Three of the most shopped small SUVs in Australia now take three different routes. The Mazda CX-30 sticks with petrol engines and a premium cabin. The Toyota Corolla Cross is hybrid across the range. And the Kia Seltos has just gone hybrid only, in an all-new generation. On 6 November 2026 we read the prices, specifications and safety ratings for all three from Mazda, Toyota, Kia and ANCAP directly. Here is how they stack up, and who each one suits.
The short answer
- Cheapest way in: Mazda CX-30 Pure at $33,990 drive-away.
- Lowest fuel use: Toyota Corolla Cross hybrid, 4.2L/100km for the GX 2WD.
- Biggest boot and longest warranty: Kia Seltos Hybrid, 483 litres (VDA) and seven years.
- Best current safety rating: Corolla Cross, the only one of the three with an in-date five-star ANCAP rating.
Price: what each one costs
Prices are not quoted on the same basis by all three makers, so here is exactly what each figure is.
- Mazda CX-30: Mazda's own site lists the CX-30 Pure from $33,990 drive-away. That covers 12 months of registration and CTP, stamp duty and dealer delivery, excludes premium paint, and applies only to the Pure without the optional Vision Technology pack.
- Kia Seltos Hybrid: Kia's offers page lists drive-away estimates valid in November 2026 for private buyers: S $39,990, S with Safety Pack $42,490, Sport $43,990, Sport+ $46,990, GT-Line FWD $52,990 and GT-Line e-AWD $55,490.
- Toyota Corolla Cross: Toyota's pricing release for the upgraded model lists recommended prices before on-road costs of $37,440 (GX 2WD), $41,190 (GXL 2WD), $44,190 (GXL AWD), $47,990 (Atmos 2WD) and $50,990 (Atmos AWD and GR Sport AWD). Toyota does not publish a national drive-away price. For a real-world figure, a Melbourne Toyota dealer was advertising a GX 2WD in stock at $42,159 drive-away on 6 November.
So at the entry point the CX-30 is about $6,000 cheaper than the Seltos S, and the Corolla Cross GX lands a little above the Seltos S once on-road costs are added. Drive-away prices vary by state, so confirm yours on each maker's build tool.
1. Mazda CX-30: the premium feel for the least money
The CX-30 is the only one of the three without a hybrid. Mazda's October 2026 brochure lists a 2.0-litre petrol with 114kW and 200Nm in the Pure, Evolve, Touring and G20 Astina, rated at 6.3L/100km combined. The Evolve SP, GT, GT SP and G25 Astina get a 2.5-litre with 139kW and 252Nm (6.6L/100km). All use a six-speed automatic, and AWD is offered only on the G25 Astina (6.8L/100km).
Even the Pure gets a head-up display, a 10.25-inch screen, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, satellite navigation, adaptive cruise and blind spot monitoring. The 360-degree camera and front cross traffic braking come in the optional Vision Technology pack on the lower grades.
The trade-offs are space and safety paperwork. The boot is 317 litres (VDA), the smallest here. And the CX-30's five-star ANCAP rating, from 2019, expired in December 2025, so the current car carries no in-date ANCAP rating. Its braked towing capacity of 1,200kg is the best of the three.
Who it suits: singles and couples who want the nicest cabin and the sharpest drive for the money, and do not need a big boot. See our CX-30 2026 update story and our earlier CX-30 review.
2. Toyota Corolla Cross: the frugal, safe default
Every Corolla Cross is a 2.0-litre hybrid with a CVT, and Toyota quotes 146kW of system power, the most of the three. Toyota rates the GX 2WD at 4.2L/100km combined, the lowest fuel figure in this comparison. AWD is available on the GXL, Atmos and GR Sport.
Toyota quotes up to 425 litres of boot space for the GX and GXL 2WD, with cargo room varying by grade. It is also the longest car here at 4,460mm. Braked towing is the weak spot at 750kg for the GX 2WD, so this is not the pick for a box trailer and a jet ski.
