modern touch, distinguishing it from the boxy Volvos of the past. The XC90's dimensions remained somewhat rectilinear, but it no longer resembled a toaster. The test vehicle, in Ultimate trim, featured 21-inch wheels and a Platinum Grey paint with subtle brown undertones, adding depth to its appearance. Inside, the XC90 exuded elegance with two-tone leather steering, metal speaker covers, a crystal shift knob, and luxurious Nappa leather upholstery. The minimalist interior design was complemented by wood deco inlays, creating a serene and sophisticated atmosphere.

In contrast, the 2024 Kia Seltos underwent a mid-cycle refresh, introducing subtle yet impactful changes. The updated headlight and grille designs, along with a connecting light strip between the taillights, gave the Seltos a refreshed look. The test model's "Pluton Blue" paint added a sharp touch. Inside, the Seltos featured a new Gentle Brown interior colour, though the test model had a standard black interior. The most noticeable change was the large digital panel spanning two-thirds of the dash, combining a fully digital instrument panel and a larger touchscreen infotainment system. The Seltos offered various trims, each with distinct features, from the base LX with 17-inch alloy wheels and cloth upholstery to the top X-Line trim with unique styling elements. The interior provided ample headroom and legroom, making it comfortable for taller occupants, while the cargo space was generous for a subcompact SUV.

The 2023 Volvo XC90 introduced the B6 engine, replacing the older T5 and T6 engines. This new powertrain featured mild-hybrid technology, offering 295 horsepower and 310 pound-feet of torque. While the fuel economy benefits were minimal, the mild-hybrid system contributed to smoother operation and aligned with Volvo's electrification goals. The B6 powertrain combined a supercharger and turbocharger, with a lithium-ion battery powering a 13-volt starter generator. This setup improved the XC90's fuel-saving auto stop-start technology, making it almost imperceptible. The XC90 delivered a reserved yet enjoyable driving experience, with quick acceleration and a responsive eight-speed automatic transmission. Despite its size, the XC90 handled corners well, and its brakes inspired confidence. The XC90 lacked extensive customizable driving dynamics, focusing on simplicity and ease of use.

The 2024 Kia Seltos offered two powertrain options. The base 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine produced 146 horsepower and 132 lb-ft of torque, paired with Kia's Intelligent Variable Transmission (IVT). The SX and X-Line trims featured a turbocharged 1.6-litre four-cylinder engine, delivering 195 horsepower and 195 lb-ft of torque, with a new eight-speed automatic transmission. The turbocharged engine provided noticeable acceleration improvements, especially in 60 to 100 km/h situations. The Seltos handled various road surfaces well, with responsive steering and minimal body roll. The brakes initially felt touchy but settled down over time. The Seltos offered 18 centimetres of ground clearance, making it suitable for light off-road adventures.

The 2023 Volvo XC90's interior design embraced Scandinavian minimalism, creating a peaceful and pleasant atmosphere. However, this approach led to some space and storage frustrations. The XC90 lacked dedicated cubby space for smaller items, and the USB port for phone charging was located in a small centre console bin. While the second row was comfortable and spacious, adjusting the seats was challenging. The XC90 offered a second-row bench seat for seven-passenger seating, with an option for captain's chairs. Accessing the third row was difficult, and the available space was limited. The XC90 provided 356 litres of cargo space with the third seat in position, expanding to 1,183 litres with the third-row seats folded and 1,856 litres with all rear seats folded. Despite its smaller size compared to typical three-row SUVs, the XC90 drove like a smaller car.

The 2024 Kia Seltos offered up to 1,778 litres of cargo space with the rear seats folded and 753 litres with the rear seats in use. A hands-free power liftgate was standard from the EX Premium trim. The Seltos featured an upright seating position, providing ample headroom and solid driver visibility. The front seating area included decently sized in-door cupholders and cubbies for both front and rear doors. The front centre console had a tray for keys, wallet, and phone. A removable cargo cover was standard from EX Premium, adding versatility to the cargo area.

The 2023 Volvo XC90 featured a 9-inch vertically positioned touchscreen infotainment display running on Google OS, making Volvo the first company to offer this technology as standard. Google OS integrated much of Android Auto, including Google Maps, Spotify, NPR, and Google Assistant. The system's natural-language recognition enhanced the user experience, and owners could issue commands via Google Home devices. However, the reliance on the touchscreen interface for key functions led to some frustration, as more physical buttons and redundant controls would have been appreciated. Keyless entry was standard, while a head-up display was optional.

The 2024 Kia Seltos offered a consistent digital bezel across its trim lineup, with screen sizes varying based on the trim. The base infotainment system featured an 8-inch touchscreen, while upper trims upgraded to a 10.25-inch fully digital instrument panel and touchscreen. Both tiers included Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The Seltos retained tactile controls, such as volume and tuning dials, and hard buttons for climate controls. The larger screen was well-sized and responsive, with USB-A and USB-C ports for phone connectivity. The SX and X-Line trims featured an upgraded eight-speaker Bose premium stereo system. The Seltos also offered Digital Key 2 Touch, allowing owners to unlock and lock the vehicle via a smartphone app.

The 2023 Volvo XC90 continued Volvo's legacy of safety, earning a five-star rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and a Top Safety Pick+ designation from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) in 2022. The XC90 came equipped with advanced driver safety tech, including blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, adaptive cruise control, and lane-keeping assist. These technologies supported Volvo's Pilot Assist, which maintained distance from the car ahead and provided gentle lane corrections. These safety features were standard on the 2023 XC90.

The 2024 Kia Seltos offered a comprehensive suite of standard driver assistance features, including forward collision avoidance assist, lane keep assist, lane-departure warning, lane-follow assist, automatic high beams, driver attention warning, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert. The Safe Exit Warning alerted occupants of approaching vehicles when exiting the Seltos. The EX Premium trim added smart adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go functionality and navigation-based curve prediction. The SX trim included traffic sign recognition, highway driving assist, and a junction-turning function for forward collision warning. The drive-away warning alerted drivers if they were stopped in traffic and the vehicle in front pulled away.