Ranging from the sporty Soul to the refined Carnival, Kia has seven outstanding crossover models for you to choose from. For the perfect balance of luxury and affordability, you can’t go wrong with the top-rated Telluride.

If you want the legroom and cargo space of an SUV without its bulky frame and gas-guzzling engine, a crossover is a perfect fit for you. And it’s no secret: when it comes to building stylish and low-cost crossovers, Kia is the cream of the crop. So, what’s the best way to guarantee crossover-shopping greatness?

Easy! This guide will cover all the bases: how each Kia performs, which crossover is best, and how you can secure the lowest rates on

car insurance

for your sweet new Kia.

MORE:

How to save on your Kia insurance costs

What crossovers does Kia have?

On top of its nifty list of sedans, Kia offers seven crossovers.

Model	Starting price	Type of crossover	Edmunds.com rating	Car and Driver rating
Soul	$19,290	Compact	7.8/10	8.5/10
Seltos	$22,590	Subcompact	7.6/10	8/10
Niro	$24,690	Subcompact	7.7/10	7.5/10
Sportage	$25,990	Compact	7.2/10	N/A
Sorento	$29,590	Mid-size	8.2/10	8.5/10
Carnival	$32,300	Large	7.9/10	9/10
Telluride	$33,090	Large	8.4/10	10/10

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What’s the difference between crossovers and SUVs?

Put simply, crossovers are based on a car chassis and SUVs are based on a truck chassis. In general, crossovers are a bit smaller and more affordable, and SUVs are more spacious and pricier.

Though Kia sometimes labels its vehicles as “SUVs” for marketing purposes, they’re actually crossovers—they’re all built on the frame of a car!

MORE:

Why you should consider an SUV over a sedan

How powerful are Kia crossovers?

When you think of power, brands like

Porsche

and

BMW

probably come to mind before Kia—but Kia crossovers still have enough strength to get the job done.

Of course, not all Kia crossovers are suited for pulling a heavy payload. If your only concern is getting your kids to school and soccer practice, a Kia Soul or

Kia Niro

is probably perfect for you. If you’re a big fan of family camping trips, you’ll want to opt for a sturdier crossover, like the Carnival or Telluride.

Let’s take a look at how each of Kia’s crossovers stacks up in the strength department:

Model	Horsepower	Torque	Towing capacity
Soul	147 to 201	132 to 195 lb-ft	Up to 1,200 lbs
Seltos	146 to 175	132 to 195 lb-ft	Up to 3,000 lbs
Sportage	181 to 240	175 to 260 lb-ft	Up to 1,650 lbs
Niro	139	195 lb-ft	Up to 850 lbs
Sorento	191 to 281	181 to 311 lb-ft	Up to 3,500 lbs
Carnival	290	262 lb-ft	Up to 3,500 lbs
Telluride	291	262 lb-ft	Up to 5,000 lbs

Keep in mind that most models (like the

Soul

Sportage

, and

Sorento

) offer multiple engine options. As a rule of thumb, bigger engines use more gas—so, if you upgrade your Sorento to the turbocharged, 282-hp four-cylinder, you’ll unlock its 3,500-pound towing strength, but you’ll have to pay a little extra at the pump.

MORE:

How to build a custom Kia Soul

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Are Kia crossovers good on gas?

Kias are well-known for being fuel-efficient, often placing in the top 10 out of all car brands. Fortunately for families, Kia’s crossovers uphold the brand’s reputation:

Model	City	Highway	Combined
Soul	29 mpg	35 mpg	32 mpg
Seltos	29 mpg	35 mpg	32 mpg
Sportage	23 mpg	30 mpg	26 mpg
Niro	53 mpg	48 mpg	50 mpg
Sorento	24 mpg	29 mpg	26 mpg
Carnival	19 mpg	26 mpg	22 mpg
Telluride	20 mpg	26 mpg	23 mpg

Sure, if you go for one of Kia’s larger crossovers, you won’t get the sky-high gas mileage of an all-electric

Tesla

. But, with fuel ratings in the upper 20s and lower 30s, you’ll be able to cruise past plenty of gas stations on the highway—especially if you go for the ultra-efficient Kia Niro! The Niro’s hybrid powertrain makes it a top choice for eco-friendly buyers, and it’s one of the

best low-budget EVs

on the streets today.

