2021 Kia Seltos S Turbo AWD Review - Routine Competence

Kia’s little Seltos urban runabout has been getting plaudits from pundits since the first drives took place last year, right before the world shut down.

Those plaudits are well earned. The Seltos isn’t spectacular, but it does what its asked of it. And while we review plenty of cars/utility vehicles/trucks around these parts that do way more than what’s necessary – seriously, the last three reviews are of two utes and a coupe of the high-performance variety – the average vehicle buyer, particularly the one without a large bank account, only really needs a car that does what’s asked of it. Competently.

That’s the Seltos. It won’t turn heads, and it probably won’t impress your friends, unless they care about practicality at a good price. But it’s no depression box. You won’t feel depressed to see it in your driveway.

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  • SilverCoupe My wife had wanted one of these, but I influenced her to get a "big" car instead, a Mini Cooper S. I found the Abarth too rough riding, though the one we test drove had had its suspension modified by its owner.
  • SPPPP I am not thrilled for the inevitable false positives. Though that's certainly better than false negatives in the abstract - but people are supposed to be paying attention anyway. Seems like one more step toward a robotic, commoditized future. Bleh.
  • SPPPP I like it, though price seems a bit high, especially for an automatic. But it's in CA, so it's probably par for the course.
  • Arthur Dailey Incredibly we have 2 employees who own Fiats. A 500 and a 500L and they both have had positive ownership experiences. However they are also both skilled maintenance mechanics, trained in Europe, and perform much of the maintenance on their vehicles themselves.Perhaps that is the key?
  • 28-Cars-Later I'll bid $600 but that's my final offer.