Used 2021 Kia Seltos

Winner: 2021 Best Buy Award
#1 in Best Small SUVs for 2021

The 2021 Kia Seltos is an all-new subcompact crossover SUV with big aspirations. While it arrives to a segment already bustling with competitors like the Honda HR-V, Subaru Crosstrek and its corporate cousin the Hyundai Kona, the Seltos is wasting no time making its own statement.

Despite its diminutive, city-friendly size, the new Kia Seltos stands out with class-leading cargo room, all the latest tech, and an adventurous attitude. Unlike most of its peers – the Subaru notwithstanding – the Seltos comes with all-wheel drive as standard in all but one trim. That, combined with its respectable ground clearance and locking center differential, give the Seltos the means for light off-roading and a rugged character.

Then there’s the Seltos’ blocky design and spunky spirit. In looks, personality and purpose, the Kia Seltos reminds us of another winner: the Volvo XC40. Unlike that luxury SUV, though, the Kia Seltos’ sub-$22,000 starting price looks like a bargain. Even when equipped with the optional turbo engine, 10.25-inch touchscreen and other goodies, a new Kia Seltos still easily slides in under $28,000.

About the only things missing are active safety features on the base model, a drawback that’s remedied by stepping up one trim.

When we made the analogy of the Seltos to the upmarket XC40, it wasn’t just the design and attitude of the Kia that reminded us of the Volvo. The 2021 Kia Seltos has a similar confidence, ease and nimbleness as that premium SUV. This is most true if you opt for the turbo Seltos model, which uses the same 1.6-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder that’s in its cousin, the Kona turbo.

As with the Hyundai, the turbo Kia Seltos feels quick. Unlike the Kona, however, these Seltos models include all-wheel drive, which means none of the potential torque steer that can come with a front-drive Kona. Furthermore, all-wheel-drive Kia Seltos models benefit from a torque-vectoring system. In plain English, this means the Seltos has excellent grip, whether in the wet or dry.

Seltos turbo models use a 7-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission that works mostly seamlessly. As with other dual-clutch setups, shifts can be a touch rough at lower speeds. If you want unexpected spunk and swiftness, get the Seltos turbo. That said, the standard model with the 2.0-liter engine isn’t a slug. It is perfectly acceptable at moving the little Seltos, and when a little more oomph is needed, switching to sport mode grants a peppier feel. This model uses a continuously variable transmission (Kia calls theirs an IVT, for “Intelligent Variable Transmission”). Thankfully, it’s smart enough to feel like a traditional automatic.

Regardless of engine, the Seltos has a compliant and confident ride. While its size makes it a star in the city, we wouldn’t hesitate to take it on a longer trip.

RELATED: Best Small SUVs for 2021

The Kia Seltos is a 2-row/5-passenger crossover SUV. And unlike many in this segment, it stands out for its interior roominess. We’ve already highlighted its rear-seat legroom, which is similar to that of a full-size sedan.

Up front, the Seltos also impresses. If you haven’t looked inside a Kia lately, you’ll like what you find – and it may just remind you of an Audi. Most models sport a crisp 8-inch touchscreen in the center of the dash, surrounded by easy-to-see and easy-to-use knobs for audio and climate controls. Topline SX models boast an even bigger 10.25-inch display, plus a 7-inch digital instrument cluster.

We found the driver’s seat could use a little more bolstering, but let your body decide. Overall, materials and fit and finish look good, though there is quite a bit of plastic even in SX models. We like the speaker grilles that look like sloped planes. In SX models with the Bose audio system, the housings have the ability to pulsate with light to the beat of music. We’ve mentioned the Seltos’ class-leading cargo space (see Favorite Features).

Here’s another cool aspect: The rear cargo floor can be set at one of two levels. In its standard position, it is flush and makes loading longer items easy with the seat folded. Or, the floor can be lowered to create more space and keep items from rolling around.

We think Kia nailed the Seltos’ design. And yes, it reminds us of another favorite – the Volvo XC40. The Seltos has an upright, blocky, yet clean design. It’s as stylish as it is functional. All those angles are what helps it create that excellent interior space. At 172 inches in length, the Seltos is 8 inches longer than its Hyundai Kona cousin, but still small enough to slot into tight parking spaces and garages.

