Compare the2025 Kia SeltosVS 2025 Dodge Hornet

In the past twenty years hundreds of infants and young children have died after being left in vehicles, usually by accident. When turning the vehicle off, drivers of the Seltos are reminded to check the back seat if they opened the rear door before starting out. The Hornet doesn’t offer a back seat reminder.

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 Dodge Hornet has not been tested.

Both the Seltos and Hornet have 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 Hornet’s Rear Cross Traffic Alert doesn’t automatically brake.

Both the Seltos and the Hornet have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, height adjustable front shoulder belts, plastic fuel tanks, 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 Hornet’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 Dodge covers the Hornet. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 10 years or 100,000 miles. Coverage on the Hornet ends after only 5 years or 60,000 miles.

A reliable vehicle saves its owner time, money and trouble. Nobody wants to be stranded or have to be without a vehicle while it’s being repaired. Consumer Reports rates the Seltos’ reliability 14 points higher than the Hornet.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the Seltos second among small suvs in their 2024 Initial Quality Study. The Hornet 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 Dodge vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Kia fourth in initial quality, above the industry average. With 138 more problems per 100 vehicles, Dodge is ranked 34th, below the industry average.

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 Dodge 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, Dodge is rated lower.

On the EPA test cycle the Seltos gets better mileage than the Hornet running its gasoline engine:

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

The Seltos has 2 gallons more fuel capacity than the Hornet R/T’s standard fuel tank (13.2 vs. 11.2 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the Kia Seltos higher (6 out of 10) than the Dodge Hornet (5 to 6). This means the Seltos produces up to 6.9 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the Hornet every 15,000 miles.

The Seltos has a standard continuously variable transmission (CVT). With no “steps” between gears, it can keep the engine at the most efficient speed for fuel economy, or keep it at its peak horsepower indefinitely for maximum acceleration. The Hornet doesn’t offer a CVT.

The Seltos stops much shorter than the Hornet:

The Seltos’ standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 55 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Hornet GT’s standard 60 series tires.

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 Hornet doesn’t offer variable-assist power steering.

The Seltos S AWD handles at .85 G’s, while the Hornet GT pulls only .78 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The Seltos S AWD executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver quicker than the Hornet GT (26.7 seconds @ .65 average G’s vs. 27.6 seconds @ .62 average G’s).

For better maneuverability, the Seltos’ turning circle is 3.1 feet tighter than the Hornet R/T’s (34.8 feet vs. 37.9 feet). The Seltos’ turning circle is 3.2 feet tighter than the Hornet GT’s (34.8 feet vs. 38 feet).

For greater off-road capability the Seltos has a 1.2 inches greater minimum ground clearance than the Hornet R/T (7.3 vs. 6.1 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 about 800 pounds less than the Dodge Hornet.

The Seltos is 5.4 inches shorter than the Hornet, making the Seltos easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The Seltos has 1.2 inches more front headroom and .2 inches more rear headroom than the Hornet.

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

The front step up height for the Seltos is 1.8 inches lower than the Hornet (18” vs. 19.8”). The Seltos’ rear step up height is 1.9 inches lower than the Hornet’s (17.8” vs. 19.7”).

The Seltos has a larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the Hornet with its rear seat folded (62.8 vs. 54.7 cubic feet).

A low lift-over cargo hatch design makes loading and unloading the Seltos easier. The Seltos’ cargo hatch lift-over height is 29.4 inches, while the Hornet’s liftover is 31.8 inches.

The Seltos’ cargo area is larger than the Hornet’s in every dimension:

To improve rear visibility by keeping the rear window clear, the Seltos has a standard rear fixed intermittent wiper with a full on position. The rear wiper standard on the Hornet only has an intermittent setting, so in a hard rain visibility isn’t as good.

Consumer Reports rated the Seltos’ headlight performance “Very Good,” a higher rating than the Hornet’s headlights, which were rated “Good.”

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

Consumer Reports® recommends the Kia Seltos, based on reliability, safety and performance. The Dodge Hornet isn't recommended.

The Kia Seltos outsold the Dodge Hornet by almost three to one during 2024.