Autoblog and Yahoo may earn commission from links in this article.Kia's range of crossovers and SUVs cover most bases, and if you are in the market for a subcompact or compact SUV, the Kia Seltos and Sportage should definitely be on your radar. With the demise of the popular Kia Soul, the Seltos is now the cheapest SUV in the range, but the Sportage is one size up, has more standard kit and not hugely pricier. It can be had with a selection of advanced powertrains, too, but does the added complexity mean it is less reliable overall?We decided to compare the two to find out. To evaluate their long-term reliability, we used historical and predicted durability data from Consumer Reports. They buy every car they test and are not affiliated with any manufacturer. This info is collated from real-world owner feedback for unbiased results.Kia SeltosKiaView the 3 images of this gallery on the original articleAdvertisementAdvertisementBase MSRP: $24,990 (2027 model)Model Years: 2021 – 2026Rivals:Mazda CX-30, Hyundai Kona, Honda HR-VThe first-generation Seltos we are looking at here has been in production since 2021, and while its replacement for 2027 promises to be even more impressive, the current model has proven to be a popular vehicle in Kia's lineup. Part of its appeal is that it offers several features not usually found in subcompact SUVs, like all-wheel drive, practical cargo solutions and enough space to make you question the need for a larger SUV.It is available with either a base 146-hp 2.0-liter engine mated to a CVT transmission, or a much sportier 190-hp turbocharged power unit which comes with a conventional eight-speed automatic. Base spec levels are good, and so is the value proposition on the lower trims, but the top trims can cost over $33,000, which is where you may as well start looking at larger alternatives like the Kia Sportage.Kia SportageKiaView the 3 images of this gallery on the original articleAdvertisementAdvertisementBase MSRP: $28,790 (2026)Model Years: 2023 – onRivals:Toyota RAV4, Honda CR-V, Chevrolet EquinoxThe compact SUV segment is as tough as it gets, with heavy hitters like the Toyota RAV4 and Honda CR-V dominating the sales charts. However, the Kia Sportage is more than just a viable alternative as it offers more kit for less money and has a broad range of powertrains and trims to pick from. The current generation was introduced in 2023 and has just benefitted from a refresh in 2026. While the Seltos is very spacious for its class, the Sportage is bigger in every dimension and offers class-leading rear passenger legroom.Stepping up to the larger Sportage requires roughly a $3,800 price premium over the Seltos in base configuration, and it may well be a better choice for its additional space and the available options like hybrid powertrains and more advanced interior tech. A 187-hp gas engine does duty in the base trim, but a 232-hp traditional hybrid or a 268-hp Plug-in Hybrid (PHEV) are also available. In general, more complexity tends to result in more problems as vehicles age, so we decided to compare the Seltos to its larger Sportage stablemate to see if this was the case here.Seltos vs. Sportage: Reliability DataKiaView the 2 images of this gallery on the original articleModelKia SeltosKia Sportage GasKia Sportage HybridKia Sportage PHEV202135N/AN/AN/A202248N/AN/AN/A202353504635202432 (Facelift)598263202594763674202654 (Predicted)62 (Predicted)51 (Predicted)57 (Predicted)Average52.761.7553.7557.25With a full generation of Seltos reliability data to analyze, it becomes clear that it has been improving year-on-year, aside from a major dip during the facelift model year. However, aside from a very impressive showing for 2025, it has not troubled the segment leaders in terms of overall reliability. A score of 52.7/100 over its six year production run puts it just about average for eh subcompact category and used buyers need to be highly selective about which model year they choose for the least potential ownership issues.AdvertisementAdvertisementThe larger Sportage has also shown a consistent upward trend in reliability since its 2023 introduction, and aside from a particularly poor showing for the hybrid model in 2025, it has performed slightly above average for its class overall. Powertrain choice also has a noticeable effect on overall reliability, with the less complex base gas engine proving to be the least troublesome of the lot.The plug-in hybrid is not that far behind though, and it is certainly a more enjoyable drive thanks to its extra power, as well as the potential for excellent fuel economy. Kia's industry-leading 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty should take care of any powertrain issues on these models, so even the regular hybrid Sportage could be a solid used buy, although we'd give the 2025 model year a miss.Compared to the Seltos, the Sportage has proven to be more reliable overall, with the base Sportage models performing better than the rest. Based on these results, if you are in the market for a family-friendly SUV, the Sportage should prove to be the more reliable option here, even if you decide to go for the more complex, higher-tech hybrid variants.Data Sources:AdvertisementAdvertisementVehicle specifications sourced directly from official manufacturer data.Base MSRP reflects vehicle entry trims and excludes regional taxes, titles, options, and dealer destination charges.Long-term vehicle reliability statistics and owner feedback metrics sourced directly from consumerreports.org.This story was originally published by Autoblog on Jul 18, 2026, where it first appeared in the Features section. Add Autoblog as a Preferred Source by clicking here.