Kia Seltos vs Hyundai Tucson Hybrid

The 2022 Hyundai Tucson Hybrid emerged as a bold departure from its predecessors, showcasing a striking new design that was both longer and wider. Its sharp, angular lines and distinctive grille, which seamlessly integrated with the LED lighting, set it apart from the crowd. The Tucson's exterior was a gamble, with its hard creases and futuristic aesthetic, which some found appealing while others questioned its longevity. Inside, the Tucson offered a spacious and airy cabin, with standard heated front seats and a range of tech features, including a 10.25-inch digital driver display on higher trims. Despite its bulkier centre console, the interior felt open, though the large sunroof and windshield could lead to a hot cabin quickly.

In contrast, the 2022 Kia Seltos positioned itself as a practical and stylish small SUV, nestled between the Kia Soul and Sportage. The Seltos boasted a good sense of style with exposed stitching and metallic accents, though the abundance of shiny hard plastic detracted from its overall appeal. The interior was thoughtfully designed, with intuitive controls and a comfortable driving position. The Seltos offered ample rear legroom and generous cargo space, making it a practical choice for daily use. However, the ride quality was less refined, with the suspension struggling over bumps and uneven surfaces, leading to a less comfortable driving experience.

The 2022 Hyundai Tucson Hybrid impressed with its 1.6-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine paired with an electric motor, delivering a combined 226 horsepower and 258 lb-ft of torque. This setup provided a noticeably quicker and more responsive drive compared to the gas-powered version. The Tucson Hybrid's six-speed automatic transmission performed admirably, and its suspension effectively absorbed road imperfections while maintaining balance through corners. Fuel efficiency was commendable, with ratings of 6.3 L/100 km in the city and 6.6 on the highway, making it a more economical choice than its gas counterpart.

The 2022 Kia Seltos offered two engine options, with the SX trim featuring a turbocharged 1.6-litre four-cylinder engine producing 175 horsepower and 195 lb-ft of torque. This engine, paired with a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission, provided a more engaging drive than the base 2.0-litre engine. The Seltos offered three driving modes—Normal, Sport, and Smart—though the Smart mode's unpredictability and the Sport mode's occasional gear-hunting detracted from the experience. Fuel consumption for the Seltos SX was rated at 8.7 L/100 km combined, and the AWD system included a Lock function for improved traction in certain conditions. However, the suspension tuning left much to be desired, with the Seltos struggling over bumps and exhibiting excessive body motion on uneven roads.

The 2022 Hyundai Tucson Hybrid excelled in cargo space, offering 1,097 litres in the trunk and 2,108 litres with the rear seats folded, surpassing competitors like the Mazda CX-5 and Toyota RAV4. The Tucson provided excellent front and rear legroom, with reclining rear seats for added comfort. The dual-level cargo floor allowed for flexible storage options, and the interior featured numerous cupholders and bottle holders for convenience.

The 2022 Kia Seltos stood out in terms of interior space, with easy entry and exit, a comfortable driving position, and ample rear legroom. The Seltos offered 752 litres of cargo space behind the rear seats and 1,778 litres with them folded down. While the interior featured practical storage solutions, such as a smartphone shelf, the use of hard plastic on the door panels and seatbacks detracted from comfort. The rear seatback angle was also slightly too reclined for optimal comfort.

The 2022 Hyundai Tucson Hybrid featured a 10.25-inch touchscreen in higher trims, though it required a wired connection for Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. The touch-capacitive buttons for infotainment and HVAC controls were less user-friendly than physical buttons, but the steering-wheel controls offered some relief. The Tucson provided ample USB ports and a premium Bose audio system in the Ultimate trim.

The 2022 Kia Seltos offered a 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment system starting from the EX Premium grade, paired with a Bose sound system in the SX trim. The system included Bluetooth, navigation, and satellite radio, with wired smartphone connectivity. The intuitive interface featured physical knobs and buttons for easy access to primary functions. However, the voice recognition system was less effective without a connected services subscription, making smartphone assistants a more reliable option.

The 2022 Hyundai Tucson Hybrid came equipped with a comprehensive suite of safety features, including automatic emergency braking, pedestrian detection, and lane-keeping assist. Higher trims added blind-spot view monitor and remote smart park assist, though the latter was more of a novelty. The Tucson received a Top Safety Pick+ rating from the IIHS.

The 2022 Kia Seltos offered a robust array of safety features, with blind spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert standard. The EX trim added forward-collision avoidance and lane-keeping assist, while the SX trim included adaptive cruise control and Highway Driving Assist. The Seltos received a Top Safety Pick rating from the IIHS and a four-star overall rating from the NHTSA.