2024 Kia Seltos vs 2025 Subaru Outback

The 2024 Kia Seltos underwent a mid-cycle refresh, resulting in subtle yet impactful changes. The updated headlight and grille designs, along with a connecting light strip between the smaller taillight assemblies, gave the Seltos a rejuvenated appearance without a significant price hike. The test model showcased the new "Pluton Blue" paint, which was particularly striking. Inside, the Seltos introduced two new interior colors, "Gentle Brown" and "Midnight Green," although the test model featured the standard black interior. The most prominent interior update was the expansive digital panel covering two-thirds of the dashboard, integrating a fully digital instrument panel and a larger touchscreen infotainment system.

The 2025 Subaru Outback stood out as one of the few remaining wagons in the U.S., embracing crossover trends with its rugged design elements like chunky wheel-arch flares and a robust roof rack. The test car's Crimson Red Pearl paint complemented its black leather interior, though the Outback was arguably more appealing in earthy tones. Subaru focused on catering to adventurous drivers, a strategy that paid off with the Outback's popularity. The 2025 model saw no major changes, but the Limited trim gained features like a power moonroof and Subaru’s DriverFocus tech. The Touring XT trim offered Nappa leather upholstery and ventilated front seats, enhancing the Outback's appeal.

The 2024 Kia Seltos offered two engine options. The base model featured a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine producing 146 horsepower and 132 pound-feet of torque, paired with Kia’s Intelligent Variable Transmission (IVT). The LX trim came standard with all-wheel drive, while the S and EX trims offered front-wheel drive with optional all-wheel drive. The X-Line and SX trims boasted a turbocharged 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine, delivering 195 horsepower and 195 lb-ft of torque, paired with a new eight-speed automatic transmission and standard all-wheel drive. The turbocharged engine provided noticeable acceleration improvements, especially in 40-to-60 mph scenarios, and handled various road conditions with ease, thanks to its well-weighted steering and responsive turning.

The 2025 Subaru Outback featured Subaru's signature Boxer engine in two forms. The standard 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine produced 182 horsepower and 176 pound-feet of torque, while the XT trims benefited from a turbocharged 2.4-liter engine with 260 horsepower and 277 lb-ft of torque. Both engines ran on regular unleaded gas and were paired with a continuously variable transmission (CVT) and standard all-wheel drive. The turbocharged engine offered smart acceleration, making it a recommended choice for those who could afford the upgrade. The Outback excelled in off-road conditions with 8.7 inches of ground clearance and Subaru’s X-Mode, while the Wilderness model increased ground clearance to 9.5 inches and added a front skid plate for serious adventurers.

The 2024 Kia Seltos provided up to 62.8 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats folded and 26.6 cubic feet with them in use. The SX trim offered a hands-free power liftgate. The Seltos featured an upright seating position with ample headroom, ensuring good driver visibility and rear legroom. The front seating area included decently sized in-door cupholders and cubbies, while the SX trim came with a removable cargo cover.

The 2025 Subaru Outback's wagon shape offered practicality with easy entry and exit, a lower roof height for loading the roof rack, and a low center of gravity for quick direction changes. It provided 32.6 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seat up and 75.6 cubic feet with it folded. The Outback's total passenger volume of 109 cubic feet surpassed its crossover competition, offering more front headroom and legroom. Buyers were advised to test drive different trims, as the driving experience varied significantly between models like the Limited and the Wilderness.

The 2024 Kia Seltos featured a consistent large digital bezel across its trims, with screen sizes varying by trim. The base infotainment system included an 8-inch touchscreen, while higher trims upgraded to a 10.25-inch fully digital instrument panel and touchscreen. The infotainment system was user-friendly, with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto included. The SX trim offered an upgraded eight-speaker Bose premium stereo system and Digital Key 2 Touch for smartphone access.

The 2025 Subaru Outback's technology package included an 11.6-inch touchscreen with large icons, though the Starlink infotainment system was slow to respond, especially at startup. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were included, with wireless connectivity on most trims. The Harman Kardon 12-speaker audio system performed well, though frequent Starlink disturbances limited audio to the rear speakers. The dashboard featured a mix of buttons and knobs, and the 2025 Outback Touring included a CD player and both USB-A and USB-C ports.

The 2024 Kia Seltos came with standard driver assistance features like forward collision avoidance, lane-departure warning, and driver attention warning. The S trim added blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert. The SX trim included smart cruise control, traffic sign recognition, and highway driving assist, enhancing safety.

The 2025 Subaru Outback featured Subaru’s EyeSight driver-assist technology, offering adaptive cruise control, forward collision warning, and lane-keep assist. Onyx and higher trims added blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert. The Outback earned a Top Safety Pick designation from the IIHS and a five-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA.