We purchased a 2021 KIA Seltos a couple of weeks ago, trading in out 2015 Kia Rondo. We loved the Rondo and find the Seltos even better. No complaints here.
I’ve had my yellow/ black GT Seltos for over 9 months and I still have that thrill when I go into the garage you get with a new car. It’s absolutely gorgeous. It’s great to drive around town with fabulous visibility. In contrast I test drove the rav 4 and felt I did not know where the car ended. I did not want a big car yet when you go on a vacation it is super comfy on a long drive and great trunk for a sub compact. I shopped by color and style. Wanted a car to bring me joy. The Seltos has totally exceeded my expectations.
Best bang for the buck. My friend bought one and let me test drive it yesterday. Spacious, elegant, sporty, AWD, high tech, engine bay is clean and nicely painted, the led lights are all neat and classy. I love it.
serpantseed08 I just got a 2021 AWD sx turbo in pearl white. I love it. I don’t do any extreme off roading, but I do go to beaches where you can drive up the beach. I love it. I couldn’t be happier with it.
Wife bought S Turbo in March, nave 2000 miles on it, and she LOVES it!! Great performance, AWD, safety technology, and less than $26,000! Great looks and interior room, and here is the biggest surprise, gets 35 MPG on the hwy..........no BS!. 27-28 in town. She traded 2016 Sportage, which she had never had any problems with. This little SUV is a super value for the $.
My buddy has the turbo. He used some tuner company down south and now he's running around 220whp and 270wtq. Pretty cool. Only complain from him is that it has no paddle shifters
I bought the Seltos Sports+ Turbo AWD at the beginning of 2020 (and the beginning of the pandemic). That car never misses a beat and is sheer pleasure to drive. Would highly recommend. 😊👍
I have a Canadian SX Turbo model. The DCT takes a little getting used to, but 99% of the time it's great. I did a long highway trip and got 6.4l/100km (36.7 MPG) which surprised me. I have zero complaints about this car. I test drove an LX (AWD) and was surprised how nice the CVT felt, and it felt quicker than the horsepower numbers would have suggested. If I needed to save a little money, I would have been happy with the EX or EX Premium.
I'm three years into a Kia Sedona purchase (What can I say, I have kids). I saw this a few weeks ago and immediately wanted one. I think I will wait one to two more years to see if they refine it a bit more/work out any kinks, but then I'm all in!
Transmission choices are the main problem. Non-turbo gets a CVT which minimizes driving engagement, the turbo gets a dual-clutch transmission which can be a real problem if you have a steep driveway or live in a hilly area. We had a Hyundai Elantra Sport with the turbo/DCT combo. It was fine at first, but in daily driving the DCT/turbo engagement got weird. The car never seemed to know what gear to be in. Trying to get the car up our steep driveway and into the garage was a tricky experience. If you are going to pick the Turbo powertrain I would suggest you rent one before buying one.
I've had the SX Turbo for about 3 weeks and the only thing I don't like is the Lane Assistance . Drives me nuts! The braking assistance scared the hell out of me at first as well. But all this stuff is saving me about $45 in insurance a month
You can either turn that off completely, or set it to just beep. I have mine set to beep because I didn't like it trying to nudge me over, but do like the added safety feature of knowing when I'm drifting.
