Which One Is Bigger: Kia Seltos or Kia Sportage?

The Kia Sportage and the Kia Seltos are popular crossover SUVs that many owners love. 

The two vehicles have so many features in common, but they have one significant difference people notice. 

The main difference between the Seltos and the Sportage is the size of the vehicles. Read this article to find which is larger and other differences that separate these two crossover vehicles 

Is The Kia Seltos Or The Kia Sportage Bigger?

The Kia Sportage is larger than the Kia Seltos, but it may not feel like it to everyone. Technically, the Sportage is a few inches longer than the Seltos, but the roomier design of the Seltos makes it feel and ride like a larger vehicle.

Both the Sportage and Seltos are popular SUV crossover vehicles produced by Kia. But how do these two car models compare to one another?

To understand the size difference and other factors that vary between these two vehicles, keep reading for a full breakdown of the two cars. 

Size

Let’s start with the reason why you are here: which one is bigger? As mentioned, the Sportage is technically bigger, but many people may not feel that way once they sit in it. 

This section will discuss the various size differences between these two Kias. 

Seltos

The Seltos design is slightly smaller than the Sportage. The reason for the compact design is because the Seltos is for people looking for an SUV crossover for city living.

So with a 70.9-inch width and 172-inch length, the Seltos makes it easier to parallel park and fit into tight spaces. 

In addition to the width, the Seltos have higher ground clearance, hovering 7.3 inches off the ground. 

This clearance is another benefit for people that live in the city and may have to drive over speed bumps, potholes, and even curbs. 

Despite being smaller, many people feel the interior of the Seltos offers more space. The cargo capacity of the Seltos is 62.8 cubic feet, which is larger than the interior space of the Sportage. 

Sportage

The Sportage is 73 inches in width and 176.4 inches in length, making it a few inches longer and wider than the Seltos. 

The Sportage design works better for rural living and driveway parking than city life. 

As opposed to the Seltos, the Sportage has a relatively low clearance. It only sits about 6.4 inches off the ground, putting the undercarriage more at risk when traveling over bumps or other obstacles. 

So just because the Sportage is bigger doesn’t mean it’s a good option for offroading or other chaotic drives. 

As mentioned above, the Sportage interior is a bit smaller than the Seltos, coming in at only 60.1 cubic feet. 

So although the Sportage is larger from the outside and has a wider frame, it will feel more cramped on the interior. 

Comfort

Both the Seltos and Sportage have five seats in the car. There is a driver seat, a passenger seat, and three backseats. 

So while you can fit the same number of bodies, that doesn’t mean both vehicles offer the same comfort level. 

Comfort is important for both the driver and the passengers, so we’ll discuss how cozy each one feels. 

Seltos

As mentioned in the size section, the Seltos has a larger cabin than the Sportage. So if you plan on sleeping in your car or have passengers that demand their elbow and legroom, this may be the better option for you. 

The Seltos come with a modern, 8-inch touch screen equipped with CarPlay and smartphone integration. 

The Seltos also has an excellent sound system so everyone in the vehicle can enjoy the music or podcast playing. 

The seats in the Seltos focus on back comfort, so the seats are well-cushioned and absorb shock well. 

However, the seat bottom is less cushioned than the backrest, making super long car rides tough on your legs. 

Sportage

The Sportage has a much smaller cabin than the Seltos. The Seltos cabin is nearly 3 cubic feet larger than the Sportage.

So for long car rides, passengers may feel more packed together in the Sportage. That isn’t to say the Sportage turns you, passengers, into sardines, but the difference between the two cabins is noticeable. 

Like the Seltos, the Sportage has a touch screen with CarPlay and smartphone capabilities. 

However, it also features steering-wheel-mounted audio controls, allowing the driver to more easily control audio and other features while driving.

Compared with the Seltos, people say the comfort of the Sportage seats is relatively the same. 

The seat bottoms in the Sportage are slightly thicker, absorbing more shock and vibrations when driving over bumps. 

Performance

Size and comfort are important in a vehicle, but no one can deny that performance takes the top spot. 

No matter the size or luxury of the car’s interior, if it doesn’t run and perform well, then you won’t love it. 

Luckily, both of these cars have excellent performance which we will discuss below. 

Both models have a 2.0L four-cylinder engine and four-wheel drive. But the similarities end there. 

Seltos

The Kia Seltos features 146 horsepower and go 0-60 in 8.9 seconds. The torque is 132 foot-pounds. The car gets 31 miles to the gallon, which falls right in the middle of the fuel efficiency spectrum. 

The Seltos have slightly less power than the Sportage, and the reason for this is the car’s design is for city driving. When driving in the city, you need less horsepower and high speeds. 

The car is comfortable to drive and ride in, with generally smooth performance and easy handling. Kia offers excellent turn radiuses so you can maneuver anything the city throws at you. 

Sportage

The Sportage has more power, likely because it has a larger frame and the design aims at rural living. The Sportage has high performance on the highway and is very comfortable to drive.

It has a horsepower of 181 and a torque of 175 foot-pounds. 

Surprisingly, the Sportage gets better mileage than the Seltos even though the vehicle is bigger. 

The Sportage gets 26 miles per gallon, traveling a whole extra 5 miles on every gallon of gas compared with the Seltos. 

The Sportage goes from 0-60 in just 8.3 seconds, exemplifying the level of horsepower in the engine. 

Cost of Seltos Vs. Sportage

The cost of each vehicle depends a lot on add-ons that you can get with the vehicle, like heated seats or a sunroof.

The more amenities your car has, the more expensive it will be. Factoring this in, the costs are very similar. 

When browsing through various models with different bells and whistles, it seems the Sportage is slightly more expensive than the Seltos. 

However, the difference is hardly noticeable when comparing these two vehicles. 

Final Thoughts

While the Sportage is definitely bigger by a few inches than the Seltos, the interior of the Seltos is larger than the Sportage.

So our official answer to which is bigger is the vehicle is the Sportage, but there are reasons one may prefer the Seltos. 

Whether you live in the city or out in the country, carry lots of passengers, or are a solo driver, one of these Kias could be the ideal crossover SUV for your driving needs.