2021 Kia Seltos

2021 is the Seltos's US launch year (first-generation SP2). The volume LX/S/EX trims use the 146-hp 2.0L Atkinson four; the 175-hp 1.6T is offered on the S Turbo and SX Turbo. 146 hp sits below the floor of the SUV band.

The volume 2.0L makes 132 lb-ft, peaking high in the rev range — barely above the bottom of the SUV band.

Published tests of the 2.0L/IVT Seltos range from about 8.3 s (FWD S) to roughly 9.5 s for AWD; ~9.0 s is a fair midpoint for the volume configuration. The turbo is markedly quicker but is not the volume engine.

The 2.0L is quiet at cruise but must be revved hard for passing, where it turns buzzy and feels underpowered. The 1.6T is punchy with modest lag, and in 2021 was available on the mid-level S Turbo as well as the SX.

Kia's IVT with simulated steps feels more natural than a typical CVT in daily driving but drones under hard throttle. The turbo's 7-speed dual-clutch shifts quickly once moving but can be hesitant and jerky at parking-lot speeds.

Kia publishes no US trailer-weight rating for the 2021 Seltos and offers no factory tow package, so it scores as not tow-capable; overseas braked ratings do not apply to US-market vehicles.

AWD is standard on four of five 2021 trims (LX, S Turbo, EX, SX Turbo), with FWD only on the S. The system includes a driver-selectable center Lock mode and AWD cars get a multi-link rear suspension — broader than typical segment on-demand availability.

About 7.2 inches of ground clearance and AWD Lock mode help on snow and gravel roads, but there is no low range, locking differential, underbody protection or off-road trim (X-Line arrived only with the 2024 facelift).

Two gas engines — the 2.0L with IVT and the 1.6T with a 7-speed DCT (offered on two trims) — but no hybrid, PHEV or EV variant in the US.

The volume 2.0L AWD configuration is EPA-rated 29 mpg combined; the FWD S reaches 31 and the turbo drops to 27. Mid-pack for a non-hybrid subcompact SUV.

EPA city rating for the 2.0L AWD volume configuration; competitive among gas subcompact SUVs.

EPA highway rating for the 2.0L AWD volume configuration; the 2021 FWD S is rated 34 mpg highway (one less than later years).

Computed from the 13.2-gallon tank and the 29 mpg EPA combined rating of the 2.0L AWD volume configuration; the small tank caps range.

EPA's published annual fuel cost for the 2.0L AWD volume configuration at its standard 15,000 mi/yr assumption and current regular-fuel price.

Both 2021 powertrains, including the 1.6L turbo, run on regular unleaded with no premium requirement anywhere in the lineup.

The launch-year 2021 Seltos earned a 4-star NHTSA overall rating, held back by a 4-star frontal result (passenger 4 stars) and a 4-star rollover rating.

The 2021 Seltos is an IIHS Top Safety Pick and rates Good in every crashworthiness test, including the original side test; it misses TSP+ because only the SX Turbo's headlights qualify and the award requires optional front crash prevention.

In its first US model year, the base LX lacks forward collision-avoidance with AEB entirely; FCA, lane keeping and driver attention warning arrive on the S, blind-spot and rear cross-traffic systems on the EX, and adaptive cruise only on the SX Turbo, so key systems are locked to upper trims.

When equipped, the Seltos' system earns IIHS Superior ratings for both vehicle-to-vehicle and daytime pedestrian front crash prevention, but there is no nighttime pedestrian result and the system is not fitted to the base LX.

Blind-spot collision warning/avoidance and rear cross-traffic collision avoidance start at the EX trim, leaving the LX and the volume S trim without them.

Lane departure warning and Lane Keeping Assist are standard from the S up, but true centering (Lane Following Assist as part of Highway Driving Assist) is reserved for the SX Turbo, and the LX gets neither.

Smart Cruise Control with Stop & Go and Highway Driving Assist are confined to the top SX Turbo; LX, S, EX and S Turbo buyers — most of the mix — get conventional cruise only.

No hands-free highway driving system is offered on any 2021 Seltos; Highway Driving Assist on the SX Turbo requires hands on the wheel.

Only the SX Turbo's LED reflector headlights (built after August 2020) rate Good; the halogen projectors on every other trim rate Poor for weak curve and left-side illumination.

The boxy, upright body and generous glass give good natural sightlines for the class, with a standard rear-view camera, but no surround-view camera is offered and blind-spot monitoring starts at EX.

