Hyundai and Kia have just posted their best-ever September sales in the U.S. as both brands continue their rapid growth. Thanks to attractive pricing, a regularly freshened lineup of vehicles, and a wide variety of powertrain options, these Korean brands have covered all the bases and it's helping them improve their market share. At the lower end of the price spectrum are the Kia Seltos and Hyundai Kona, two cheerful subcompact crossovers. As many buyers look for more affordable and efficient vehicles, these two models have become more popular, but which one is outselling the other in 2026? The numbers show that there's been a reversal of fortunes since last year.Related: Kia Telluride Vs. Toyota Grand Highlander Vs. Honda Pilot Sales: There's A New Leader In 2026Kia Seltos Now Outsells Hyundai Kona2027 Kia SeltosKiaBoth models have sold over 50,000 units each through September, but only the Kia Seltos has experienced growth versus 2025. Here's how they've fared as we enter the fourth quarter of the year.2026 Year-to-Date2025 Year-to-Date% ChangeKia Seltos58,20740,065+45%Hyundai Kona52,94857,278-8%At this point last year, the Kona was ahead of the Seltos by 17,213 units, but the momentum has swung in favor of the Kia in 2026, as it now leads by 5,259 units. The growth of the Seltos has clearly been boosted by the launch of a second-generation model for the 2027 model year. Not only does it have larger dimensions and styling that mirrors that of larger Kia SUVs, but it will also be available with an efficient hybrid powertrain for the first time. Hyundai does not currently offer a hybrid version of the Kona.Related: I Drove The 2027 Kia Seltos: Here's My Honest First Drive Review Of Kia's Baby Telluride Compact SUVSeltos Vs. Kona: Which One Should You Buy?2027 Kia SeltosKiaDespite being newer, the 2027 Kia Seltos is actually the cheaper vehicle with a base price of $24,990. The 2027 Hyundai Kona starts at $25,500, but if you want more power, the turbocharged Kona ($28,425) is cheaper than the turbocharged Seltos ($32,790). Both crossovers have the same standard 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine with 147 horsepower. All-wheel drive is an option on both models.The upcoming Seltos Hybrid will arrive before the end of the year and we estimate it will get around 40 mpg. It will have a 1.6-liter four-cylinder hybrid engine paired with a six-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. As with the gas models, FWD and AWD will be available. Pricing and further details for this model have not yet been announced, but the fact that the new Seltos is already outselling the Kona before the hybrid arrives is telling.Both vehicles have airy, modern interiors with crisp digital displays and a decent amount of space, so there's not one clear winner in this area.As things stand now, we'd recommend the newer Seltos if you're buying a model with the base engine, but the turbocharged Kona offers more value than the equivalent Kia. If Hyundai hopes to keep up with Kia in this segment, it will need to introduce a Kona hybrid soon, which appears to be in the pipeline.2027 Kia Seltos X-Line SXCole Attisha