The 2021 Kia Seltos gives the automaker a top-flight offering in the small utility segment.
A Week With: 2021 Kia Seltos
New small ute packs plenty of punch with good looks.
The auto industry runs, more less or less but mostly more, on the axiom that you can’t have too much of a good thing so it’s no real surprise that Kia has brought out the Seltos, a compact crossover vehicle.
After all, a different compact crossover, the Kia Soul, was instrumental in helping to transform the South Korean carmaker’s image a decade ago, morphing it from an also-ran into a hip alternative to better-established brands.
Overview: The 2021 Kia Seltos enters the segment, the most dynamic in the business, with an artful grip on its identity and a complex blend of features, space, utility and performance that customers shopping for a vehicle in this segment seem to desire.
Complicating it is the fact Kia faces a raft of competitors that aim to deliver those same things, albeit with varying degrees of success.
The silhouette of the Seltos is clear and crisp, giving it a distinctive look in a segment filled with very similar shapes.
(New Seltos completes Kia’s sport-utility line-up.)
Exterior: Unlike the aforementioned Soul, the Seltos utilizes the basic two-box design of a traditional utility vehicle though the company’s designers have worked to apply the elements, such as the Tiger grille, that have emerged as part of Kia’s identity in recent years.
The silhouette is clear and crisp, and the lift gate and D-pillar also are nicely styled to give the vehicle a more singular appearance that stands out when the Seltos is approached from the rear.
The Seltos’ overall appearance also is enhanced by the 7.2 inches of ground clearance, setting it apart from the competition in this crowded segment.
Interior: The inside of the 2021 Kia Seltos is compact, but offers plenty of space and comfort for a full-sized adult driver and passenger.
The visibility from the driver’s seat is excellent and the controls for everything from entertainment system, HVAC and lighting are all within easy reach. The steering wheel is equipped with controls for the radio and cruise controls. Read More