IIHS rates LATCH ease of use Acceptable, with complete LATCH sets in two rear positions and a tether-only center seat; the rear seat is roomy for a subcompact but too narrow for three child seats across.

The launch-year 2021 Seltos (first-generation SP2) is a two-row subcompact SUV that seats five on every trim (LX, S, EX, S Turbo, SX Turbo).

40.0 in of front headroom on the non-sunroof volume trims is generous for a subcompact SUV, thanks to the boxy roofline.

41.4 in of front legroom is typical for the class but lands in the lower third of an SUV band anchored to much larger utilities.

38.4 in of second-row headroom gives adults good clearance for a subcompact SUV.

38.0 in of rear legroom is near the top of the subcompact class, and the rear seatback reclines, so adults ride comfortably in back.

A strictly two-row, five-seat SUV with no third row on any 2021 trim, so it scores in the bottom band by definition.

26.6 cu ft behind the second row leads the subcompact class but sits at the floor of an SUV band that spans full-size utilities.

Folding the 60/40 rear bench opens 62.8 cu ft with the dual-level floor lowered. That is strong for the class but low against the band.

Everyday storage is competitive: a dual-level cargo floor, a two-tier phone tray ahead of the shifter, and class-normal console and door bins. It is practical but not innovative.

Front seats are fine around town but short on lower-back and thigh support on long drives. Most trims use manual adjustment (the EX has a six-way manual driver's seat). The reclining rear bench is roomy and comfortable for adults.

It is composed on smooth roads, but the short-wheelbase suspension lets the body bounce and rock on broken pavement, and sharp impacts come through. The ride is firmer and busier than the softer class leaders.

Road and wind noise intrude at highway speed. The 2021 car predates the acoustic windshield and noise-reduction tweaks Kia added for 2023.

Heated front seats and a sunroof come on the upper trims (EX, SX Turbo), and rear A/C vents are fitted. No ventilated seats or heated steering wheel are offered, remote start comes only on the UVO-equipped SX Turbo, and the LX/S are plainly equipped.

For 2021, its first US model year, the Seltos started at $21,990 before destination. That price bought either the LX with standard AWD or the S with front-wheel drive, making it one of the cheapest AWD SUVs on sale.

We treat the S AWD (2.0L, IVT) as the volume configuration: AWD with the S trim's added equipment, at $23,590 plus $1,175 destination. Kia does not publish its trim mix, so the volume-trim choice is our estimate.

CarEdge puts five-year maintenance at about $2,600 (roughly $520 a year). We add about $1,500 for unscheduled repairs and wear items typical of the class. The 5yr/60k basic warranty covers most failures in that window, and the 2.0L MPI engine in the volume trims is simple and cheap to service.

The 2021 has now reached about five years of age, so there is observed market data. CarEdge puts the average 2021 at $16,707 against a $26,490 new price (about 63%), helped by the 2021–23 used-car price spike. CarEdge's generic Seltos five-year projection is 48% retained, and iSeeCars sits near 60%. We blend these to about 56%.

Kia's 5-year/60,000-mile limited basic warranty applies to the 2021 Seltos. That is two years longer than the 3yr/36k mainstream norm.

The 10-year/100,000-mile limited powertrain warranty matches the best in the segment. It covers the original owner only; later owners get 5yr/60k.

Kia includes no complimentary scheduled maintenance, which trails ToyotaCare (2yr/25k) and Hyundai's 3yr/36k. Buyers do get 5-year/60,000-mile roadside assistance and a UVO link connected-services trial on equipped trims, which puts the Seltos in the 'basic roadside only' band.

$24,765 volume-trim price minus its estimated resale value after 5 years (56% retained, or about $13,868) leaves about $10,897 in depreciation. Add the projected $4,100 in 5-year maintenance and repairs, and owning this vehicle for 5 years costs about $14,997 in total.

J.D. Power rates the 2021 Seltos 'Great' on Quality & Reliability. Consumer Reports gives it an average 3/5, but that is a prediction because 2021 was the US launch year, and it says the car rates below other 2021 models. With the sources split, and the first model year carrying two piston-ring engine recalls, the score sits mid-band, below the later years.

In the J.D. Power VDS and IQS studies around 2020–2021, Kia sat in the upper half of mainstream brands, topping the IQS in 2020. Consumer Reports' brand rankings put it upper-mid-pack. That is good, but not consistently top-5.

