2020 Kia Seltos 2.0 Sx Vs 2020 Mazda Cx-30 2.0 Pro
Subcompact crossovers are all the rage these days, together with remarkably, it’s a segment that seems to notice never ending niches. One of the virtually visible signs of this partitioning at piece of work is through price—with subcompact crossovers costing anywhere from less than a 1000000 pesos to several 1000000 pesos. But what happens when segments meet—like the nuptials inwards a Venn diagram? Things are outpouring to larn interesting.
When Kia introduced the Seltos locally, they sought to compete inwards both low- together with high-end segments using just 1 basic vehicle. It’s an interesting approach to say the least, together with 1 that puts their novel subcompact crossover somewhere betwixt the deluge of Chinese brands (for the lower variants), together with plusher offerings (for the highest variant), similar this one, the Mazda CX-30. In Mazda’s case, they’ve opted to forego going affordable, together with instead, opted to laid their sights on the higher-end market. Their opposing marketplace strategy is why the top-trim P 1.505-million Kia Seltos 2.0 SX tin genuinely become against the P 1.490-million Mazda CX-30 Pro. The query is, which subcompact crossover ends upwards on top.
Exterior
To live fair, both of these crossovers are slow on the eye. Representative of their respective brand’s newest blueprint language, they fit correct into whatsoever chic or cosmopolitan setting. In short, yous won’t live embarrassed if people reckon yous alighting from either 1 at the province club. What is unique though is how Kia together with Mazda approached their design.
On 1 hand, there’s this Starbright Yellow Kia Seltos—bold, brash, together with perchance for the older set, on the verge of existence over styled. Peter Schreyer together with his squad worked to give it a younger, K-pop generation persona, together with this is straight off seen inwards the two-tone roof, LED lights that achieve the forepart grille, together with roof rails which aspect to a greater extent than ornamental than functional. It’s plumbing fixtures for the Black Pink generation—and this is clearly 1 lady that doesn’t become out of the theater without looking all glammed up.
On the other, there’s the Mazda CX-30. Compared to the Seltos, this one’s to a greater extent than for Ginza high fashion than Gangnam Street fashion. It’s refined, elegant, together with fifty-fifty inwards its iconic novel shade, Polymetal Gray, quite understated. Surprisingly though, it turns heads equally much equally the Kia. If the Seltos were Black Pink, the CX-30 would live Catriona Gray during No Make Up Monday. And piece its inner beauty radiates, Mazda’s conclusion to spot inwards bulb-type DRLs when the balance of the lighting packet is composed of LEDs, is odd.
Winner: TIE
Interior
While outside aspect is downward to personal preference—do yous prefer your women glammed upwards or dressed down—when it comes to the interior, there’s no doubting that the CX-30 takes the commanding Pb here. Kia mightiness receive got done good to add together to a greater extent than or less graphic symbol to the Seltos’s cabin, but it’s allow downward past times its hard, scratchy plastics. Moreover, the sheer amount of blank clit covers is a constant reminder that fifty-fifty inwards this 2.0 SX spec, lots of features didn’t arrive locally. Meanwhile, designed to compete amongst to a greater extent than premium marketplace choices, the CX-30, fifty-fifty inwards this basic Pro bring down outshines the Kia. It loses all the tasty chrome together with high-gloss bits; but poke around, together with all that soft-touch goodness is soundless around. Even the steering wheel, finished inwards urethane, together with the seats, covered inwards cloth are all well-made. Bonus points likewise for the refreshing two-tone dark together with bluish handling together with the bring upwards centre armrest which isn’t nowadays inwards the Seltos.
Winner: Mazda CX-30
Space together with Practicality
As tall-riding hatchbacks become (that’s what crossovers are basically), these ii are expected to give a sure enough degree of utility to their owner. With that inwards mind, the Seltos turns the tables on the CX-30. It’s far together with away the roomier of two, peculiarly when it comes to the backseats. The lower belt work likewise arrive experience less claustrophobic piece improving visibility at the three-quarters rear. Oh, together with the fact that the bring upwards seats offering adjustable inclination makes the Seltos much to a greater extent than apt for theater unit of measurement use. Now, if they would solely redesign the bring upwards speaker grilles equally non to chafe the knee, that would arrive perfect.
