It might be easy to overlook the 2021 Kia Seltos, which seems at first glance to simply be the latest in an unending stream of SUVs that threaten to drown dealer lots in utility vehicles. But after getting hands-on time with Kia’s latest SUV at the 2019 Los Angeles Auto Show, that assumption would be a mistake — I think the Seltos has a unique appeal, starting with its size.
2021 Kia Seltos
Cars.com photo by Brian WongI’m not quite sure how to classify the Seltos; it’s a bit of a tweener. At first glance, one might think the Seltos shares a platform with the Hyundai Kona (Hyundai and Kia are closely related), but it doesn’t. The Seltos’ wheelbase is 1.1 inches longer than the Kona, and it’s a full 8 inches longer overall. Kia tells us there isn’t a corresponding Hyundai that currently rides on this platform, so it gets it all to itself. I’ve always thought the Kona, like most subcompact SUVs, fills a niche, but it really isn’t large enough on the inside to be viable for families or those who carry passengers regularly. This is how the Seltos distinguishes itself.

Climb inside, and the extra space is noticeable — it feels more like a compact SUV inside than a subcompact, both for front- and backseat occupants. I was especially impressed by the Seltos’ backseat roominess. With the driver’s seat set up where I would drive (I’m 5-foot-11), I hopped behind my theoretical self and had about 3 inches of room for knees and even more for my head. Even without the visual assistance of a panoramic moonroof, it felt rather expansive for something of this size.
2021 Kia Seltos
Cars.com photo by Brian WongIt also pays off in the cargo area, where the Seltos has 26.6 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seats that expands to 62.8 cubic feet with the 60/40-split rear seats folded down. For perspective, the compact Sportage has 30.7 and 60.1 cubic feet of cargo space, respectively, giving the Seltos a win on overall cargo space over its larger counterpart. Impressive.

The interior styling doesn’t initially appear special in part because everything is black, from the upholstery, to the plastics, to the buttons; the only thing that wasn’t really black was the headliner. There are a few intriguing details sprinkled throughout the cabin, however, including the available Bose audio system with some very cool ridged speaker covers and a mood lamp that changes colors along with the beat of the music. The top-trim SX that was on display comes with a large 10.25-inch touchscreen plucked straight from the larger Telluride, and it gives the Seltos a notable advantage in this class. Thankfully, it also retains the Telluride’s physical controls in a row below the screen that make it easier to navigate the multimedia system.

Interior storage spaces are on the small side, though the Seltos does have one thing going for it: a bunch of places to tuck your phone away. Kia does a smart thing with the placement of the available wireless charging pad, which is tucked into a small shelf above the storage bin so you can access it even if you have other items in the bin. There’s also a small, slim pocket next to the cupholders that is just big enough to keep a phone handy.



My first look at the Seltos yielded plenty of optimism from its interior and technology offerings. Though it’s bigger than other subcompact SUVs, I would still put it up against them based on price, as Kia says the Seltos will start at less than $22,000 (which may include destination charges, though that’s not yet confirmed) for the LX and S trim levels. The Seltos also offers some powertrain intrigue with all-wheel drive standard on all trim levels (LX, EX and SX) except the S, and the system comes with a center-locking differential and torque vectoring that makes it more robust than many systems found on competitors, not even counting those faux SUVs that are front-wheel drive only.

We’re waiting on official fuel economy ratings and full pricing details for the Seltos, which should become available as we creep closer to the SUV’s on-sale date in early 2020.

Kia showed off its newest SUV at the LA Auto Show today, and the Consumer Reports Cars team got a chance to spend some time with it before it goes on sale early next year.

Called the Seltos, it’s a subcompact model with angular looks and a straightforward interior. Unlike many other tiny SUVs, such as the Nissan Kicks and Hyundai Venue, the Seltos offers optional all-wheel drive.

What it competes with: Chevrolet Trailblazer, Hyundai Kona, Nissan Kicks, Toyota CH-R
What it looks like: An angular, upright compact SUV reminiscent of the Volvo XC40
Powertrains: 146-hp, 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine and continuously variable transmission; or 175-hp, 1.6-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine and seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission; front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive
Price: $22,000 (estimated)
On-sale date: Winter 2020


CR’s Take

With looks that blend urban cool with an outdoorsy vibe, optional all-wheel drive, and an attractively low starting price, we predict the Kia Seltos will gain a lot of interest from buyers. We plan to buy one and put it through our full testing regimen as soon as it goes on sale to see whether it lives up to its promise.

