Starting at
Starting at
181-250 | Horsepower (hp) | 146-175 |
2,200 | Towing (lbs) | 0 |
8.8 | Ground Clearance (in) | 7.3 |
When it comes to adventure, having the right SUV matters. That’s why it is important to investigate your options. Consider the 2023 Ford Bronco Sport vs 2023 Kia Seltos. Both have some strong selling points, and from spacious cabins to unique exterior styling elements, the Bronco Sport and Seltos make for two attractive options. But is one better than the other overall?
With its immense off-road capabilities, the Bronco Sport is more capable than most other vehicles in its class when it comes to outdoor adventures. The newly available Black Diamond Off-Road Package gives you even more features to enjoy while off-roading. Not quite as big as the full-size Ford Bronco, the Bronco Sport is a little more agile, which is what you should expect from something labeled "Sport." The Bronco Sport is actually based on the Ford Escape, which is equally compact but not as oriented for off-roading.
The Kia Seltos might be in the same segment as the Bronco Sport, but it is not in the same class in terms of performance. Its handling is not quite so agile despite the Seltos being reasonably quick to accelerate when outfitted with its turbocharged engine option. And, yes, you will have to pay more for that turbocharged engine if you want a more enjoyable driving performance.
It’s important to know exactly what you will be getting when you buy a new vehicle. That’s why comparing the 2023 Bronco Sport against the 2023 Seltos is worth taking some time on. Here’s how these two rivals stack up in terms of powertrains and performance, off-roading features and capabilities, exterior styling elements, interior design, technology, and safety.
Let’s start things off by comparing power and performance. The 2023 Bronco Sport receives its power from a standard 1.5L EcoBoost engine with Auto Start-Stop Technology. There is, however, an option to upgrade to a 2.0L EcoBoost engine with higher trim levels. The line-topping Heritage Limited lets you choose between either engine option. No matter which engine you select, it will come paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. Four-wheel drive is also standard since it is best for off-roading. The Badlands and Heritage Limited both feature an Off-Road Suspension specifically tuned for traveling off the beaten path.
The 2.0L engine is particularly strong, and it can zip from 0-60 mph in just 5.9 seconds. With 250 hp and 277 lb-ft of torque on tap, this turbocharged engine can get the Bronco Sport up to speed quickly on the highway so you can merge and pass other vehicles with ease. Of course, this also lends to its excellent off-road capabilities. When you need bursts of power to get through some sort of obstacle, the 2.0L EcoBoost delivers it with ease.
As for the 2023 Kia Seltos, it receives power from a standard 2.0L four-cylinder engine or a 1.6L turbocharged four-cylinder engine on the Nightfall Edition and SX. The 2.0L generates 146 hp and 132 lb-ft of torque, while the 1.6L has 175 hp and 195 lb-ft of torque. Compared to the high-powered engines available on the Bronco Sport, these two options feel a tad underpowered. Most trims on the Seltos come with standard all-wheel drive, but the S trim is front-wheel drive. For on-road performance, this is fine, but off-roading capabilities are more limited on the Seltos.
Off-roading is the Bronco Sport’s forte. No matter which trim level you buy, the 2023 Bronco Sport can handle some off-roading adventures. The Badlands, however, is most optimized for the wilderness. It is fitted with standard 225/65R17 Pirelli All-Terrain Tires. Optionally, you can choose to equip 235/65R17 Falken Wildpeak All-Terrain Off-Road Tires for some serious off-roading. Bash plates and front tow hooks are also standard features on the Badlands trim level.
The Badlands also has the Ford Trail Control system, which acts like cruise control when traveling off the beaten path, adjusting your vehicle’s speed for you as you drive. When you put the Bronco Sport into Mud/Ruts, Rock Crawl, and Sand mode, the available 180-degree camera will use its Split View function to provide more visibility while you are traversing the trail.
