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Kia Seltos vs Toyota RAV4

2026 Kia Seltos vs 2026 Toyota RAV4 — two small SUVs compared on efficiency, size, safety and reliability.

Kia Seltos

2026 Kia Seltos

Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WDAWD/4WD
VS3 – 2Kia Seltos wins 3 of 5 categories
Toyota RAV4

2026 Toyota RAV4

Small Sport Utility Vehicle 2WDAWD/4WDHybrid/EV

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The short version

The Toyota RAV4 is more fuel-efficient: 43 vs 29 MPG combined in its best version.

That works out to about $750 a year less in fuel for the Toyota RAV4 (EPA estimate, 15,000 miles).

The Toyota RAV4 is the bigger car, about 9 inches longer.

Across all model years since 2005, the Kia Seltos has had fewer recall campaigns (4 vs 50).

The two cars

The 2026 Kia Seltos is a small SUV offered with 2 engines (2.0L 4-cyl and 1.6L 4-cyl turbo) and all-wheel drive. It measures about 172 inches long and 71 inches wide on a 104-inch wheelbase, with a curb weight of roughly 3,186 lb (AWD 4dr SUV).

The 2026 Toyota RAV4 is a small SUV offered with a 2.5L 4-cyl engine, including a hybrid version and front-wheel drive and all-wheel drive. It measures about 181 inches long and 73 inches wide on a 106-inch wheelbase, with a curb weight of roughly 3,746 lb (Le 4dr SUV).

Buying used? The 2023 Seltos and the 2022 RAV4 have the fewest problems in our data; avoid the 2021 Seltos and the 2019 RAV4.

Basics

Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD
Class
Small Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD
Regular Gasoline
Fuel
Hybrid
2.0L 4-cyl, 1.6L 4-cyl turbo
Engines
2.5L 4-cyl
All-Wheel Drive
Drivetrain
Front-Wheel Drive, All-Wheel Drive

Efficiency

29 MPG
Best combined MPG
43 MPG
27 city
City / highway MPG (best)
47 city
$2,300
Fuel cost per year (EPA)
$1,550

Performance & space

–
Horsepower (most powerful)
186 hp
–
Seats (most)
5
172 in
Length
181.1 in
70.9 in
Width
72.8 in
63.8 in
Height
66.5 in
2,893 lb
Curb weight (lightest)
3,746 lb

Safety & reliability

13
Driver-assist features standard
13
0
Recalls (2026)
2
4
Recalls, all years since 2005
50
4
Owner complaints (latest year)
42

Interest

19,599
Wikipedia views, 30 days
45,921

Buying used

2023
Best used year
2022
2021
Year to avoid
2019

Green = clearly better. Prices are not included. How we calculate this →

Which one should you choose?

Choose the Kia Seltos if…

  • You want something easier to park (9 in shorter)
  • You put reliability history first (4 vs 50 recalls since 2005)

Choose the Toyota RAV4 if…

  • You want lower fuel bills (43 vs 29 MPG)
  • You want more room (9 in longer)
  • You want a hybrid or electric option

Pros & cons of each

2026 Kia Seltos

  • Lots of standard safety tech5 of 5 key driver aids standard on the versions we checked.

2026 Toyota RAV4

  • Excellent fuel economyUp to 43 MPG combined — 42% better than the average 2026 small SUV (30.2 MPG).
  • Hybrid version availableOffered as a hybrid as well as gas.
  • AWD / 4WD available
  • Lots of standard safety tech5 of 5 key driver aids standard on the versions we checked.

Full 2026 Kia Seltos specs →Full 2026 Toyota RAV4 specs →Compare fuel costs for your driving →Compare size & garage fit →