Published On Jul 2, 2020
Will the 2021 Seltos extend Kia's impressive winning streak? From the Stinger to the Telluride, the Korean automaker seems incapable of missing the mark. With a new subcompact SUV, it'll try to bring its hot streak to the masses.
Shop for the new 2021 Kia Seltos on CarGurus: https://cargur.us/BpPgR
The Seltos is an affordable crossover, and that means it’s gonna have lots of plastic in the interior. Luckily, Kia’s done it right. Little details make a big difference, like the strip of leather that runs below the touchscreen, and the softly-padded arm rests and thick steering wheel.
Our Seltos SX Turbo test car employs a 1.6-liter 4-cylinder good for 175 horsepower and 195 pound-feet of torque. The car's steering is direct, but the Seltos exhibits more body roll than we’d like.
Regardless of trim, the Seltos has a nice big greenhouse. Big windows, lots of light and visibility. But it does get hot, and the single-zone climate control hasn’t really up to the job of keeping things cool.
The UVO infotainment system's default home display features three large tiles: one for navigation, one for audio, one for the weather. It offers very fast swipe and icon response, and it’s easy to understand with a beautiful mix of on-screen interactions and physical buttons and knobs.
The Seltos may compete with cars like the Nissan Kicks and Toyota CH-R on paper, but all-wheel drive will likely put it ahead of those front-wheel-drive cars for a lot of shoppers. That means the field is likely comprised of the Subaru Crosstrek, Jeep Renegade, the new Mazda CX-30 and Chevy Trailblazer, and the Hyundai Kona, which shares much of its platform with the Seltos.
For more information on the Kia Seltos, head to CarGurus: https://cargur.us/BpPgj
Presenter: Matt Smith
Cinematography: Elliot Haney
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Crossovers & SUVs • Crossovers and SUVs
0:00 Introducing the 2021 Kia Seltos
1:04 Exterior Overview
2:38 Interior Observations
3:22 Driving Impressions
5:50 Technology Exploration
7:11 Safety Features
7:54 Cargo Space and Storage
8:36 Competitors & Final Thoughts