Compare the2026 Kia SeltosVS 2025 Acura ADX

In a Vehicle-to-Vehicle Frontal Crash Prevention 2.0 test conducted by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), the Kia Seltos achieved a “Acceptable” rating - the second highest possible - for its performance in forward collision warning and automatic braking systems, demonstrating its excellent capabilities in preventing collisions. The Acura ADX has not been tested.

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

Both the Seltos and the ADX have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, front wheel drive, 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, driver alert monitors, 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 ADX’s 4-year/50,000-mile basic warranty expires 1 year or 10,000 miles sooner.

Kia’s powertrain warranty covers the Seltos 4 years and 30,000 miles longer than Acura covers the ADX. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 10 years or 100,000 miles. Coverage on the ADX ends after only 6 years or 70,000 miles.

There are almost 3 times as many Kia dealers as there are Acura dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Seltos’ warranty.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2025 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Kia vehicles are better in initial quality than Acura vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Kia above average in initial quality. With 17 more problems per 100 vehicles, Acura is rated below average.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2025 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Kia vehicles are more reliable than Acura vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Kia above average in long-term dependability. With 6 more problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, Acura is rated below average.

The Seltos SX’s standard 1.6 turbo 4-cylinder produces 16 lbs.-ft. more torque (195 vs. 179) than the ADX’s 1.5 turbo 4-cylinder.

As tested in Motor Trend the Seltos SX 1.6 turbo 4-cylinder is faster than the Acura ADX:

On the EPA test cycle the Seltos gets better mileage than the ADX:

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Kia Seltos uses regular unleaded gasoline. The ADX requires premium for maximum efficiency, which can cost on average about 84.9 cents more per gallon.

The Seltos stops much shorter than the ADX:

The Seltos has standard front and rear gas-charged shocks for better control over choppy roads. The ADX’s suspension doesn’t offer gas-charged shocks.

The Seltos SX handles at .84 G’s, while the ADX A-Spec AWD pulls only .82 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The Seltos S AWD executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver quicker than the ADX A-Spec AWD (26.7 seconds @ .65 average G’s vs. 27.3 seconds @ .63 average G’s).

For better maneuverability, the Seltos’ turning circle is 2.2 feet tighter than the ADX’s (34.8 feet vs. 37 feet).

The Kia Seltos may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 350 to 450 pounds less than the Acura ADX.

The Seltos is 1 foot, 1.2 inches shorter than the ADX, making the Seltos easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The Seltos has 1.6 inches more front headroom, .4 inches more rear headroom, .3 inches more rear legroom and 1.4 inches more rear hip room than the ADX.

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

The Seltos has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the ADX with its rear seat up (26.6 vs. 24.4 cubic feet). The Seltos has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the ADX with its rear seat folded (62.8 vs. 55.1 cubic feet).

The power windows standard on both the Seltos and the ADX 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 ADX prevents the driver from operating the other windows just as it does the other passengers.

Compared to the Acura ADX, the Kia Seltos eliminates the need for separate garage door openers and associated risks of losing, breaking, or having dead batteries with its optional integrated Homelink® universal remote controlled from the rear view mirror.

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