2021 Kia Seltos Review: Balanced Brilliance
Slotting in-between the pragmatic Kia Telluride and the cutesy Kia Soul, the 2021 Kia Seltos offers Americans a nice balance between performance, versatility, and value in another stylish and subcompact composition. Kia presents the Seltos crossover with two powertrain setups - outputs ranging between 132 and 175 horsepower and 132 and 195 lb-ft of torque. With its capable powertrains, stylish design, commodious and practical cabin, and abundance of contemporary features, the 2021 Seltos is a genuinely appealing offer in the ever-popular classification. Of course, competition is fierce within the crossover SUV market, especially with admired marques such as the Honda HR-V, Ford EcoSport, and Hyundai Kona all garnering a lot of favor. Nevertheless, the first generation of the Seltos crossover bears a distinct and truly attractive aesthetic that sets it apart from the competition, and without any compromise to its other qualities.
2021 Seltos Exterior
Dimensions
| Length | Wheelbase | Height | Max Width | Front Width | Rear Width | Curb Weight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 172.0 in | 103.5 in | 63.6 in | 70.9 in | 62.0 in | 62.4 in | 2,948.0 lbs |
2021 Seltos Performance
2021 Seltos Interior
2021 Seltos Trunk and Cargo Space
Warranty
| Basic | Drivetrain | Corrosion | Roadside Assistance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 Years / 60,000 Miles | 10 Years / 100,000 Miles | 5 Years / 100,000 Miles | 5 Years / 60,000 Miles |
US NHTSA Crash Test Result
| Overall Rating | Frontal Barrier Crash Rating | Side Crash Rating | Rollover Rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4/5 | 4/5 | 5/5 | 4/5 |
Verdict: Is the 2021 Kia Seltos A Good SUV?
In the ever-popular realm of crossover SUVs, the Kia Seltos stands out for its suave, unique, and contemporary design and for all the value it offers at its low entry price of just $21,990. Both powertrains offer a nice balance between power, reliability, and efficiency, and their availability makes the Seltos just a little more configurable than many of its competitors. The Seltos also boasts a premium-feeling, modern, and pragmatic interior that's commodious, featureful, and exceptionally well-built. It actually offers more passenger space and cargo room than many of its top 5-door competitors. All of these distinguished qualities are met by a faultless safety review of the 2021 Kia Seltos by both the NHTSA and the IIHS. This may be the Kia Seltos' first year in the USA, but it's come in with a bang and clearly exhibits its advantages over many of the other cars in its class. It's an exceptional all-round pick within the segment, especially for those looking to get the most bang for their buck.
What Kia Seltos Model Should I Buy?
To get the most value out of the 2021 Kia Seltos crossover's price, we'd suggest going for the mid-spec EX model. That is, of course, if you don't mind settling for the weaker four-pot engine. It otherwise comes outfitted with just about all the same creature comforts, conveniences, and tech as the top-spec SX Turbo. If you just want the best Seltos all-round, the top-spec SX Turbo is certainly the one to go for. It's the only trim in the line that comes standard-fit with the fanciful 10.25-inch infotainment touchscreen that features onboard navigation, SiriusXM radio, and a premium eight-speaker Bose surround-sound system.