Driving Impressions : 2021 Seltos SX Turbo AWD

By: Mark Moskowitz MD

It seems only natural to compare the new Seltos to its highly rated and popular relative, the Hyundai Kona. Though they share base (147 HP multi-port injection 2 liter) and performance (175 hp turbocharged 1.6 liter) powerplants and some chassis bits, they are different cars. I refer you to an earlier Kona review. The Seltos goes beyond subcompact; it's longer and taller and rests on a longer wheelbase.

When I first saw my test car adorned in Starbright Yellow with a contrasting black roof, I saw only color and little style. The front end reminded me of a larger Ford SUV; I wasn't excited. From the side, in the direct sunlight there seemed little detail. Further study of pics and further views from all sorts of angles revealed subtle curves creating deep coves that ran through the doors. There were all sorts of LEDs and highly sculptured recesses for front parking lights. Front and rear swage lines originated from front and rear lights and never met in the middle. They lengthened the SUV. The Seltos had grown on me. (The lines on the more compact Kona, though pleasant. are far more pronounced.)

The interior did not disappoint. Though there was much hard plastic and little padding (right side of dashboard and in deep door insets), the textures and finishes were varied. Speaker grilles exhibited unusual geometry. Even the vinyl seat detail was unique. The front was spacious. The low console allowed knee room but still could house a flat phone and more, fit a pair of drinks and hide possessions in a deep console box. The touchscreen rose well above the dashboard and its width and ability to simultaneously display three functions smacked of more expensive cars.

Front seats were heated and the driver's side was multi- and power adjustable in the more expensive versions. What struck me was the impressive rear foot room and rear seat padding. Four adults can travel in comfort. And there is 26.6 cubic feet of cargo volume behind the rear seats. Fold them down and storage capacity grows to 62.8 cubic feet.

Underway, the Seltos differed from its Seoul brother.* As compared to the Kona, the SX seemed ungainly in the parking lot. At slower speeds, no matter what the mode, it seemed an awkward search for the right gear. At all speeds, it absorbed bumps like a luxury tourer. Leave the school zone and shifts from the 7-speed dual clutch transmission were smooth and quick. And there was plenty of punch from the tiny and torquey turbo. Seven seconds brought you from zero to 60 mph. On curvy roads, it seemed composed and it floated over major interstate imperfections. Some of its composure can be attributed to the independent multi-link rear suspension that comes standard with the all-wheel drive option. The Seltos is one of the better small sized, economy priced, long-distance tourers.

Kias and Hyundais typically have an impressive suite of safety goodies and the Seltos benefits from this heritage. All models excepting the base AWD LX have lane departure warning, lane keep assist, high beam assist, and forward collision avoidance assist. Active rear cross traffic avoidance assist and active blind spot collision avoidance assist are standard in the remaining all wheel drive models but not in the fwd Seltos. Adaptive cruise control is exclusive to the Seltos SX. Surround view monitoring is not available in the Seltos line. (Pricing of all before transport is noted below.)

The Seltos SX is a worthwhile addition to the Kia line. It's not for those who hunt apexes – here the small Kona might be the better choice. The Kia offers size, punch, a bit of luxury and the flexibility of all wheel drive, and manages to deliver credible (25 mpg city and 30 mpg highway) mileage and one of the industry's best warranties.

*Though Ulsan is the major production site for Hyundai, it and Kia are headquartered in the South Korean capital.

Seltos S	2.0L MPI - IVT (FWD)	$21,990.00
Seltos LX	2.0L MPI - IVT (AWD)	$21,990.00
Seltos S	2.0L MPI - IVT (AWD)	$23,490.00
Seltos S	1.6L T-GDI - 7DCT (AWD)	$25,490.00
Seltos EX	2.0L MPI - IVT (AWD)	$25,290.00
Seltos SX	1.6L T-GDI - 7DCT (AWD)	$27,890.00

Photo credit: Mark Moskowitz MD

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