Kia Seltos vs Toyota Grand Highlander: Specs Compared
Also searched as Toyota Grand Highlander vs Kia Seltos specs — both orientations show this same side-by-side comparison.
The Toyota Grand Highlander is the more efficient of the two: it reaches 36 mpg combined versus 31 mpg for the Kia Seltos, a 5 mpg advantage and costs about $300 less per year to fuel.
Across 5 measured categories, the Toyota Grand Highlander leads in 4. Figures are EPA test data, not manufacturer claims.
2021–2027
Kia Seltos
Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD · 20 configurations
2024–2026
Toyota Grand Highlander
Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD · 22 configurations
Head-to-head specifications
| Metric | Kia Seltos | Toyota Grand Highlander |
|---|---|---|
| Best combined MPG | 31 mpg | 36 mpg ✓ |
| Best city MPG | 29 mpg | 37 mpg ✓ |
| Best highway MPG | 35 mpg ✓ | 34 mpg |
| Lowest annual fuel costEPA estimate at 15,000 miles per year | $2,000 | $1,700 ✓ |
| Lowest CO2 output | 283 g/mi | 246 g/mi ✓ |
| Engines offered | 2.0, SIDI | SIDI & PFI, SIDI & PFI; Hybrid |
| Transmissions | Automatic (AV-S1), Automatic (S8), Automatic (AV-S8) | Automatic (S8), Automatic (S6), Automatic (AV-S6) |
| Drivetrains | All-Wheel Drive, Front-Wheel Drive | All-Wheel Drive, Front-Wheel Drive |
| Fuel types | Regular | Regular |
| EPA class | Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD | Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD |
| Years covered | 2021–2027 | 2024–2026 |
| Configurations on record | 20 | 22 |
Source: EPA fuel economy records via fueleconomy.gov. Best-case values across all recorded configurations for each model.
Kia Seltos vs Toyota Grand Highlander dimensions and size
The Toyota Grand Highlander is 29.1 inches longer than the Kia Seltos on a wheelbase 12.6 inches longer, and 1,278.7 lbs heavier. At over 200 inches, the larger of the two is past the comfortable limit of a standard 192-inch single garage bay once you allow walking room.
| Dimension | Kia Seltos (2026) | Toyota Grand Highlander (2026) | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Length | 172 in | 201.2 in | 29.1 in |
| Width (excl. mirrors) | 70.9 in | 78.3 in | 7.5 in |
| Height | 63.8 in | 70.1 in | 6.3 in |
| Wheelbase | 103.5 in | 116.1 in | 12.6 in |
| Curb weight | 3,186 lbs | 4,464 lbs | 1,279 lbs |
Width excludes mirrors; add 8–12 inches for mirrors out. Figures are for the newest model year on record for each vehicle. See both drawn to scale.
Kia Seltos vs Toyota Grand Highlander: what the numbers mean
Running cost over five years: at the EPA's 15,000-mile-a-year assumption the Toyota Grand Highlander burns about $1,700 of fuel annually against $2,000 for the Kia Seltos. That $300 yearly gap compounds to roughly $1,500 over five years and $2,400 over eight — often more than the price difference between two trims of the same vehicle, and the single largest running-cost line item separating these two.
City versus highway split: the Toyota Grand Highlander is the stronger commuter at 37 mpg city, while the Kia Seltos pulls ahead on the interstate at 35 mpg highway. If most of your driving is stop-and-go traffic the city figure is the one to weigh; for long-distance highway mileage the reverse is true, and the two vehicles effectively swap places depending on how you drive.
Powertrain choice: the Kia Seltos is recorded with 2 distinct engine configurations (2.0, SIDI), the Toyota Grand Highlander with 2 (SIDI & PFI, SIDI & PFI; Hybrid). Across 20 recorded Kia Seltos configurations and 22 for the Toyota Grand Highlander, the wider the engine spread the more the real-world fuel efficiency depends on which version you actually buy, so check the specific model year and drivetrain rather than the headline number.
Drivetrain and class: the Kia Seltos is offered with All-Wheel Drive, Front-Wheel Drive, the Toyota Grand Highlander with All-Wheel Drive, Front-Wheel Drive. All-wheel drive typically costs one to two mpg combined against the same vehicle in front- or rear-wheel drive, which is worth remembering when the gap between these two is small. The EPA classes them as Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD and Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD respectively — the class drives the interior volume, cargo space and passenger space each one is measured against.
Tailpipe emissions: at their cleanest configurations the Toyota Grand Highlander emits 246 g/mile of CO2 versus 283 g/mile for the Kia Seltos. Emissions track fuel consumption almost exactly, so the cleaner vehicle here is also the cheaper one to fuel.
Seltos vs Grand Highlander: common questions
Which is better on gas, the Kia Seltos or the Toyota Grand Highlander?
The Toyota Grand Highlander is the more efficient of the two: it reaches 36 mpg combined versus 31 mpg for the Kia Seltos, a 5 mpg advantage and costs about $300 less per year to fuel.
Which costs less to run per year?
By EPA estimates at 15,000 miles a year, the Toyota Grand Highlander runs about $1,700 a year in fuel at its most efficient configuration, versus about $2,000 for the Kia Seltos — a difference of roughly $300 per year.
What engines do the Seltos and Grand Highlander offer?
Kia Seltos: 2.0, SIDI. Toyota Grand Highlander: SIDI & PFI, SIDI & PFI; Hybrid.
Are they in the same vehicle class?
The EPA classifies the Kia Seltos as Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD and the Toyota Grand Highlander as Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD, so they aren't a like-for-like match on size.
More Seltos comparisons
More Grand Highlander comparisons
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