Kia Seltos v Renault Kadjar 2020 Comparison

In a market segment that's evolving rapidly, the Kia Seltos and the Renault Kadjar are two new competitors on a parallel trajectory.

Both cars are typical small SUVs, albeit powered by turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engines displacing less than 2.0 litres. This type of engine might seem more at home in a light sports car, but with the torque available across a broad band of revs it's also increasingly common in urban SUVs like the Seltos and the Kadjar.

Each of these vehicles tested also couples its respective engine with a dual-clutch transmission, combining ease of use with fuel efficiency.

The Kadjar comes to us in the flagship Intens trim level, whereas the Seltos Sport + is one tier below the range-topping GT-Line variant. Yet the two test vehicles were within a few thousand bucks of each other.

Only available in the Australian market since September 2019, the Seltos has already sold around 3000 vehicles. Arriving here two months earlier, the Renault Kadjar has sold less than 200 units up to the end of January, but in terms of value and specification the two vehicles are not as far apart as the respective sales numbers might suggest.

At the beginning of 2020 VFACTS revamped the small SUV segment, reallocating some models to a new segment, light SUVs, and bringing in some models formerly deemed medium SUVs. The Kia Seltos was thus joined in small SUVs by the Renault Kadjar, formerly a medium SUV, despite being based on the same platform as the Nissan QASHQAI. So the industry statistician now regards these two vehicles as direct competitors.

Even before that, however, punters may have been cross-shopping the Kadjar and the Seltos. The Kadjar's wheelbase is just 16mm longer than that of the Seltos, and although the overall length of the Renault is longer again, it's only 79mm more than the Seltos. Both cars are close for power-to-weight ratio and while the Kadjar is significantly more economical to run, the Seltos will settle for cheaper 91 RON fuel, so day to day running costs are not that far apart either.

Each car seats five and offers five-star safety – although the Kadjar's is a 2015 test by EuroNCAP, versus the 2019 result from ANCAP for the Seltos. For value, the two test vehicles amount to a case of swings and roundabouts, which will be explained in greater detail later in this review.

The Kia Seltos and the Renault Kadjar are two vehicles that target the same basic type of buying audience – a young family usually residing in a suburb within a radius of about 20k from a major urban centre.

Either car would suit a family of four or, at a stretch, five, if one of the teenage kids is soon to become independently mobile and the youngest is under 10. In the main, however, these are cars that are likely to be 'secondary' family cars, with a larger vehicle reserved for all five members of the family at weekends. All that hints at parents who are professionals, perhaps aged in their 40s.

With their similar powertrains and packaging (see above), they promise to be economical to run, but a little more engaging than other rivals priced more affordably in the same segment.

Beyond that, the two cars are separated by distinct appeal to left or right-brain thinkers. The Kadjar may appeal more to those attracted by its gallic style and added comfort and convenience features, whereas others will be drawn to the Seltos for its all-wheel drive and seven-year warranty.

Just three variants make up the Renault Kadjar range, with the prices starting from $29,990. All are powered by the same 1.3-litre turbo/dual-clutch transmission combination, with the Kadjar Intens flagship tested priced at $37,990.

The Kia Seltos range comprises four trim levels and two powertrains. A naturally-aspirated 2.0-litre engine is available in addition to the 1.6-litre turbocharged engine of the test vehicle, which is priced at $34,990. The price of admission to the Seltos range is $25,990.

Renault charges $750 for premium paint and offers the Kadjar tested with power-adjustable driver's seat, a premium (BOSE) audio system, leather upholstery, a sunroof and dual-zone climate control – items the Seltos lacks, but at a price $3000 below the Renault's. The Seltos also comes with all-wheel drive and a seven-year warranty to compensate. The premium paint option for the Kia also costs less – $520.

Cost of ownership will be influenced by the Kadjar's frugal fuel economy. Based on a figure of (currently) $1.54 per litre of 95 RON premium unleaded, the Renault costs around $100 less per 10,000km travelled than the Seltos, using 91 RON unleaded at a current cost of $1.40 per litre.