On safety, the Corolla Cross holds a five-star ANCAP rating from 2022 that runs to December 2028. Note that ANCAP says the rating covers all variants except the GR Sport, which is unrated. Ownership is a strength too: a five-year warranty with an extra two years on engine and driveline when serviced on schedule, up to 10 years on the hybrid battery, and capped price servicing for up to five years or 75,000km.
Who it suits: buyers who drive a lot, want the lowest running costs and the strongest safety paperwork, and value Toyota's resale and dealer network. Our earlier Corolla Cross review covers how it drives.
3. Kia Seltos Hybrid: the roomiest, with the longest warranty
The all-new Seltos is now hybrid only. Kia's specification sheet lists a 1.6-litre petrol hybrid with a six-speed dual-clutch gearbox and a combined 112kW and 265Nm in front-drive form. The GT-Line e-AWD adds a rear electric motor for 126kW. Kia rates the S at 5.1L/100km combined, rising to 5.3L/100km for the Sport and Sport+, 5.4L/100km for the GT-Line FWD and 5.8L/100km for the GT-Line AWD.
Space is the Seltos party trick. Kia quotes 483 litres (VDA) with the rear seats up and 1,441 litres with them folded, plus reclining rear seats. Every grade gets the dual 12.3-inch panoramic display, wireless smartphone mirroring, dual-zone climate, blind spot collision avoidance and rear cross traffic collision avoidance. The S with Safety Pack adds a 360-degree camera and remote parking assist for $2,500 more. Braked towing is 910kg (FWD) or 810kg (AWD).
Kia backs it with a seven-year unlimited km warranty, the longest here. On safety, the previous Seltos rating expired in December 2025 and we could not find an ANCAP rating for the new hybrid on ancap.com.au when we checked on 6 November. Check its status before you buy. Our news stories cover the Seltos hybrid launch pricing and the November offer.
Who it suits: young families who need the boot and rear-seat room of a bigger SUV, want the longest warranty, and like the most tech for the money.
Side by side
Engine: CX-30 2.0 petrol 114kW/200Nm (or 2.5 petrol 139kW/252Nm). Corolla Cross 2.0 hybrid, 146kW. Seltos 1.6 hybrid, 112kW/265Nm (126kW AWD).
Official fuel use (entry grade): CX-30 6.3L/100km. Corolla Cross 4.2L/100km. Seltos 5.1L/100km.
Boot, seats up: CX-30 317L (VDA). Corolla Cross up to 425L (2WD GX and GXL). Seltos 483L (VDA). Toyota does not state its measurement method, so treat that gap as indicative.
Length: CX-30 4,395mm. Corolla Cross 4,460mm. Seltos 4,430mm.
Braked towing: CX-30 1,200kg. Corolla Cross 750kg (GX 2WD). Seltos 910kg (FWD).
ANCAP: CX-30 expired (2019 rating, expired Dec 2025). Corolla Cross five stars (2022, to Dec 2028, GR Sport unrated). Seltos Hybrid not yet rated when checked.
How to choose
Start with how far you drive. The more kilometres you cover, the more the Corolla Cross and Seltos hybrids claw back their higher entry price at the bowser; our real-world fuel guide explains how label figures translate on the road. If you mostly drive short city trips and want the lowest upfront cost, the CX-30 Pure is the cheapest ticket in.
Then think about what goes in the back. Prams, sporting gear and dogs favour the Seltos. Two people and weekend bags are fine in the CX-30. And if safety ratings sit high on your list, the Corolla Cross is the only one with an in-date ANCAP score right now.
Want more options? See our best small SUVs, the cheapest hybrid SUVs and hybrid vs electric guides, or step up a size with RAV4 vs X-Trail vs Sportage.
The CarTell verdict
For most buyers, the Toyota Corolla Cross is the safe all-rounder: the lowest fuel use, the most power and the only current five-star ANCAP rating. The Kia Seltos Hybrid is the better family car on space, tech and warranty, and is our pick if the new model earns a strong ANCAP score. The Mazda CX-30 is the one to choose with your heart and your wallet: the cheapest to buy, the nicest inside, but the thirstiest and the smallest boot. Prices and specifications were read from Mazda, Kia, Toyota and ANCAP on 6 November 2026, and offers change often, so check your postcode before you sign.