Conversely, the CX-30 is decided to a greater extent than personal. Upfront, there’s absolutely no problem. The dashboard gives off a snug, cockpit-like experience for the driver (which is e'er good), but at there’s a severe lack of knee articulation room at the dorsum (which is e'er bad). Moreover, amongst the bring upwards seats up, the cargo infinite measures at 317 liters—smaller than fifty-fifty the Mazda3 (the Seltos stands at 433 liters). This brings upwards a oft used adage when it comes to Mazdas: where did all that wheelbase go? Nonetheless, the CX-30, at to the lowest degree has a cargo embrace which the Seltos doesn’t have. Oh, together with it wins likewise when it comes to ergonomics together with driver comfort.
Winner: Kia Seltos
The mechanical ingredients of the Seltos together with the CX-30 are remarkably the same: a normally-aspirated 2.0-liter motor mated to an automatic transmission driving the forepart wheels. They differ greatly though inwards their execution.
The target, for Kia, it seems is the middle ground—people who’re genuinely unsure of whether they desire performance or economy. As a result, it’s a crossover that does a fight of both. With 149-horsepower together with 179 Nm of torque at its disposal, its 2.0-liter reads equally underpowered on paper. Still, it makes the virtually out of it amongst its play a joke on IVT transmission. Basically, a CVT amongst a built-in shift logic, it makes the Seltos experience responsive live it metropolis or highway speeds. Moreover, it’s quite economical at ix km/L at xv km/h, together with 14.28 km/L at 36 km/h.
By comparison, the CX-30 goes direct for the enthusiastic set. While the CX-30 is already non bad to drive, thank yous to the Pro’s smaller wheels, there’s less rotating majority for the 155-horsepower, 200 Nm of torque engine to overcome. In short, amid the 3 available variants, this past times far, is the virtually agile one. Steering is great, but believe it or not, the Mazda doesn’t experience equally quick on its feet at depression or moderate speeds. The ride’s decidedly firmer too. Moreover, the Kia’s perceived floatiness isn’t such a bad thing, specially to the “regular” crossover. At speed, the tables are turned, together with the CX-30 comes alive. Not solely is it to a greater extent than obedient, but it’s the 1 that turns whatsoever grimace into a smile. Plus, on the highway, it’s agency quieter than the Seltos. As fun equally it is though, its vaunted Skyactiv-G engine simply matches Seltos’s fuel economic scheme inwards the city, registering the same ix km/L (average xv km/h); it does, however, perform ameliorate at higher speeds: 15.87 km/L (average 36 km/h).
Winner: TIE
Value for Money
This is genuinely the virtually interesting part. With just a P 15,000 cost gap, favoring the CX-30, it’s quite amazing to reckon how the top-trim Selos 2.0 SX somewhat matches the base of operations CX-30 Pro inwards major features. Drivetrain aside, both receive got LED headlights, smart keyless entry amongst push-button start/stop, automatic headlights, together with a fairly advanced infotainment organisation amongst Apple CarPlay together with Android Auto. Both also offering the same degree of security equipment—6 SRS airbags, ABS amongst EBD, stability control, together with a bring upwards backup camera. The Seltos lodges a punch amongst LED DRLs, larger wheels, leather steering wheel, part-leatherette seats, lit-vanity mirrors, cruise control, together with automatic climate control. Meanwhile, the CX-30 counterpunches (albeit non equally convincingly) amongst rain-sensing wipers, an electronic parking brake amongst auto hold, a bring upwards centre armrest, together with a bring upwards cargo cover. Overall, it’s a win-some-lose-some scenario. The CX-30’s superior fit together with complete aside, if everything were based on spec, the Seltos ekes out a win.
Winner: Kia Seltos
Verdict
With the continued sub-segmentation of the sub-compact crossover segment, inwards the end, it’s the buyer that ends upwards spoilt for choices. You can’t become incorrect amongst either the Kia Seltos or the Mazda CX-30—both are worthy of your consideration, together with both offering their ain respective strengths inwards an increasingly crowded field. The Seltos is for those who’re hear over heart. It’s the to a greater extent than practical of the two, amongst slightly ameliorate fuel economy, larger interior room, together with a nudge ameliorate equipment level. On the other hand, the CX-30 is for those who’re seeking an emotional, rather than rational choice. It’s non just the virtually practical inwards terms of interior room or cargo size, but it makes upwards for it amongst its stellar on-road graphic symbol together with unparalleled refinement.