The Seltos has 7.3 inches of ground clearance. That’s below the 8.7 inches of a Subaru Crosstrek, but enough to provide more confidence in snow and on dirt roads. As is the trend, a contrast color roof is available for added distinction, and roof rails are standard on all but LX models.

CLASS-ABOVE INTERIOR SIZE
The new Kia Seltos may be small, but it has excellent interior space. With the rear seats folded, it boasts a best-in-class 62.8 cubic feet of space – that’s more than the Honda HR-V. Moreover, the Seltos has excellent rear-seat legroom. At 38 inches, it’s like that of a full-size sedan.

LOCKING CENTER DIFFERENTIAL
Most Seltos models come with all-wheel drive (AWD) as standard, great for dealing with slick and slippery roads. Also on AWD models is a button to lock the center differential. When engaged, it splits torque between the front and rear wheels, good for very slippery or more rugged terrain.

The Kia Seltos comes in five trims – LX, S, EX, S Turbo, and SX Turbo — but its model structure is different than most other cars. Both the LX and S start at the same price, but they have key differences. The LX includes all-wheel drive, while a base S model is the only Seltos without all-wheel drive (it’s optional on that model). The Seltos LX also comes with an 8-inch touchscreen, Apple CarPlay/Android Auto integration, 17-inch alloy wheels, and keyless entry.

The bigger difference between the LX and S is safety equipment, and it’s the reason we recommend skipping the LX and getting at least a Seltos S trim or above. Beginning with the S trim, you get key active safety features like forward-collision warning with automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning and lane-keep assist, and a driver-attention monitor. The S also adds roof rails, LED daytime running lights and LED taillights, a fore/aft sliding center console armrest, and leather-wrapped steering wheel and gearshift knob. All new Kia models come with a terrific warranty that includes 10 years/100,000 miles for the powertrain.

Stepping up to the Kia Seltos EX adds blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert, sunroof, Sofino synthetic leather seat trim, 10-way power driver’s seat, push-button start and remote start, a wireless phone charger, heated front seats, and automatic climate control with rear air ducts.

As its name states, the Kia Seltos S Turbo grants the more powerful turbo engine, plus 18-inch wheels. The topline Kia Seltos Turbo SX has several model-exclusive features, including a 10.25-inch touchscreen with navigation, 8-speaker Bose audio with satellite radio, adaptive cruise control with stop and go, LED headlights and fog lights, electronic parking brake, auto-dimming rearview mirror, and Kia’s Highway Driving Assist feature, which enables the Seltos to automatically adjust its speed not just to the vehicle ahead, but to changing limits when cruise control is engaged.

As for options, most are bundled into trims, but remote start can be added to models where it’s not standard. The S trim, the only front-wheel-drive Seltos, can be had with all-wheel drive as an option. The distinctive 2-tone roof is available on S, S Turbo and SX Turbo models.

Two 4-cylinder engines are available in the new Kia Seltos compact SUV. The standard engine is a 2.0-liter naturally aspirated (non-turbo) that makes 146 horsepower. It is adequate for most needs. This engine is tied to a continuously variable automatic transmission that works well and mimics shift points like a traditional automatic. This engine is standard in LX, S, and EX models.

Note that the S model is the only Seltos available in front-wheel drive (FWD); all other models come with all-wheel drive (AWD) standard. Here’s a bonus, and another reason to get an AWD Seltos – those models feature an independent rear suspension instead of a torsion beam, which means better ride and handling.

The other engine, the turbocharged 1.6-liter, comes in the S Turbo and SX Turbo models. It’s a spunky little engine, and makes the Seltos feel swift. It is connected to a 7-speed dual-clutch automatic. All models run just fine on regular 87-octane unleaded gasoline. All models use an engine start/stop system that cuts engine power at idle to save fuel. The system can be disabled with the press of a button to the left of the steering wheel. The Kia Seltos is not rated to tow.

2.0-liter inline-4
146 horsepower @ 6,200 rpm
132 lb-ft of torque @ 4,500 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 29/34 mpg (FWD), 27/31 mpg (AWD)

1.6-liter turbocharged inline-4
175 horsepower @ 6,000 rpm
195 lb-ft of torque @ 1,500-4,500 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 25/30 mpg