2021 Kia Seltos First Test Review: Practical, Stylish, and Actually Fun

The subcompact SUV segment is red hot. Over the last four years, names like Hyundai Kona, Chevrolet Trailblazer, Toyota C-HR, Ford EcoSport,  Nissan Kicks and Mazda CX-30 have emerged or been resurrected in the U.S. The 2021 Kia Seltos joins that list, but it falls on the larger side of the pack—at 172 inches long, it’s closer to the size of the larger Sportage than the smaller Soul, its two siblings. The Seltos arrives to the U.S. market from South Korea, and it differentiates itself from the pack with its attractive looks and roomy interior. We had a chance to test a Seltos SX with the 1.6-liter turbo and were pleased with the way it drove and handled around the track.

Kia Seltos: Dimensions

Sharing its platform with the smaller Kona and Soul, the Kia Seltos’ longer proportions allow for a decently spacious cabin and cargo area. Two 6-foot-tall adults can comfortably sit in the rear seats, and the interior space is among the best of the subcompact SUV segment. Comparing the Seltos to the Honda HR-V, both are right on top of each other in terms of legroom and headroom, but the Kia has slightly more cargo room thanks to its versatile cargo floor, which can be lowered to get a bit more volume.

The Seltos provides 40.0 inches of headroom in the front and 38.4 inches in the rear, with 41.4 inches of legroom in the front and 38.0 inches in the second row. In comparison, the HR-V has 39.5 inches of headroom in the front and 38.3 inches in the rear. In terms of legroom, the HR-V provides 41.2 inches in the front and 39.3 inches in the second row.

Part of the practicality the Seltos offers is the rear seats. Besides folding almost flat, they can recline for a more comfortable seating position.

Driving

We like the Seltos’ precise and well-weighted steering, which also gives the driver plenty of feedback. Passengers should enjoy riding in it, too, as the suspension is well tuned to absorb most bumps and ruts. On twisty roads, the Seltos handles like a champ, with low body roll and good grip. We’ve only had a chance to drive the Seltos with the independent rear suspension, which only comes standard in the all-wheel-drive model; font-drive Seltos models receive a torsion beam suspension, which may ride differently.

We have mixed feelings about the powertrain. Its 1.6-liter turbo is punchy and feels adequate, but the seven-speed dual-clutch transmission doesn’t like working at parking lot speeds, where shifts aren’t as smooth as we’d hope. Under full throttle, though, the 1.6 delivers. It took 7.3 seconds for the Seltos to go from 0 to 60 mph, which is pretty impressive for an SUV in the subcompact segment. Compared to the HR-V AWD Sport, the Seltos is way quicker; the Honda took 9.6 seconds to complete the 0-60 mph test.

Road test editor Chris Walton described the Kia Seltos as a “surprisingly quick little car,” and appreciated its straight-line acceleration and smooth upshifts when going all in. On the skidpad, testing director Kim Reynolds said the Seltos was quite easy to drive aggressively. He also applauded its steering feel. “I really like the steering’s weight in Sport mode. These cars used to have noticeably artificial steering feel, but the Seltos’ really isn’t bad at all.”

There are three different drive modes available—Normal, Sport, and Smart. Normal mode makes everything easy—the transmission shifts between 2,000 and 2,500 rpm, and the steering feel is on the mild side. Sport changes the throttle mapping, and the transmission holds gears longer, while the steering feels stiffer and better weighted. Smart combines both modes to deliver when it needs to—if the driver is more aggressive, it delivers a sportier feel; if the driver is more conservative, it turns things down a notch.

Interior and Technology

One of the Seltos’ best attributes is its technology. Its 10.3-inch screen is compatible with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and it’s quite easy to use and fast to respond. Although you probably won’t use it much, navigation comes standard in the SX, and the UVO Link app lets you do several things from your smartphone like locking or unlocking the doors and seeing your car’s location. UVO Link is also compatible with Amazon Alexa and Google Home, so you can ask Alexa to set up the automatic climate control in the Seltos before you head out.

One place we’d like to see improvements is on the materials used inside, especially on the SX trim. At its $29,010 price, we’d expect to see softer plastics and better leatherette on this model. The hard plastics on the dash, door panels, and center console could be upgraded for better-quality materials, and the leatherette feels a bit too rough for a $30,000 SUV. The steering wheel’s wrapped leather, however, feels nicer than the leatherette on the seats.

Kia really upped its game in terms of features in the Seltos SX. There are three USB ports, heated front seats, a wireless phone charger, and a Bose premium audio system that rocks. That Bose system is connected to the ambient lighting system, which pulses with the beat of the song. Although this is a cool feature, we’ve seen this on the Soul, and it’s much better in the smaller Kia, as the lighting is brighter and easier to see. Also, the fractal-like design of the speakers in the Seltos gives the interior a younger vibe.

Safety

For a subcompact SUV, the Seltos is available with a lot of safety technologies. From the smart cruise control with stop-and-go to the lane keep assist, the Seltos SX will make the drive easier for everyone. Given that the Seltos came out last month, it’s too early for IIHS testresults, and as of this writing, the NHTSA hasn’t rated it yet, either. But from the driver’s point of view, these safety technologies reduce some of the stress, particularly during highway driving.

Kia Seltos: Should I Buy It?

The 2021 Kia Seltos entered the subcompact SUV segment with a lot of push. Its styling, practicality, and size make it an attractive entry, and with all-wheel drive offered in an SUV below the Sportage, Kia is expanding its clientele. The Seltos starts at $23,110 and is available in five different trims: LX, S, S 1.6T, EX, and SX. The starting price is about $1,200 higher than the HR-V, but as trims go up, prices even out.

There’s no denying that Kia is doing a great job with its new products. The Seltos delivers in a lot of categories, and in Kia fashion, its strong value continues to impress.

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