If you are looking for a car that is bigger than the Kia Soul but not as big as the compact Niro, the 2021 Kia Seltos is the way to go. This subcompact crossover is the newest addition to Kia’s lineup this year, catering to car buyers who are in the market for a vehicle that sits somewhere in between a tiny sedan and a much lankier and larger compact.
With only a handful of car companies having an offering in the subcompact crossover segment, it is not hard to see why models of the Kia Seltos are moving off much quicker than Kia can manufacture them.
If you are wondering whether this car is the right one for you, you have come to the right place. In this article, we will discuss the benefits of owning the new Seltos and how it has taken the car industry by storm since its unveiling. Keep reading to understand why car buyers are scrambling to get their hands on the 2021 Kia Seltos.
Smart design
One thing that immediately caught the attention of car buyers when the Kia Seltos was first unveiled was its revolutionary design. Now that the car is on the market, its smart styling continues to be one of its key selling points. This car is reminiscent of other Kias, with elements obviously taking from elsewhere in Kia’s league of charming cars. The 2021 Kia Seltos is packed with a wealth of appealing features, including a tiger-nose grille, 18-inch wheels, astonishing LED running lights and taillights, and silver accents all over. But what brings in more novelty to the table is its two-tone look that is not only limited to its premium trims.
Ample storage space
Considering its subcompact design, you may be surprised to know how much storage space the 2021 Kia Seltos offers. Though Seltos is a small SUV, it offers as much as 62.8 cubic feet of cargo space at the back when its rear seats are folded. That is why it makes an ideal car if you often pack your vehicle up with groceries or sports equipment. It is also a great choice if your family often goes on long trips and needs to load plenty of luggage and other stuff each time. The storage space this car offers sure places it ahead of its peers.
Power
You will love how the 2021 Kia Seltos makes available a variety of engine options, which you can also have with a slew of gearbox options. For easy driving, you may opt for the 1.5 IVT, though you may find the 1.5 MT engine very enticing if you want a more reasonably priced engine. You may also choose diesel MT if you are after better fuel economy, or the 1.4 DCT combo, which is the most desirable of all. Unfortunately though, this engine cannot handle heavy traffic as efficiently as your other engine options. If you want more vigor, you may choose the 1.6-liter turbocharged engine that can churn out 175 horsepower.
Comfort
While most SUVs claim that they can fit five, it may be a stretch to actually fit as many passengers in their cabins. With the 2021 Kia Seltos, that is not the case. Thanks to its spacious interior, this car offers as much as 41.4 inches of leg room in its front seats and 38 inches in the second row, making it possible to accommodate up to five adults comfortably. With its space inside, both children and adults will surely have no issues taking up the back seats, even if there are more than two of them in a row.
Reasonably priced all-wheel-drive
The 2021 Kia Seltos is one of your most affordable options for an all-wheel drive. While the Seltos S only comes with front-wheel-drive, all other trims of this subcompact crossover offer an all-wheel drive as standard to give you more traction when you need it. The AWD systems of these trims utilize sensors to detect when the roads are slick and require a shift in wheels for a better grip. If the system recognizes that you need to grip the road better, it will automatically adjust your power delivery to provide you with what you need. Even in certain situations, you can even lock this all-wheel drive system in place to get a more consistent traction when traveling at low speeds. The 2021 Kia Seltos may not be the best off-roader out there, but it is affordably priced enough to offer that much when it comes to AWD. In fact, four of its trims even offer a four-wheel drive lock mode to assist you if you find yourself passing through a difficult terrain.
Easy on fuel
If you think it is impossible to run 30 miles on a single gallon of fuel, then you have probably never heard about the 2021 Kia Seltos. This subcompact crossover is so fuel-efficient it lets you achieve the measure of 30 miles per gallon without having to buy a hybrid. Its front-wheel drive S trim approximately gets 29 miles per gallon in the city, 34 on the highway and 31 gallons when combined. What makes it possible for the new Kia Seltos to achieve such fuel economy is its idle stop-and-go function, which automatically shuts down its engine when it is stuck in heavy traffic. It is also amazing how the fuel tank of this crossover can hold as much as 13.2 gallons, allowing you to travel far before having to fuel it up again.
High-end technology
Except for the base trim, all other trims of the 2021 Kia Seltos are equipped with an 8 to 10.25-inch touchscreen display that offers high-res graphics and a whole slew of touch controls. Regardless of your trim, this subcompact crossover lets you enjoy Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, as well as a state-of-the-art audio system with cool speakers and different modes. One of the best modes that the 2021 Seltos has to offer is the Sounds of Nature mode, which lets you drive while listening to soothing white noise. Despite being innovative, these technologies are very user-friendly that operating them is just a walk in the park even if you are not that techie.