The 2021 is the most heavily affected Seltos year. It falls under two separate piston-oil-ring campaigns on the 2.0L engine, where a mis-manufactured ring can cause oil consumption, engine damage, failure or fire. A repeated powertrain recall like this sits in the low band.

The volume engine is the 2.0L Nu/Smartstream with IVT, the family behind both piston-ring recalls, and the 2021 is covered by both. The optional 1.6T with its 7-speed DCT has a mixed reputation. Kia's 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty and the extended engine coverage tied to the recalls offset some of the risk.

This is the launch cabin, with an 8-inch screen on most trims and a 10.25-inch screen only on the SX Turbo. Reviewers praised the logical layout but noted widespread hard plastics, which is competitive for a subcompact SUV but not class-leading.

The Korean-built Seltos is generally described as solidly assembled, with no widespread rattle or panel-gap complaints. J.D. Power's 'Great' quality rating points to good initial quality, though first-year owner reviews have scattered complaints.

Kia has roughly 750–800 US dealers, so coverage is nationwide. Dealership experience is only average in J.D. Power's owner ratings.

The Seltos shares its platform and engines with the high-volume Kia Soul and Hyundai Kona, so parts are plentiful and repair costs are typical of the mainstream segment. Aftermarket support is moderate.

For 2021 the 8-inch touchscreen is standard on every trim except the SX Turbo, which alone gets the 10.25-inch navigation widescreen. Later years extended the big screen down the range.

Kia's interface is quick and logically laid out, and physical climate and volume controls back it up. Reviewers call it intuitive, and the SX Turbo's widescreen was class-leading at launch.

CarPlay and Android Auto are standard on every trim. The 8-inch units shipped wired at launch, with wireless projection arriving through a later dealer software update. The SX Turbo's 10.25-inch unit stays wired-only.

Built-in navigation, UVO connected services and the upgraded voice recognition come only on the top SX Turbo. Every volume trim relies on phone projection.

Six-speaker audio is standard and adequate. The eight-speaker Bose system with Sound Mood lighting is confined to the SX Turbo.

No full digital cluster is offered. Most trims use analog dials with a small mono display, and the SX Turbo gets only a 7-inch TFT center display between gauges. The 10.25-inch digital cluster arrived with the 2024 refresh.

There is no vehicle OTA. Head-unit software and maps update via the dealer or a USB download, as with the wireless-CarPlay update that had to be applied at the dealer.

UVO link remote start/climate, lock/unlock and vehicle finder come only with the SX Turbo's 10.25-inch head unit, leaving most 2021 buyers with no connected app functions.

USB-A ports up front, rear USB charging on upper trims, and a wireless charging tray on the top trims. There is no USB-C and no household outlet, and the EX lists just one front USB port.

Smart key with push-button start comes on upper trims, and remote start via UVO is SX Turbo only. The LX/S use a conventional key, and no digital key is offered.

A rear camera is standard and rear parking sensors appear on the top trim, but no surround-view or blind-spot view monitor is offered on any 2021 US trim.

No head-up display is offered on any 2021 US Seltos; the HUD was sold only on Korean and other overseas versions.

Class-leading cargo room (26.6 cu ft behind the rear seat) and 38.0 in of rear legroom make the Seltos genuinely usable for families of its size. Deep-set LATCH anchors (IIHS Acceptable) and a bench too narrow for three child seats across hold it back.

A 2021 IIHS Top Safety Pick with Good crashworthiness across the board and Superior AEB when fitted. But the base LX lacks AEB entirely, blind-spot and cross-traffic alerts start at EX, the NHTSA overall rating is 4 stars, and halogen headlights on all but the SX Turbo rate Poor.

The reclining rear seat is roomy for adults and cargo stays usable with five aboard. Highway road noise, a busy ride and seats short on lower-back support limit it to medium-haul trips.

Compact size, light controls and an upright greenhouse with good sightlines make it easy in traffic. The 146-hp 2.0L/IVT is adequate in town but strains on merges, and the turbo's DCT can be quirky at low speed.

29 mpg combined for the AWD volume configuration (31 FWD) on regular fuel keeps it cheap to run, but no hybrid is offered, so hybrid rivals beat it per mile.

About 172 in long with a tight 34.8-ft turning circle and good sightlines, the Seltos is easy to park. No surround-view camera on any 2021 trim keeps it out of the top band.

Kia publishes no US trailer rating and offers no factory tow package, so there is no sanctioned towing, and a 146-hp unibody subcompact has nothing in reserve under load. The cargo hold is its only work-relevant asset.

