Audi RS Q3 vs Kia Seltos
What's the difference?

Audi RS Q3

$78,880 - $99,990

2023 price

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Kia Seltos

$17,990 - $36,999

2023 price

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Mercedes-Benz GLB-Class

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Summary

2023 Audi RS Q3

2023 Kia Seltos

By James Cleary

By Laura Berry

Safety Rating

Engine Type

Turbo 5, 2.5L

Inline 4, 2.0L

Fuel Type

Premium Unleaded Petrol

Unleaded Petrol

Fuel Efficiency

8.9L/100km (combined)

6.9L/100km (combined)

Seating

Likes

Dynamics
Refinement
Quality

Roomy for a small SUV
1.6-litre turbo engine
New styling

Dislikes

Front seats tricky to get in and out of
Sizeable turning circle
Only six airbags

LED headlights only on top grade
No hybrid version
CVT transmission with the 2.0-litre engine

2023 Audi RS Q3 Summary

Is 10 years long enough for a special birthday celebration? When you're a kid, hitting 'double figures' is a pretty big deal, and Audi's obviously in the mood to make some noise because it has lit the candles on a limited 10th anniversary version of its compact SUV rocket ship, the RS Q3.

Only 555 examples of the 'RS Q3 Sportback edition 10 years' will be produced for worldwide consumption, with Audi Australia capturing a batch of them and sending one our way for a brief blast as the fiery five-cylinder starts filtering into dealerships.

View full pricing & specs

2023 Kia Seltos Summary

Looking for a small SUV that’s not tiny? The Kia Seltos could be that SUV, and it’s been updated for 2023.

This review covers the entire Seltos range and reviews this small SUV based on its safety, practicality, price and features, plus ownership costs, its fuel economy and what it’s like to drive.

So, if you’re thinking about a Honda HR-V, a Toyota Corolla Cross or something even as large as a Hyundai Tucson or Kia Sportage then you need to be thinking about a Kia Seltos, too.

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Deep dive comparison

2023 Audi RS Q3 2023 Kia Seltos

Verdict

The Audi RS Q3 Sportback edition 10 years is dynamically brilliant, beautifully finished and surprisingly civilised on day-to-day duty. A polished compact performance package that even in this special 'get-it-while-you-can' guise offers compelling value relative to its direct competitors.

Verdict

Kia’s updated Seltos is more expensive than the previous version but it's better as well.

The entry grade no longer has hubcaps and gets alloy wheels, all grades have directional air vents in the second row, the jerky dual-clutch auto is gone and an excellent regular eight-speed auto has arrived, plus there’s more safety tech and modern displays screens.

What hasn’t changed is the Seltos’s size. It’s a big, small SUV, that’s easy to park in tight spaces but roomy inside even for tall, awkward humans like me.

The sweet spot in the range is the Sport+ with the 1.6-litre engine, if only it had the LED headlights that only come on the GT-Line.

Note: CarsGuide attended this event as a guest of the manufacturer, with meals provided.

Audi RS Q3 vs Kia Seltos What's the difference?

Summary

Deep dive comparison

Verdict

Verdict

Audi RS Q3 vs Kia Seltos
What's the difference?