Outside

With its angular lines and an optional two-tone paint job, we think the Seltos looks a lot like the much more expensive Volvo XC40 SUV. The comparison is even more apt on the upscale SX trim, which includes full LED exterior lighting and other snazzy exterior upgrades. Kia says that front and rear skid plates and black plastic cladding are supposed to “reference off-road abilities,” although its optional all-wheel-drive system is designed for snowy days, not rock-studded trails.

Size-wise, it’s the same length as the Toyota CH-R, but it has a more angular rear that should make for easier cargo loading. It’s a little longer than the Ford EcoSport, Honda HR-V, and Hyundai Venue. If the Seltos looks familiar, there’s a reason: Like the similar Hyundai Venue and Ford EcoSport, a version of the Seltos debuted in other countries before going on sale in the U.S.

Inside

The Seltos has a plain but practical interior. We like that it features a lot of physical buttons and knobs in a sensible layout. Android Auto and Apple CarPlay compatibility come standard on all trims, and a larger 10.25-inch touch screen is optional.

Rear passengers aren’t left out, either: The rear seat reclines, and EX and SX trims offer rear USB ports and climate vents.

What Drives It

Two engine choices are available: LX and EX trims get a naturally aspirated 2.0-liter, four-cylinder engine and a continuously variable transmission that’s good for 146 hp. A 175-hp, turbocharged four-cylinder engine is optional on the S and standard on the SX. We drove a Hyundai Tucson with a similar 1.6-liter turbo and seven-speed dual-clutch automatic and found that it tended to lurch and hesitate in low-speed traffic. We hope the same isn’t true for the Seltos.

Front-wheel drive is standard, but buyers can opt for an all-wheel-drive system that Kia says is similar to the one found in the larger Telluride SUV.

Safety & Driver Assist Systems

The base LX trim does not include or offer key advanced safety features, like forward collision warning and automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection. These features come with the next higher trim, the S, along with lane departure warning and lane keeping assist.

As buyers move through the trim range, an increasing roster of assist features become standard, including blind spot warning with collision avoidance, rear cross traffic warning, adaptive cruise control, and a “safe exit assist” feature that warns occupants not to open their doors in the path of oncoming traffic.

The rambunctious little Kia Seltos has made quite a splash in a short time. It's built like a tougher version of the Soul, adding a bit of brawn to the otherwise soft-handed nature of the crossover. And for the first time in the model's admittedly short history, it's getting a refresh.

The new-for-this-year model was revealed on Thursday at the Los Angeles Auto Show, featuring a reworked exterior along with an updated interior that's—get this—tech-focused. First, Kia decided to give the Seltos a stronger appearance by revising the tiger nose grille, which is fitting considering its nameplate is a disambiguation of "Celtos," son of Hercules. The grille is complemented by Kia's signature "star map" lighting and is supported on either side by optional LED projector headlights. Kia also aimed to add a sort of rugged appearance to the front end by incorporating rigid shapes and better integrating its vertical fog lights.

Kia gave the Seltos some unique geometric wheel designs across several trims, as well as three unique paint options. And to top it all off, the Seltos is the latest Kia to get an "X" trim. This adds a unique front gunmetal grille, special 18-inch wheels, black appointments on the doors, a roof rack, and X-Line badging.

Kia focused on refining the Seltos' interior to better display its in-car, erm, displays. This mainly applies to a large panoramic screen that makes replaces the old phablet-style infotainment in the outgoing model. This not only modernizes the cabin space, but also wraps the two 10.25-inch displays that make up the instrument cluster and center screen into one nearly seamless unit that rides just below the dashboard's peak, similar to the Kia Sportage, EV6, and the Hyundai Ioniq 5. The rest of the interior remains relatively conservative with smart lines, patterns, and material choices. New for 2024 is a digital key that allows iPhone and Samsung Galaxy owners to unlock and drive their Seltos using only their phones or Apple Watch.

One last change that some will be happy to feel is a nice 20-horsepower bump to Kia's revised Gamma 1.6-liter turbo four-cylinder. This engine, mated to a traditional eight-speed gearbox, now pumps out a respectable 195 hp. A 2.0-liter naturally aspirated four-cylinder mated to a CVT transmission is also available, though that pair makes just 174 hp and 132 pound-feet of torque.