Warranty coverage is seven years/unlimited kilometres for the Seltos and five years/unlimited kilometres for the Kadjar.

Finally, less than $100 separates these two for capped-price servicing over a three-year period. The Seltos will cost owners $1101 in total, versus $1197 for the Kadjar. While Renault's service intervals are a massive 30,000km apart, they're still time-limited to 12 months. In effect that makes no difference unless travelling more than 10,000km a year in the Kia.

These two 'small' SUVs are pretty well packaged. It's not like the family will soon outgrow either car. And while the Kia Seltos has more boot space (433 litres) than the Renault Kadjar (408 litres) with the rear seats occupied, the roles are reversed when the seats are lowered – 1393 litres for the Seltos, 1478 litres for the Kadjar. The Renault's tailgate is light and easy to raise, with a proper handle on the right side to haul it back down again.

The Kadjar comes with more big-ticket comfort and convenience features to justify its price (see 'How much do they cost?', above) and the instrument cluster is fully digital. Its front seats are more aggressively shaped, but with softer cushioning for comfort. There's a false floor in the boot covering additional storage space for smaller items, and the false floor sits flush with the rear seats when folded down. Two finger-pull releases in the boot unlatch the rear seats to accommodate larger payloads.

To drive, the Kadjar offers lighter steering for low-speed manoeuvring and it is quite remarkably economical. In favourable circumstances the Renault was posting fuel economy figures as low as 6.2L/100km. Even in urban driving it could sneak in below 7.0L/100km once the engine was warmed up.

As already mentioned, the Seltos benefits from all-wheel drive and a long warranty. In addition, the general fit and finish inside is of a high standard for a car at this price point. The Seltos is enjoyable to drive, offering good brake pedal feel and direct, well-weighted steering. Ride comfort quite acceptable as well, but there's little to pick between these two vehicles for roadholding and handling.

The Kia's infotainment screen is more modern and easier to use, plus the instrument cluster is simple to read at a glance. Altogether, the driving position is rational, with controls placed where they should be and everything that opens, shuts, turns and toggles operable as it should. There's also plenty of safety equipment – including lane keep assist and a sophisticated AEB system.

Lastly, interior space in the Seltos is more than adequate for rear-seat occupants over 180cm tall, and the spare tyre in the boot of the Seltos is a full-size 17-inch unit with matching alloy wheel.

The steering of the Renault Kadjar is lacking in feedback; it's quite light, but not very direct (a slow ratio) when compared directly against the Seltos, necessitating some wheel twirling at parking speeds. On country roads and even around town at lower speeds, the Kadjar's ride on 19-inch wheels was a little unforgiving, and the small-displacement turbo engine was laggy in Eco mode.

Rear-seat occupants were short-changed for headroom, due to the sunroof fitted. Nor was legroom in the same ballpark as that of the Seltos. Fit and finish weren't in the same league as the Kia Seltos either, and a space-saver spare lay under the boot floor.

The Kia is significantly thirstier across a range of driving conditions, typically about half a litre worse per hundred kilometres. Even in ideal conditions it struggled to get below 7.0L/100km, although it did post a figure of 6.7/100km on one extended journey. In heavier traffic it was up around 8.2L/100km, not helped by the lack of an idle-stop system to kill the engine while waiting at traffic lights.

Front-seat passengers sit on flatter cushions in the Seltos, and the seats not only lack contouring and bolster, but the backrest may be too short for taller types. In the rear, the kids get no adjustable vents and no USB ports. Climate control is limited to just one zone.

These two cars are close enough across a range of testing criteria that we expect readers to be evenly divided on which car rightfully wins this comparison. The Kia Seltos is a serviceable package that provides the majority of buyers with the right mix of pricing and specification.

On the other hand however, the Renault Kadjar comes equipped with some valuable and attractive kit to sweeten the deal, and it's at once stylish, practical and economical.

Yet for safety, comfort, ease of use, general driveability, roominess inside and that long warranty, the Kia Seltos is the natural winner.