2024 Honda HR-V vs. 2024 Kia Seltos Comparison

For the 2024 model year, the least expensive car on most dealership lots is a subcompact SUV. But they’re not the cheap transportation that fact might call to mind. Today’s subcompact SUVs offer adequate power for any situation, real comfort, and technologies like automatic emergency braking and touchscreens that mirror your phone.

Two of the best are the Honda HR-V and the Kia Seltos. Each gives you enough cargo space for a road trip, a little style, and a starting price under $25,000.

Let’s take a closer look and find the right SUV for you.

2024 Honda HR-V

The Honda HR-V was redesigned for 2023, so Honda hasn’t made any major changes for the 2024 model year. That’s OK — it’s still one of the newest and best designs on the market. It packs a lot of space in a small footprint and offers legendary Honda quality for an affordable price. The 2024 HR-V starts at $24,100

Honda HR-V Highlights

Available wireless smartphone connectivity: Most new vehicles this year include Android Auto and Apple CarPlay — systems that mirror your phone on the car’s screen. However, the top-of-the-line HR-V EX-L makes the connection wireless. Kia doesn’t offer a wireless setup in the Seltos.

More powerful base engine: A little extra power goes a long way in a small SUV. The HR-V starts with a 158-horsepower engine. The Seltos gets 146. It’s not a huge difference, but we’d consider it important if you live in a mountainous area or drive on the highway most days.

Active Noise Cancelation: The list of things you expect from a subcompact SUV almost certainly doesn’t include a quiet ride. But the HR-V uses active noise cancelation — a high-tech approach common to luxury cars — to reduce road noise.

Check this week’s Fair Purchase Price or see the Honda HR-V models for sale near you.

2024 Kia Seltos

The Kia Seltos won our Best Buy Award in the subcompact SUV class in 2022 and 2023. Only a few 2024 subcompact SUVs have yet reached showrooms, so it’s early to say which one will take it home this model year. But the Seltos’ roomy, upscale interior and modern tech features make it a contender. Pricing starts at $24,390.

Kia Seltos Highlights

Better fuel economy: If you’re shopping in this class to save money, saving money at the pump might enter into your calculations. The Seltos, according to the EPA, will cost you about $150 a year less to fuel.

That long warranty: Kia’s 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain and 5-year/60,000-mile bumper-to-bumper warranties are longer than anything else in the business. It beats Honda’s 5-year/60,000-mile powertrain and 3-year/36,000-mile bumper-to-bumper warranties.

Available turbo engine: The Honda has a more powerful base engine, but Kia can beat it. Stepping up to the Seltos X-Line or SX gets you a 195-horsepower turbocharged engine more powerful than anything in an HR-V.

Check this week’s Fair Purchase Price or see the Kia Seltos models for sale near you.

Similarities

The base price of these two is just a few hundred dollars apart, as is their size and passenger space.

Conclusion

The Honda HR-V and Kia Seltos are near the top of their class for 2024. We expect them to fight closely for our Best Buy Award, and you’ll likely be happy with either one. The long warranty and better fuel economy of the Seltos might tip you one way. The HR-V’s refinement, added power, and quiet ride might tempt you to the other.