Compare the2025 Kia SeltosVS 2024 Subaru Impreza

When descending a steep, off-road slope, the Seltos’ standard Downhill Brake Control allows you to creep down safely. The Impreza doesn’t offer Downhill Brake Control.

Both the Seltos and Impreza offer rear cross-traffic warning, but the Seltos S/EX/X-Line/SX has Rear Cross-Traffic Collision-Avoidance Assist (automatically applies the brakes) to better prevent a collision when backing near traffic. The Impreza’s Rear Cross Traffic Alert doesn’t automatically brake.

Both the Seltos and the Impreza have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, height adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, lane departure warning systems, rearview cameras, available all wheel drive, daytime running lights, blind spot warning systems and rear parking sensors.

The Seltos comes with a full 5-year/60,000-mile basic warranty, which covers the entire truck and includes 24-hour roadside assistance. The Impreza’s 3-year/36,000-mile basic warranty expires 2 years or 24,000 miles sooner.

Kia’s powertrain warranty covers the Seltos 5 years and 40,000 miles longer than Subaru covers the Impreza. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 10 years or 100,000 miles. Coverage on the Impreza ends after only 5 years or 60,000 miles.

There are over 23 percent more Kia dealers than there are Subaru dealers, which makes it easier should you ever need service under the Seltos’ warranty.

To reliably power the ignition and other systems and to recharge the battery, the Seltos has a standard 150-amp alternator. The Impreza’s 130-amp alternator isn’t as powerful.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the Seltos second among small suvs in their 2024 Initial Quality Study. The Impreza isn’t in the top three in its category.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2024 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Kia vehicles are better in initial quality than Subaru vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Kia fourth in initial quality, above the industry average. With 20 more problems per 100 vehicles, Subaru is ranked 12th.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2024 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Kia vehicles are more reliable than Subaru vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Kia above average in long-term dependability. With 3 more problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, Subaru is rated below average.

The Seltos X-Line/SX’s standard 1.6 turbo 4-cylinder produces 13 more horsepower (195 vs. 182) and 17 lbs.-ft. more torque (195 vs. 178) than the Impreza RS’ standard 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder.

As tested in Consumer Reports the Kia Seltos 4 cyl. is faster than the Subaru Impreza 2.0 DOHC 4-cylinder:

As tested in Motor Trend the Seltos X-Line/SX 1.6 turbo 4-cylinder is faster than the Impreza RS 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder:

The Seltos stops much shorter than the Impreza:

For better traction, the Seltos has larger standard tires than the Impreza (215/55R17 vs. 205/55R16). The Seltos AWD X-Line/SX’s tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Impreza (235/45R18 vs. 225/40R18).

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Seltos has standard 17-inch wheels. Smaller 16-inch wheels are standard on the Impreza.

The Seltos has a standard space-saver spare tire so you can replace a flat tire and drive to have the flat repaired or replaced. A spare tire isn’t available on the Impreza; it requires you to depend on roadside assistance and your vehicle will have to be towed.

The Seltos has vehicle speed sensitive variable-assist power steering, for low-effort parking, better control at highway speeds and during hard cornering, and a better feel of the road. The Impreza doesn’t offer variable-assist power steering.

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the Seltos is .9 inches wider in the front and 1.1 inches wider in the rear than the track on the Impreza.

The Seltos S AWD handles at .85 G’s, while the Impreza RS pulls only .81 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

For greater off-road capability the Seltos has a 2.2 inches greater minimum ground clearance than the Impreza (7.3 vs. 5.1 inches), allowing the Seltos to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

The Kia Seltos may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs up to about 250 pounds less than the Subaru Impreza.

The Seltos is 3.6 inches shorter than the Impreza, making the Seltos easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The Seltos has .2 inches more front headroom, .4 inches more rear headroom and 1.5 inches more rear legroom than the Impreza.

For enhanced passenger comfort on long trips the Seltos’ rear seats recline. The Impreza’s rear seats don’t recline.

To make loading groceries and cargo easier when your hands are full, the Seltos’ liftgate can be opened just by waiting momentarily behind the back bumper, leaving your hands completely free. The Impreza doesn’t offer a hands-free gesture to open its trunk, forcing you to put cargo down if your hands are full.

The power windows standard on both the Seltos and the Impreza have locks to prevent small children from operating them. When the lock on the Seltos is engaged the driver can still operate all of the windows, for instance to close one opened by a child. The Impreza prevents the driver from operating the rear windows just as it does the other passengers.

The Seltos’ driver power window, power lock and cruise control switches are lit from behind, making them plainly visible and easier to operate at night. The Impreza’s power window switches are unlit, making them difficult to find at night and operate safely.

Optional air-conditioned seats in the Seltos SX keep the driver and front passenger comfortable and take the sting out of hot seats in Summer. The Impreza doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats.

Both the Seltos and the Impreza offer rear vents. For greater rear passenger comfort, the Seltos has standard rear air conditioning vents to keep rear occupants cool in summer or warm in winter. The Impreza doesn’t offer rear air conditioning vents, only heat vents.

The Seltos S/EX/X-Line/SX’s standard GPS navigation system has a real-time traffic update feature that plots alternative routes to automatically bypass traffic problems. (Service not available in all areas.) The Impreza’s available navigation system doesn’t offer real-time traffic updates.

The Seltos is available in both front-wheel drive and four-wheel drive configurations. The Impreza doesn’t offer a two-wheel drive configuration.

Consumer Reports® recommends both the Kia Seltos and the Subaru Impreza, based on reliability, safety and performance.

The Kia Seltos outsold the Subaru Impreza by 73% during 2023.