2025 Jeep Wrangler vs 2024 Kia Seltos

The 2024 Kia Seltos underwent a mid-cycle refresh, resulting in subtle yet impactful changes. The exterior updates included redesigned headlights and grille, along with a connecting light strip between the smaller taillight assemblies, giving the Seltos a rejuvenated appearance without a significant price hike. The test model showcased the new “Pluton Blue” paint, which added a sharp aesthetic. Inside, the Seltos introduced two new interior colors, “Gentle Brown” and “Midnight Green,” although the test model featured the standard black interior. A prominent change was the large digital panel spanning two-thirds of the dashboard, integrating a fully digital instrument panel and a larger touchscreen infotainment system.

The 2025 Jeep Wrangler Sport S, encountered as a rental in Honolulu, presented a stark contrast with its black-on-black color scheme, which was less than ideal for the tropical climate. Despite this, the Wrangler's appeal lay in its open-air driving experience, with removable overhead panels and a liftglass. The Wrangler was available in various trims, including the powerful Rubicon 392 with a 470-horsepower 6.4-liter Hemi V8 engine. The Sport S model, priced at $49,175, featured a turbocharged four-cylinder engine and a few options like a black hardtop and Convenience Group. The interior, though basic, emphasized functionality over form, with a focus on durability and utility.

The 2024 Kia Seltos offered two engine options. The base engine was a 2.0-liter four-cylinder 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 featured 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. This turbo engine provided noticeable acceleration improvements, especially in 40-to-60 mph scenarios, and handled various road conditions well, with responsive steering and minimal body roll.

The 2025 Jeep Wrangler offered a choice between a 3.6-liter V6 engine with a six-speed manual transmission and a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine with an eight-speed automatic transmission. The latter produced 270 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque, offering better fuel efficiency and performance at higher elevations. During a test drive around O’ahu, the Wrangler averaged 19.2 mpg. Its standard four-wheel drive, high ground clearance, and narrow width made it well-suited for Hawaiian terrain. However, the Wrangler's ride was rough, with slow steering and a three-star rollover resistance rating from the NHTSA, requiring caution on slopes.

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 and good rear legroom, accommodating taller occupants comfortably. The front seating area included decently sized in-door cupholders and cubbies, while the SX trim added a removable cargo cover.

The 2025 Jeep Wrangler posed challenges for entry and exit due to its high ground clearance and narrow door openings. The Sport S trim's cloth upholstery was climate-friendly, and the Convenience Group added heated front seats and a heated steering wheel. While the Wrangler could seat five, four passengers were more comfortable. Rear-seat legroom was adequate, but taller passengers needed to be cautious of plastic hooks on the front seatbacks. Cargo space was reasonable, with a 31.7 cubic-foot cargo hold, expandable to 72.4 cubic feet by folding the back seat, though accessing it required maneuvering the tailgate and rear window.

The 2024 Kia Seltos featured a consistent large digital bezel across trims, with screen sizes varying. The base infotainment system included an 8-inch touchscreen, while higher trims upgraded to a 10.25-inch fully digital instrument panel and touchscreen. Both systems supported Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The Seltos retained tactile controls for volume and climate, and the SX trim offered an eight-speaker Bose premium stereo system and Digital Key 2 Touch for smartphone access.

The 2025 Jeep Wrangler's Uconnect 5 infotainment system was a highlight, featuring a 12.3-inch touchscreen, Bluetooth, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and SiriusXM satellite radio preparation. The Sport S trim included an eight-speaker stereo, with a nine-speaker Alpine system optional. Jeep Connect offered a Wi-Fi hotspot, Adventure Guides, and GPS Trail Logs. The Convenience Group added a 7-inch digital display, passive entry, and remote engine start, while the Active Safety Group provided rear parking sensors.

The 2024 Kia Seltos came with standard driver assistance features, including forward collision avoidance, lane-departure warning, lane-follow assist, automatic high beams, and driver attention warning. The S trim added blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and Safe Exit Warning. The SX trim offered smart cruise control, traffic sign recognition, and highway driving assist, enhancing safety.

The 2025 Jeep Wrangler introduced standard side curtain airbags for front and rear seats. Optional advanced driver assistance systems included blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert, available on most trims. Forward collision warning with automatic braking was exclusive to the Sahara trim. The Wrangler received a four-star frontal-impact rating and a three-star rollover resistance rating from the NHTSA, with a Good rating for side-impact protection from the IIHS.