The Kia Seltos X-Line concepts look like they went big in Korean equivalent of the Mopar catalog.
Kia is joining the likes of Subaru, Jeep and Toyota with a small, rugged, high-riding crossover to venture into the (light) wilderness. The 2021 Seltos, debuting at the Los Angeles Auto Show, will slot in between the boxy Soul and compact Sportage in the lineup, featuring either a 1.6-liter turbo or a 2.0-liter four, and it’ll enter the market with a price in the low $20K range. In pictures, the concept version looks quite rugged, though we’re guessing the pushbars and rally lights are extra.
The Seltos gets 7.2 inches of ground clearance and comes in either front- or all-wheel drive, though even the AWD model is less than $22,000. It feels (and looks) a lot like a RAV4 but is actually about 10 inches shorter. It comes with front and rear skid plates and a sloping front bumper for better approach angles and, like many cars that claim ruggedness, adds plenty of black cladding around the lower portion of the body.
The base Seltos 2.0-liter makes 146 hp and 132 lb-ft sent through a continuously variable transmission (CVT); the more powerful 1.6-liter turbo delivers 175 hp and 195 lb-ft and is connected to a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission. Three drive modes — normal, eco and sport—adjust engine, transmission and steering operation. The AWD system is an on-demand setup using a center locking differential for when you’re deep off-road. The Seltos has a MacPherson front suspension, a torsion-beam rear on FWD models and a multilink on AWD versions.
Inside look for a leather-wrapped steering wheel, sliding front console cover, Bose speakers, mood lighting, a rear USB port and reclining rear seats, which are becoming more common and are always welcome.
With a bunch of option boxes checked, the Seltos gets a 10.25-inch nav screen with satellite radio, premium sound, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, wireless charging, Bluetooth and more. The Kia Drive Wise Package adds your driver-assist systems like blind-spot warning, blind-spot collision assist, driver-attention warning, forward-collision warning, highway-driving assist (which automatically adjusts speed depending on local limits), lane-departure warning, lane-keeping, rear cross-traffic alert, adaptive cruise and safe exit assist, which watches your mirrors for approaching cars when you park and try to exit the vehicle.
The 2021 Kia Seltos goes on sale in the first quarter of 2020. Complete pricing will be available soon.
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