If you’re dead-set on a Kia, the Niro, Seltos, or Soul are fantastic options with great gas mileage. If you’re still up in the air, though, check out the

Nissan Kicks

Lexus UX200

—they’re first-rate crossovers when it comes to fuel efficiency.

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How to track gas mileage

Are Kia crossovers safe?

On the whole, Kia crossovers are very safe, earning near-perfect scores from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Kias are made from high tensile steel, which is designed to absorb energy from collisions by using crumple zones.

Along with premium airbags and seatbelts, Kias come equipped with a robust suite of

driver safety technologies

, including:

Forward collision-avoidance assist

Lane departure warning

Vehicle stability management

A tire pressure monitoring system

An emergency stop signal

Here’s the full breakdown of ratings and recalls for Kia’s 2022 crossover lineup:

Model	NHTSA rating	Recalls	IIHS rating
Soul	5 stars	0	Good
Seltos	4 stars	0	Good
Sportage	5 stars	0	Good
Niro	5 stars w/ warning for front-right passenger side	0	Good
Sorento	4 stars	1	Good
Carnival	N/A	2	Good
Telluride	5 stars	1	Good

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14 safe driving tips

Are Kia crossovers reliable?

RepairPal gives Kia a 4.0/5.0 for reliability, ranking it 3rd out of 32 brands—pretty great, no?

On top of that, the average repair cost for a Kia is $474 per year, which is well below average. Naturally, Kia crossovers are slightly more expensive to maintain than Kia sedans. Larger vehicles, like crossovers and SUVs, tend to have more moving parts and pricier repairs—but not by much!

As icing on the cake, J.D. Power ranked Kia as the most dependable automaker in 2022, up from third place in 2021.

Dependability isn’t the only area where Kia leads the industry—they’ve also got the

best car warranty

on the market! Most car brands (for example,

Honda

and

Toyota

) include a 3-year/36,000 mile car warranty and a 5-year/60,000 mile powertrain warranty. Because these warranties are pretty short, some customers opt for an extended car warranty to give them peace of mind in the long run.

With Kia’s incredible built-in warranty, though, you shouldn’t be needing any extra coverage. Kia’s sweet deal comes with:

A 10-year/100,000 mile powertrain warranty

A 5-year/60,000 mile basic warranty

A 5-year/100,000 mile anti-perforation warranty

A 5-year/60,000 mile roadside assistance plan

All in all, low maintenance cost, infrequent repairs, and excellent warranty options make Kia a brand you can count on.

Key Takeaway Kia crossovers are inexpensive to maintain and rarely need repairs, making them some of the most reliable crossovers on the market in 2022.

MORE:

Mechanical breakdown insurance vs. extended warranty

Which Kia crossover is best?

At the end of the day, the best Kia crossover for you depends on things like your family size, budget, and personal preferences. But if we had to pick just one crossover to recommend, we’d have to go with the Kia Telluride.

Stellar entertainment features, plenty of legroom, and a stout towing capacity are just a few of the things that inspired Car and Driver to award the Telluride a glowing 10/10 rating. Best of all, with a starting price of below $35,000, you get most of the luxury you’ll find in a Porsche without the absurdly high price tag.

The Telluride isn’t the only Kia crossover that shines, though:

If you value cost-efficiency, go for the Kia Soul. It’s a nimble and quirky crossover that starts at just $19,290.

If you value fuel efficiency, try out the Kia Niro. With a refined hybrid powertrain, it gets an astonishing 50 miles to the gallon.

If you value luxury, go with the Kia Telluride. Like we said, it’s not just an attractive crossover on the outside—it also has an interior that’s fit for kings and queens.

MORE:

Car Loan for Kia

The best way to save money on Kia insurance

If you’re thinking about bringing home a sweet new Kia crossover, the first thing you’ll want to do is complement it with killer car insurance. That’s exactly why we built

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When it comes to savings, Jerry is the real deal: the average Jerry driver saves $800+ on car insurance!

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FAQs

How many crossovers does Kia have?

Though they’re often marketed as SUVs, Kia actually has seven crossovers in its 2022 lineup.

Are Kia crossovers good?

With excellent reliability, great gas mileage, and enough space for the whole family, Kias are awesome options for anyone who needs an affordable crossover.

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