After all’s said together with done though, it’s the Seltos that wins here. As an enthusiast, it’s slow to pick the CX-30 non just because it looks beautifully elegant, but because it’s also well-crafted equally well. However, it’s the Seltos that appeals to larger demographic—those who desire practically just equally much equally style; comfort just equally much equally sportiness. Mazda spot upwards a practiced cope there, together with the results would receive got been dissimilar if they just added a fight to a greater extent than inwards terms of equipment level. As it stands though, because it successfully treads the middle set down well, it’s the Kia that wins here.
Winner: Kia Seltos
2020 Kia Seltos 2.0 SX vs 2020 Mazda CX-30 Pro | ||
| Ownership | 2020 Kia Seltos 2.0 SX | 2020 Mazda CX-30 Pro |
| Year Introduced | 2019 | 2019 |
| Vehicle Classification | Sub-compact Crossover | Sub-compact Crossover |
| The Basics | ||
| Body Type | 5-door SUV | 5-door SUV |
| Seating | 5 | 5 |
| Engine / Drive | F/F | F/F |
| Under the Hood | ||
| Displacement (liters) | 2.0 | 2.0 |
| Aspiration | Normally Aspirated | Normally Aspirated |
| Fuel Delivery | EFI | Direct Injection |
| Layout / # of Cylinders | I4 | I4 |
| BHP @ rpm | 149 @ 6,200 | 155 @ 6,000 |
| Nm @ rpm | 179 @ 4,500 | 200 @ 4,000 |
| Fuel / Min. Octane | Gasoline / 91 | Gasoline / 91 |
| Transmission | CVT | 6AT |
| Cruise Control | Yes | No |
| Fuel Economy @ Ave. Speed | 9 km/L @ xv km/h, 14.28 km/L @ 36 km/h | 9 km/L @ xv km/h, 15.87 km/L @ 36 km/h |
| Dimensions together with Weights | ||
| Length (mm) | 4,370 | 4,395 |
| Width (mm) | 1,800 | 1,795 |
| Height (mm) | 1,615 | 1,540 |
| Wheelbase (mm) | 2,630 | 2,655 |
| Curb Weight (kg) | 1,295 | 1,380 |
| Suspension together with Tires | ||
| Front Suspension | Independent, MacPherson Strut | Independent, MacPherson Strut |
| Rear Suspension | Torsion Beam Axle | Torsion Beam Axle |
| Front Brakes | Vented Disc | Vented Disc |
| Rear Brakes | Disc | Disc |
| Tires | Kumho Ecsta HS51 215/55 R 17 V (f & r) | Yokohama BluEarth-GT AE51 215/65 R xvi H (f & r) |
| Wheels | Alloy | Alloy |
| Safety Features | ||
| Airbags | 6 | 6 |
| Anti-Lock Brakes (ABS) | Yes | Yes |
| Traction / Stability Control | Yes | Yes |
| Front Seatbelt | 3-pt ELR amongst pre-tensioner x 2 | 3-pt ELR amongst pre-tensioner x 2 |
| Rear Seatbelt | 3-pt ELR x 3 | 3-pt ELR x 3 |
| Traction / Stability Control | Yes | Yes |
| ISOFIX Child Seat Anchor | Yes | Yes |
| Parking Sensors | Rear, amongst Camera | No, amongst Rear Camera |
| Other Safety Features | Hill Start Assist Hill Descent Control | Hill Start Assist |
| Exterior Features | ||
| Headlights | LED | LED |
| Fog Lamps | Yes, LED | Yes, Headlamp Integrated |
| Auto Lights | Yes | Yes |
| Rain-sensing Wipers | No | Yes |
| Interior Features | ||
| Steering Wheel Adjust | Tilt/Telescopic | Tilt/Telescopic |
| Steering Wheel Material | Leather | Urethane |
| Seating Adjustment (driver) | 6-way, Manual | 6-way, Manual |
| Seating Adjustment (front passenger) | 4-way, Manual | 4-way, Manual |
| Seating Surface | Fabric/Leatherette | Fabric |
| Folding Rear Seat | Yes, 60/40 | Yes, 60/40 |
| On-Board Computer | Yes | Yes |
| Convenience Features | ||
| Power Steering | Yes | Yes |
| Power Door Locks | Yes | Yes |
| Power Windows | Yes | Yes |
| Power Mirrors | Yes | Yes, amongst Fold |
| Climate Control | Auto | Manual |
| Proximity Key | Yes | Yes |
| Audio System | Stereo USB Bluetooth Apple CarPlay Android Auto | Stereo USB Bluetooth Apple CarPlay Android Auto |
| # of Speakers | 6 | 8 |
| Steering Controls | Yes | Yes |