Subcompact Showdown: We Test and Compare Two Small, Affordable SUVs

The subcompact-SUV segment shoulders a heavy burden in the automotive world. With budget sedan lineups all but decimated, subcompact SUVs now bear the brunt of welcoming entry-level buyers into the world of new cars. They have to be practical enough for young families, exciting enough to get them in the showroom door, and techy enough to keep them engaged, all without breaking the bank.

If they nail their mission, subcompact SUVs can create lifelong customers for a brand. If they fail, they can leave a sour taste in a buyer's mouth that could linger for years. So we gathered well-appointed examples of the Kia Seltos and Subaru Crosstrek to see which will better serve a first-time new-car buyer.

2025 Subaru Crosstrek Premium 2025 Kia Seltos SX Turbo AWD

What We Tested

Between the two, the Seltos offers buyers more powertrain freedom. Kia sells its micro-SUV with two different four-cylinder engines and either front- or all-wheel drive. Base models are equipped with a naturally aspirated 2.0-liter four-cylinder that pumps out a measly 146 horsepower. Our $33,575 SX Turbo test model was fitted with all-wheel drive and the optional turbocharged 1.6-liter that packs a much more potent 190 horsepower. The base engine pairs with a continuously variable automatic transmission, while the turbo models utilize a traditional eight-speed automatic. The window sticker for the model we tested included $190 for carpeted floor mats and $800 for a package that adds a sunroof and a few other goodies, such as ventilated front seats.

The base Crosstrek is equipped with a 152-hp 2.0-liter flat-four engine, while all other trims (including our $31,645 Premium test car) feature a larger 2.5-liter flat-four that churns out 182 horsepower. Both engines mate exclusively to a CVT. And, as is Subaru's custom for all but the BRZ, all-wheel drive is standard fare. Like the Seltos, the Crosstrek has a short options list: ours had all-weather floor mats for $170 and an optional pack that included a power sunroof, heated seats, wipers, and mirrors, along with a power driver's seat and additional driver-safety technology for $2245.

Exterior and Interior

The Kia's corporate sibling, the Hyundai Kona, was given a full makeover for 2024, but the Seltos had to settle for a more modest refresh. Still, the facelift means the Seltos has a fresh and modern look that fits well into your average urban environs.

Kia Seltos

HIGHS: Playful dynamics, practical second row, a cabin filled with character.LOWS: USB-A phone mirroring, overeager pedal tuning, unimpressive fuel economy.

VERDICT: A mixture of pleasure and practicality that justifies its price.

The Crosstrek takes a different angle and looks like it would be a little bit happier covered in mud and heading home from the trailhead—even if it never made it down the trail. Matte-black plastic cladding is prominently displayed from every angle, while a set of roof rails mounted up top announce, "I'm ready to go kayaking whenever you are."

2025 Kia Seltos SX Turbo AWD

Other than a select few models in the segment (we're looking at you, Mazda CX-30), you're not going to find many subcompact SUVs with luxury-adjacent dressings. The price point just doesn't allow for it. But that doesn't mean the cabin should feel like a dungeon. Thankfully, neither the Seltos nor the Crosstrek give off cellar vibes, even if neither will wow you with their material choices. In terms of spaciousness, the Crosstrek has the more hospitable driver's seat, but the Kia wins on a rear seating area that can better accommodate adult passengers.

Of the two, the Kia's interior shows more character. The colorful door panels and crinkled-paper speaker design lend a youthful energy to the cabin that's missing from the Subaru. Our biggest knock against the Kia's cabin stems from its age, as the Seltos requires a USB-A cable for phone mirroring. But any points Subaru gains over the Kia for offering wireless phone mirroring are lost by having a touchscreen so laggy that testing editor Austin Irwin compared the response time to that of a 15-year-old bloodhound.

The Crosstrek's cabin looks like it was designed using a paint catalogue titled "Obsidian and More Obsidian." It's a no-frills affair that blends different hues of black and gray for every surface. Fortunately, the seats are comfortable, and there are great forward sightlines from the driver's seat. Unfortunately, many of the touchpoints feel quite cheap. The steering wheel is the worst offender: managing testing editor David Beard likened the Crosstrek's wheel to his toddler's Power Wheels toy and at one point referred to the Subie's tiller as "marine grade."

How They Drive and Perform

It's behind the wheel where the Seltos really starts to show its strengths. The Kia is eager to launch itself forward, to the point that initial throttle tip-in requires careful application. The Kia's steering and braking are both sharp as a tack, too, and the Seltos stops from 70 mph in nine fewer feet than the Subaru. When the going gets spirited, the Seltos widens its advantage, especially when you switch into Sport mode. That tells the car's brain that it's okay to utilize the whole tachometer instead of constantly short-shifting in the name of better fuel economy.

Subaru Crosstrek

HIGHS: Comfortable ride, solid fuel economy, good visibility.LOWS: Low-rent interior materials, grating engine note, humdrum technology.VERDICT: Inoffensive to the point of being forgettable, but it still gets the job done.

The Subaru's driving demeanor is more relaxed in just about every way. Whatever the conditions, the Crosstrek would rather take things slow and steady. Even with the gas pedal friction-welded to the firewall, the Crosstrek's acceleration is sluggish at best. Its 7.8-second sprint to 60 mph is a whopping seven-tenths behind the Seltos. The Subaru's ride is more relaxed as well, with the Crosstrek doing a slightly better job of absorbing the lunar-surface-inspired pavement surrounding downtown Detroit.

Fuel Economy and Livability

In addition to packing more chill, the Crosstrek also packs more economy. The Subie bested the Kia in our real-world 75-mph highway fuel-economy test. The Seltos put up an impressive 32 mpg, but the Crosstrek walked away with a 36-mpg result over our 200-mile loop.

The script flips when it comes to livability, with the Kia providing a more practical footprint. Both crossovers can fit seven carry-on suitcases behind the second row, but when the rear seats are stowed, the Seltos has a slight advantage, at 22 carry-ons against the Crosstrek's 21.

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Aside from the aforementioned USB-A cable issue, the Seltos shows its age through a lack of noise abatement. While the Seltos proved quieter at idle—our sound-level meter picked up 36 decibels in the Kia against the Subaru's 40—the Subaru proved substantially quieter under wide-open throttle and during a steady 70-mph cruise.

2025 Subaru Crosstrek Premium 2025 Kia Seltos SX Turbo AWD

Which Is Better?

The win goes to the Seltos for this one. While our Kia test model carried a slightly higher as-tested price, it's more about value. The Crosstrek eked out victories in the price and fuel-economy categories, but the Kia justified those drawbacks (and its slightly higher window sticker) just about everywhere else. The Seltos carries more amenities and nicer tech while offering a back seat that's not only more practical than the Crosstrek's, but also more comfortable. And while corner carving isn't the most important factor among subcompact SUV buyers, we believe it does still matter; to that end, the Kia's driving dynamics and overall enjoyment put it well ahead of the Crosstrek. The Subaru has a lot to offer, but it's not the overachiever that the Kia proved itself to be.