Kia Seltos vs. Honda HR-V vs. Toyota Corolla Cross: Can the Tiny Telluride Reach the Summit?

• What's new: The redesigned Kia Seltos is bigger, more stylish, and very practical for small families.
• Why it matters: On the more affordable end of the new vehicle spectrum, getting more for your money is extra important and one of these SUVs does that much better than the others.
• Edmunds says: Read on to see if the Seltos' improvements are enough to catapult it past a pair of subcompact mainstays.

The Corolla Cross did offer a strong set of standard safety features, including adaptive cruise control that works down to a stop, lane keeping, and Proactive Driving Assist, which helps read the road ahead and gently slows the vehicle if it detects slowing traffic. And with an EPA-estimated 30 combined mpg with all-wheel drive, it had the best fuel economy of the three and the quickest 0-60 mph time in our testing (9.4 seconds).

But you can get even better fuel economy with the hybrid version, which is also better to drive and has an Edmunds Rating of 6.8. That's the one we recommend if a fuel-sipper is at the top of your list of priorities. But you're still going to have to live with that teeny back seat and decidedly cheap-feeling interior. 

2nd place: Honda HR-V

Edmunds Rating: 6.6/10
The good: High-quality interior materials, good handling
The bad: Inefficient use of space, small screen

The HR-V comes in second, with its cabin and driving experience giving it an edge over the Corolla Cross. Much of its dashboard is shared with the Civic, and the metal finish on the knobs and vent covers noticeably class up the interior. Honda pays close attention to the areas passengers interact with most frequently and puts the best stuff there. Even though the HR-V is slower than the Corolla Cross, it has steering and a ride quality that clearly eclipse the Toyota's.

But what keeps the HR-V from stepping up to challenge the Seltos is dimensional. Even though it's about 5 inches longer overall, it has less backseat legroom and cargo room than the Kia. And its screen, topping out at 9 inches, pales in comparison to the other two SUVs' screens. It would be different if the infotainment system were good, but what's in there is just average, and most people will default to using Apple CarPlay or Android Auto. Those interfaces will be much cleaner, but they don't make up for the Honda's lag in tech. 

1st place: Kia Seltos

Edmunds Rating: 7.8/10
The good: Lots of space, great technology and features
The bad: Very slow with the base engine, useless third screen

There's a lot to like about the new Seltos, but much of its appeal is derived from its spaciousness. The dashboard feels like it's been pushed back, making the front feel airy, and there's also more legroom and cargo room than you're going to get from the other SUVs that are here. The rear doors also open to nearly 90 degrees, making it easier to get in and to install car seats. 

The Seltos also comes with a large 12.3-inch touchscreen as standard, the same as the Telluride, and you feel that SUV's influence in the overall look and feel of the cabin. On top of that, the Seltos will also offer features not found on the Corolla Cross or the HR-V, such as a panoramic moonroof, a surround-view camera system, and ventilated front seats.

However, EX and above trims also offer a third screen: a 5.5-inch display between the cluster and the main screen that houses some of the climate functions. This is a setup we have come to despise because it gets blocked by the steering wheel, and pressing most parts of the screen simply opens a climate menu that covers the main screen. Thankfully, there are redundant controls for temperature and fan speed; otherwise, this would really harm the control scheme.

The Seltos' only true flaw is that it's slow — like, really slow. With the base engine, it took 10.6 seconds to get from 0 to 60 mph in our testing. According to our testing, that makes it the slowest car currently on sale. The optional turbocharged engine is much better, but it is only offered on the top trim level, so you'll have to spend a lot more to get it.

With an overall rating of 7.8, the Seltos has jumped to second in our subcompact SUV rankings, just behind the closely related Hyundai Kona. It's worth noting that a hybrid version of the Seltos is coming out later this year, and we wouldn't be surprised if that ends up being the one to get. But until then, the Seltos just offers more bang for your buck and is the best of these three.