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Motor Trend released this article the other day on their pros and cons for the Seltos.
I'm not necessarily surprised about the interior materials but I am surprised that they didn't like the powertrain options.
Pro: Bose Audio System
Although it's only available in the top-trim SX, the eight-speaker Bose audio system sounds clear and crisp. This is the first time Kia equips a vehicle with a Bose system (the automaker used Harman Kardon in past models), and the sound is great for a subcompact crossover—it might battle the Nissan Kicks for the best-sound system in a cheap SUV.
Con: Interior Materials
Yes, the Kia Seltos is inexpensive, but the amount of hard plastics and poor materials are all around the cabin. That's something normal for a $23,000 SUV, but when the top-trim's price is closer to $30,000, some customers may expect better materials. The leatherette on the seats and door panels also could be better quality.
Pro: Electrochromic Rear-View Mirror
Although during our First Drive we drove during daylight hours, we didn't have a chance to see some of the features the interior offers at night. I was surprised to see that the rear-view mirror in the SX is electrochromic, which dims the mirror when it senses light, preventing any kind of reflection from the headlights behind you. I drove a base Honda CR-V LX for one year and complained about the lack of a dimming rear-view mirror, so I was surprised to see that the Seltos SX has it.
Con: Powertrain
The Seltos is equipped with two powertrains—a 2.0-liter that delivers 146 hp and 132 lb-ft of torque and a 1.6-liter turbo that's good for 175 hp and 195 lb-ft. Although neither powertrain is awful, the 2.0-liter feels slow and thrashy at full throttle, while the turbo is peppy but lacks refinement during stop and go traffic, primarily because of its dual-clutch transmission.
Pro: Space And Cargo Room
Despite its small size, the 2021 Kia Seltos is pretty spacious inside. Its square-ish shape allows back-seat passengers to have enough headroom, while there's plenty of legroom for 6-feet adults. During the weekend, my dad (who is almost 6'4" and a big guy) had a bit of trouble when he sat in the rear seat, but for the average-size American, the interior is roomy. There's also plenty of cargo room, and you can lower the cargo floor for more volume.
Con: Disco-Like Ambient Lighting
Like the Soul, the top-trim Seltos is equipped with ambient lighting that changes color with the melody of the songs you're playing, providing a lounge-like interior. But unlike the Soul, the ambient lighting isn't as bright or as noticeable. When driving the Seltos at night, I had to look hard to see if the ambient lighting was on, and it was hard to see the colors change with the reggaeton songs I was playing. In contrast, the Soul's interior turns into an Ibiza-style club.
Pro: MPG
Kia estimates the Seltos to deliver up to 34 mpg in highway for front-drive models with the 2.0-liter, which is better than what the Mazda CX-30, Nissan Rogue Sport, and Jeep Compass offer in front-drive form, and ties with the Honda HR-V. Getting all-wheel drive reduces the numbers by about 2 mpg, while the 1.6-liter turbo delivers 25/30/27 city/highway/combined mpg with AWD.
I'm not necessarily surprised about the interior materials but I am surprised that they didn't like the powertrain options.
Pro: Bose Audio System
Although it's only available in the top-trim SX, the eight-speaker Bose audio system sounds clear and crisp. This is the first time Kia equips a vehicle with a Bose system (the automaker used Harman Kardon in past models), and the sound is great for a subcompact crossover—it might battle the Nissan Kicks for the best-sound system in a cheap SUV.
Con: Interior Materials
Yes, the Kia Seltos is inexpensive, but the amount of hard plastics and poor materials are all around the cabin. That's something normal for a $23,000 SUV, but when the top-trim's price is closer to $30,000, some customers may expect better materials. The leatherette on the seats and door panels also could be better quality.
Pro: Electrochromic Rear-View Mirror
Although during our First Drive we drove during daylight hours, we didn't have a chance to see some of the features the interior offers at night. I was surprised to see that the rear-view mirror in the SX is electrochromic, which dims the mirror when it senses light, preventing any kind of reflection from the headlights behind you. I drove a base Honda CR-V LX for one year and complained about the lack of a dimming rear-view mirror, so I was surprised to see that the Seltos SX has it.
Con: Powertrain
The Seltos is equipped with two powertrains—a 2.0-liter that delivers 146 hp and 132 lb-ft of torque and a 1.6-liter turbo that's good for 175 hp and 195 lb-ft. Although neither powertrain is awful, the 2.0-liter feels slow and thrashy at full throttle, while the turbo is peppy but lacks refinement during stop and go traffic, primarily because of its dual-clutch transmission.
Pro: Space And Cargo Room
Despite its small size, the 2021 Kia Seltos is pretty spacious inside. Its square-ish shape allows back-seat passengers to have enough headroom, while there's plenty of legroom for 6-feet adults. During the weekend, my dad (who is almost 6'4" and a big guy) had a bit of trouble when he sat in the rear seat, but for the average-size American, the interior is roomy. There's also plenty of cargo room, and you can lower the cargo floor for more volume.
Con: Disco-Like Ambient Lighting
Like the Soul, the top-trim Seltos is equipped with ambient lighting that changes color with the melody of the songs you're playing, providing a lounge-like interior. But unlike the Soul, the ambient lighting isn't as bright or as noticeable. When driving the Seltos at night, I had to look hard to see if the ambient lighting was on, and it was hard to see the colors change with the reggaeton songs I was playing. In contrast, the Soul's interior turns into an Ibiza-style club.
Pro: MPG
Kia estimates the Seltos to deliver up to 34 mpg in highway for front-drive models with the 2.0-liter, which is better than what the Mazda CX-30, Nissan Rogue Sport, and Jeep Compass offer in front-drive form, and ties with the Honda HR-V. Getting all-wheel drive reduces the numbers by about 2 mpg, while the 1.6-liter turbo delivers 25/30/27 city/highway/combined mpg with AWD.