The 2023 Kia Seltos is not quite as capable an off-roader as the Bronco Sport. You can get all-wheel drive, which is standard on most trims, but none of the trims are optimized for serious off-roading. There are no off-road or all-terrain tires available, and you do not get the off-road drive modes that come on the Bronco Sport. There are no tow hooks either.
It is hard to mistake the Ford Bronco Sport for any other vehicle––it is just that unique in its exterior styling cues. There is an abundance of helpful features provided by Ford. You get a standard manual liftgate with a flip-up rear glass panel that you can use to load larger items, from your favorite hiking pack to your kayak’s paddle. The high safari-style roof can hold up to 150 lbs of cargo while you drive, and on the Badlands, you get a stylish Shadow Black Roof.
Other features on the vehicle's exterior include signature LED lighting with available LED fog lamps. Up front, "BRONCO" is emblazoned across the grille in black, white, or red lettering, depending on the trim. The Badlands also gains heated side mirrors, and there is an option for roof-rail crossbars. What’s more, the higher trim levels come with privacy glass for the second-row side windows and liftgate.
The Seltos is indeed stylish but might not stand out as much as the Bronco Sport. It is a fairly conventional subcompact SUV design with rounded lines that blend in with the other small SUVs on the road. What’s more, only the SX has standard LED headlights. The other trims get projector beams, which are not as effective at illuminating the road in front of you at night.
Ford makes the 2023 Bronco Sport as stylish inside as it is on the outside. It also comes with a slew of handy creature comforts. Standard on the base trim is a single-zone automatic climate control system, a 4.2-inch instrument cluster, and six cup holders. Higher trim levels get Intelligent Access with Push-Button Start, which lets you keep your keys in your pocket. A 6.5-inch color instrument panel is also standard on higher trims, as is a rubberized cargo floor and rubberized second-row seatbacks. Two more cup holders are added, and there is a MOLLE system to provide you with some extra cargo storage on the front seatbacks.
An auto-dimming rearview mirror, wireless charging pad, and power moonroof are available on the Badlands and are standard on the Heritage Limited. These trims also have an optional heated and leather-wrapped steering wheel. The media bin and cargo area each house a 12V power outlet, and there are dual USB-A and USB-C ports located in the media bin, inside the center console, and on the back of the center console. Behind the center console and in the cargo area are 110V/400W AC power outlets for larger devices.
The 2023 Kia Seltos has a nice interior, but it is not as functional as the Bronco Sport. The rear glass does not lift up like it does on the Bronco Sport, and the standard 3.5-inch instrument display is not that impressive. You can only get a wireless charger on the EX and SX, and only the SX gets an auto-dimming rearview mirror. Overall, the base trim feels sparse, and there are too many features found only on the SX that could at least be made optional on the lower trims.
Ford makes its infotainment technology easy to use and abundant. The standard infotainment system consists of SYNC 3 with Enhanced Voice Recognition Communications and Entertainment System. Every trim comes with an eight-inch touchscreen display, and you can pair your smartphone with the vehicle using Apple CarPlay or Android Auto. When you’re in a jam, 911 Assist is there to help. FordPass Connect aids you in controlling your Bronco Sport from your smartphone using the app.
Kia gives the Seltos a decent list of infotainment features, but it could go further. An eight-inch infotainment system is standard, but it lacks some of the user-friendliness found in Ford's SYNC 3. What’s more, the base model only has a single USB port, and even the top trims max out with two USB ports in the front and one in the rear, forcing backseat passengers to fight over it. There are also no 120V outlets available.
Advanced driver aids and other safety features help keep you and your passengers––and your Bronco Sport––secure no matter what surface you’re driving on. Ford is well known for making its driver aids functional and non-intrusive. With Ford Co-Pilot360 standard on every trim level, you get:
If that is not enough, upgrading to the Big Bend adds options for:
Kia doesn’t necessarily skimp on safety features, but tools like Blind-Spot Collision-Avoidance Assist-Rear and Rear Cross-Traffic Collision-Avoidance Assist are not available on the base trim. Further, despite being an incredibly popular feature, Smart Cruise Control with Stop and Go is only available on the top SX trim.