3 Ways the 2023 Toyota Corolla Cross Outshines the 2023 Kia Seltos
The subcompact SUV has big shoes to fill. It can’t have too little cargo area and has to have good visibility, much like these sport utility vehicles from Toyota and Kia. There are a few ways the 2023 Toyota Corolla Cross passes the 2023 Kia Seltos, and those are below. You might have difficulty deciding if you are looking for a solid SUV that is easy to drive and comes with all the most recent technology.
How much is the 2023 Toyota Corolla Cross?
The 2023 Toyota Corolla Cross starts at $23,060, compared to the 2023 Kia Seltos at $23,340. Even though the Corolla Cross hasn’t been on the market very long, Kelley Blue Book had many positive things to report. Toyota is banking on the reliability and long history that the Corolla is known for.
Now that it is an SUV, that reputation is one of the best things it has going for it. Toyota is known for making long-lasting SUVs that retain value well over the years. The Corolla is a safe bet if you want to drive it for a few years and sell it off.
If you don’t want to ride that wave of notoriety, the 2023 Toyota Corolla Cross is a good option. The 2023 Kia Seltos took home KBB’s Best Buy award for subcompact SUVs, so don’t count it out entirely. Kia has been known to pack its vehicles with safety systems and features to add value, and the Seltos is proof of that.
The 2023 Toyota Corolla Cross is cheaper and has more power
Regarding engines, the 2023 Toyota Corolla Cross and the Kia Seltos get a 2.0L four-cylinder, but the Toyota gets 169 hp and 151 lb-ft of torque. Kia squeezes 146 hp and 132 lb-ft of torque out of the Seltos. Either is suitable power, but the extra 18 hp is helpful.
For fuel economy, the Corolla Cross gets 31 mpg in the city and 33 mpg on the highway. The Seltos gets 29 mpg in the city and 35 mpg on the highway, which is quite close but still does not surpass the Toyota.
Toyota has already announced the Corolla Cross Hybrid, which should hit the dealership later this year. Even though the regular version gets good fuel economy, the Hybrid gets 45 mpg in the city and 38 mpg on the highway. Kia has plenty of hybrid options in its lineup, but the Seltos did not get that option this year.
The 2023 Kia Seltos might have too many options
2023 Kia Seltos
While some drivers want to customize a new vehicle from the factory, sometimes, that can be overwhelming. Kia offers the 2023 Seltos in five trim levels, 12 exterior colors, and five interior combinations. You can always buy one off the lot. However, the 2023 Toyota Corolla Cross gets three trim levels and four exterior paint options. If you go up in trim levels, there are more paint options. That makes it a bit easier to decide.
Don’t count out Toyota Safety Sense 3.0 and all the systems included. Blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert, Front and rear parking assistance with automatic braking, and forward collision warning are all standard. Kia has Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist, Lane-Keeping Assist, and Highway Driving Assist.
Kia is working on building its reputation, but it can’t touch the reputation Toyota has built. The 2023 Toyota Corolla Cross inches by the 2023 Kia Seltos, but not by much. Kia has a good thing going with its SUV lineup, and no one should count it out entirely.