Kia's 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty backs it, but nothing is built for abuse: no fleet track record, cloth/SynTex trim, and no heavy-duty suspension or skid protection. Consumer Guide notes some disappointing interior materials.

Roof rails, a dual-level cargo floor and a 60/40 split rear seat handle light gear. There is no AC outlet, no factory hitch and no upfit ecosystem.

About 383 miles of range (AWD) is adequate, and Highway Driving Assist helps on the SX Turbo only. Highway road noise, a busy ride and seats short on lower-back support limit long-haul endurance.

AWD with a center Lock mode is standard on four of five trims, and ~7.2 in of ground clearance plus roof rails make it a competent gravel-road companion. There is no tow rating, skid plates or off-road tires.

26.6 / 62.8 cu ft of cargo space leads the subcompact class, with a dual-level floor, 60/40 split fold and roof rails. There is no factory hitch for a bike rack or cargo tray.

Nimble and sure-footed on smooth roads, and AWD cars get a multi-link rear suspension. Body motion is loosely checked on uneven surfaces, and reviewers place it mid-pack behind the class benchmark, the Mazda CX-30.

Accurate with a secure on-center feel on the highway, but it is typical electric-assist steering with little genuine feedback.

Panic stops from 60 mph of around 135 ft are middling for the class. Pedal feel is unobjectionable and no fade was reported.

The volume 146-hp 2.0L with Kia's stepped IVT is smooth but underpowered beyond city driving (~9 s to 60). The 175-hp 1.6T offered on the S Turbo and SX Turbo is punchy, but its 7-speed DCT can be hesitant and jerky at low speed.

The 2.0L turns buzzy when revved hard to make progress, and the 2021 cabin, without the later acoustic windshield, does little to suppress it.

A tight 34.8-ft turning circle from the short wheelbase sits at the favorable end of the SUV band, a real urban strength.

A high hip point, an upright greenhouse with good visibility and physical climate and audio controls make for good ergonomics. Seat adjustment is manual on most trims, and the front seats are short on thigh support.

In volume 2.0L/IVT form it is transportation rather than entertainment. The 1.6T, available in 2021 at mid-trim S Turbo pricing, is appreciably livelier, but reviewers still rank it mid-pack behind the CX-30.

The 2021 LX costs $23,165 with destination and comes with standard AWD, which most subcompact rivals charge extra for. It also includes an 8-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay/Android Auto and forward-collision avoidance with lane keeping. Blind-spot and rear cross-traffic alerts, heated seats, the 10.25-inch navigation screen and the turbo engine are kept for higher trims.

This was the standout value play when it launched. It offered standard AWD from $23,165 and a 175-hp turbo with a 7-speed DCT in the S Turbo at $26,765, along with the segment's longest powertrain warranty. KBB named it both Best New Model and Best Subcompact SUV for 2021 largely on value. The weak spots are the 146-hp base engine and mainstream-brand resale.

Six configurations (S FWD, LX AWD, S AWD, EX AWD, S Turbo AWD, SX Turbo AWD) span $6,000 from base to loaded. Uniquely for 2021, the S Turbo offered the turbo engine at a mid-trim price. The gaps are that front-drive exists only on the base S and that the EX cannot be had with the turbo.

It was a strong launch: about 46,000 US units in 2020, its partial debut year, rising roughly 11% to about 51,000 in 2021 despite chip-shortage supply limits. That is solid acceptance for a new nameplate, though still behind segment leaders like the Crosstrek, HR-V and Trax.

Kia's image was improving fast in 2021, led by the Telluride's acclaim, a new logo and rebrand, and a record US sales year. It still trailed Toyota, Honda and Subaru on long-term reputation and resale perception.

Launch-period 2021 models drew subsidized APR and lease offers through late 2020 and early 2021. From mid-2021 the semiconductor shortage tightened inventory, and mainstream subcompacts largely sold at or near MSRP with little factory cash.

2021 was the all-new Seltos's first US model year, built on a current Hyundai-Kia platform with modern driver-assist tech and connectivity. A 2021 buyer got a brand-new design with years of cycle ahead; the facelift did not arrive until 2024.

It launched to strong reviews and won two 2021 KBB Best Buy Awards: Best New Model, against every new vehicle, and Best Subcompact SUV. Reviewers praised its roominess, AWD standard on most trims, tech and value, while noting the sluggish base engine. It won no 10Best or NACTOY award.