It’s no secret that cars in China are cheaper, but in cases like the Kia Seltos, this difference is quite impressive. Although it looks like the same car, the Chinese Seltos costs so little that it seems to belong to a different category.

Launched back in 2019 as the KX3 and renamed the Seltos in 2023, the SUV heads into the 2026 model year with few changes.

The look is practically identical to that in the United States, but the prices are very different: there, it starts at US$ 24,690 (LX) and goes up to US$ 31,190 (SX).

In China, it goes for just ¥109,900 to ¥159,900 — which is between $15,300 and $22,300.

And there’s more: seasonal promotions have already offered the Seltos Luxury for just ￥77,900 (US$10,900), a value that represents less than half the price of the basic version in the US.

That’s about R$59,000.

Recent graduate rates can cut between $280 and $700 more, further reducing the final cost.

Even with a low price, the Chinese version comes well equipped: 17″ alloy wheels, LED headlights, panoramic sunroof, 10.25″ multimedia center, premium leather seats. Things that are not always seen in used SUVs in Brazil.

The car’s dimensions are the same: 4,385 mm long and 2,630 mm wheelbase, the same as the American model.

But under the hood, the difference appears. In China, it offers a 1.5 naturally aspirated engine with 113 hp or a 1.4 turbo with 140 hp, both with IVT transmission and front-wheel drive. In the US, it comes with a 2.0 with 146 hp or a 1.6 turbo with 190 hp, and the option of all-wheel drive.

Importing the Chinese model is not viable: taxes, fees and adaptations eliminate any price advantage. Even if Kia wanted to sell this version globally, the cost would increase significantly before it reached the consumer.

In short, the Chinese Seltos shows how much market differences and regional scale can influence the price of an apparently identical car.