Kia Seltos vs Renault Arkana
What's the difference?

Kia Seltos

$17,990 - $36,999

2023 price

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Renault Arkana

$36,990 - $45,990

2026 price

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Mercedes-Benz GLA-Class

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Mitsubishi ASX

Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross

Summary

2023 Kia Seltos

2026 Renault Arkana

By Laura Berry

By Emily Agar

Safety Rating

Engine Type

Inline 4, 2.0L

Turbo 4, 1.3L

Fuel Type

Unleaded Petrol

Fuel Efficiency

6.9L/100km (combined)

5.9L/100km (combined)

Seating

Likes

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

Stylish, distinctive design
Great boot space and practicality
Responsive handling

Dislikes

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

Mild-hybrid gains feel limited
Snug rear seat space
Slow off the mark

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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2026 Renault Arkana Summary

This time around my family of three has been reviewing the updated Renault Arkana Esprit Alpine mild-hybrid, and you might be wondering… why?

In a market that is positively bursting at the seams with established and new competition, including full-hybrid rivals like the Honda HR-V RS and Hyundai Kona Premium, the Arkana has its work cut out for it.

It’s also a slightly unusual proposition, pairing the raised ride height of an SUV with the swooping roofline of a coupe, while sticking with a mild-hybrid powertrain as more and more rivals make the jump to full-hybrid.

So, does this small French SUV coupe still have enough going for it to stand out from the crowd?

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Deep dive comparison

2023 Kia Seltos 2026 Renault Arkana

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.

Verdict

The Renault Arkana Esprit Alpine mild-hybrid combines some serious design flair with a reasonable amount of practicality for a smaller family, but it’s hard to ignore the lack of improvement in efficiency following the addition of the mild-hybrid system. That said, it still succeeds on some fronts. It just does it quietly.

Kia Seltos vs Renault Arkana What's the difference?

Summary

Deep dive comparison

Verdict

Verdict

Kia Seltos vs Renault Arkana
What's the difference?