Brand-new this year, the 2021 Kia Seltos is a rugged, 5-passenger subcompact crossover that impresses for a number of reasons. Despite its diminutive footprint, it offers excellent rear legroom and a very impressive 62.8 cubic feet of space with the rear seats folded. With a locking center differential and 7.3 inches of ground clearance, the Seltos also boasts respectable off-road credentials. All trim levels include standard all-wheel drive (AWD) except for the S, where it’s optional in lieu of front-wheel drive (FWD).
The 2021 Seltos is available in five trims and offers a choice of two engines. A 2.0-liter 4-cylinder comes in the LX, S, and EX models, and a 1.6-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder is in the top S Turbo and SX Turbo trims. The base engine is connected to a continuously variable transmission (CVT) that works well. Turbo models get a 7-speed dual-clutch automatic that can feel a little rough at lower speeds. The turbo’s plenty spunky, but the base engine is perfectly adequate and even includes a Sport mode if you want to feel a bit more oomph.
The exterior of the Seltos plays to its ruggedness, with a squarish design that’s reminiscent of a Volvo. Inside the fit and finish are good, although there are some more plastics than we would like, even in higher trims, and we’d like a bit more support from the driver seat. The dash layout is clean, with an 8-inch touchscreen surrounded by knobs and buttons for audio and climate controls. As we mentioned, the cargo space is excellent, and the cargo floor can actually be set high for loading longer items or lower to store more things and keep them in place. As with all Kias, the Seltos includes a 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty.
Five Trim Levels
Kia offers the 2021 Seltos in five trim levels, with the bottom three getting a 2.0-liter 4-cylinder (146 horsepower/132 lb-ft of torque) and the top two powered by a 1.6-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder (175 horsepower/195 lb-ft).
Pricing is a bit unusual, as the base all-wheel drive EX costs the same as the front-drive step-up model S. The S features more equipment, including better driver and safety assists, but it’s the only trim that comes in front-wheel drive, while the others all get all-wheel drive. All-wheel drive is available as a $1,600 option on the S.
Standard features on the LX include an 8-inch touchscreen, Apple CarPlay/Android Auto integration, 17-inch wheels, and keyless entry. The big difference between the LX and the S is the amount of standard safety equipment, with the S including forward collision warning with automatic braking, lane-departure warning and lane-keeping assist, and a driver-attention monitor, among other things.
The EX adds synthetic leather trim, a sunroof, and heated front seats. The turbo models add even more features, with the Turbo SX getting a 10.25-inch touchscreen and an 8-speaker Bose audio system. The S, S 1.6, and SX models also have the option of a two-tone roof.
As they both have the same starting price ($21,990), we suggest the S over the EX not only for its safety features but for its roof rails, LED lights, and leather-wrapped gearshift knob. All-wheel drive on the S trim is just an extra $1,600. Every 2021 Kia Seltos also includes $1,175 in destination fees.
Here’s the Complete Rundown on 2021 Kia Seltos Trims and Prices:
2021 Kia Seltos LX: $21,990
- All-wheel drive
- 8-inch touchscreen
- Apple CarPlay/Android Auto
- Keyless entry
2021 Kia Seltos S: $21,990-$23,590
- Forward collision warning with automatic emergency braking
- Lane departure warning
- Roof rails
- Leather-wrapped wheel and gearshift knob
2021 Kia Seltos EX: $25,390
- All-wheel drive
- Blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert
- Sunroof
- Sofino synthetic leather trim
- 10-way power driver seat
- Wireless phone charger
2021 Kia Seltos S 1.6: $25,590
- All-wheel drive
- 1.6-liter turbocharged four-cylinder
- 18-inch alloy wheels
2021 Kia Seltos SX: $27,990
- All-wheel drive
- 1.6-liter turbocharged four-cylinder
- 10.25-inch touchscreen with navigation
- 8-speaker Bose audio system with satellite radio
- Adaptive cruise control
- Highway Driving Assist (can adjust speed based on federal speed-limit signs and pace the vehicle ahead)
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