I test drove a sportage this weekend and liked everything but the fuel economy and outside styling but this looks like a range rover for less! Gonna hit up a dealer very soon
I just was in this suv today... I almost am willing to trade in my Audi SQ5 for this. Thats saying a lot! Very pretty. Slightly Range Rover-like on the front end. Really pretty. But I did say ALMOST... lol
My wife just picked up a yellow sx a few days ago and I've been watching so many review videos and commenting which I dont usually do but I just wanted to see if other reviewers are feeling the same way I feel. The car is just really good! Coming out of of mazda cx5 this car has been a breath a fresh air. The drive, the power, the design, the infotainment system is just so good. I know kia and Hyundai are doing their thing lately. We first test drove the base engine and for a base engine I would still choice it over the hrv, mazda, Nissan, but the sx will hit all checkmarks. If anybody remembers the Nissan Juke nismo this is what the car drives like but bigger, better, and more attractive. When people get wind of how good this car is i expect to see them everywhere
@@briannadawes2097 in my opinion it's overrated. The Kia seltos just feels bigger yet it drives like a sports car. To me the Mazda felt very numb despite reviews saying other wise. Test drive both and see which one is better. The one negative conplaint I have for the seltos is the transmission , in stop and go traffic there is a weird stutter which I know comes from a have a dry dual clutch tranny
@@AnotherRichEXP I just am so in love with both. It’s hard. The Mazda comes with a power lift gate which the Seltos doesn’t. In my opinion the Bose sound system is incredible in the Mazda compared to the Bose system in the Seltos. The Seltos isn’t bad but to me, there’s just a difference. I wish the top trim (the sx) that I’m looking at is just lacking more features that should be in it and there’s a ton of gloss black which I’m scared is going to get scratched especially because I have gloss black now and it’s scratched up. Basically, I just wish there was more on the top trim of the Seltos. I have a Seltos on hold with the plum interior but I’m still just so confused on both. How’s the gas on the Mazda?
@@briannadawes2097 yea I get. I forgot about the lift gate that was silly of Kia on that part and while the infotainment system is better in the seltos I do agree the Bose in the Mazda was nicer. I do like the party lights in the seltos though, cool feature . As far as gas mileage the Mazda was about 25.6 mixed and the seltos we get about 30 mixed. The shiny plastic on the seltos is actually holding up fine so far. Another complaint on the Mazda is that the seats are very slippery and you tend to slide alot around turns.
I have the 2021 Kia Seltos SX GTI AWD (loaded) and it has all front LED headlamps...gear shifting a little clunky first two shifts then smooth after that...I bought it because it’s what I’ve been looking for after test driving comparable vehicles.
Just picked up the EX trim 1 week ago. Overall love it, only one thing I dislike is the big sensor box behind the rear view mirror. I feel it blocks your sight line. The road noise is not an issue for me,as I was driving a 2015 Outlander and the Seltos is much quieter. Baby version of the Telluride.
Thanks for the review. I traded in a 2016 Soul for one of these when I saw it in the showroom while waiting for an oil change on my Soul (damned expensive oil change). For me, it satisfied the one thing I didn't like about the Soul, and that was lack of cargo space with all seats up. I got the 'S' version because I wanted FWD for the slightly better gas mileage, and as you noted, only the 'S' trim comes with the option of FWD; otherwise, I might have considered the lower LX version. Unfortunately, with us having to 'shelter in place,' I haven't driven it much since my purchase on Feb. 29, but I'd say it drives similarly to the Soul - ride isn't the smoothest (my wife's Suby Crosstrek is smoother), but it's not like sitting on a gokart either. As for headlights, I haven't had a chance to drive it much at night, but I do like that they will auto-low-beam when you have the high beams on and another car is detected either coming at you or is close in front of you. One of the things I preferred in the 'S' trim was the cloth/leather (or faux leather) seat trim, as I'm not a big fan of all leather, which is all you could get in the higher trims. As for practicality, I think the only competition in its class in the U.S., when you consider seating room and cargo space, is the Crosstrek, and the Suby is a little more expensive with less warranty. Time will tell, but the Seltos provides me with everything I want in a vehicle, and I'm hoping to hold onto it for quite some time.
@@fredbillie Not being mechanical, that's not something I would have even thought about. When I buy a car, I typically try to keep pricing as low as possible by going for only what I feel I need, and also try to be practical by considering gas mileage and repair costs. My 'research' found that 4wd systems were typically a bit more complex than FWD, and thus more expensive to repair, so that was also a consideration. How much difference I would have noticed in the ride of the 4wd version will never be known, but certainly something others might want to consider.
Question for you - I have the S too with the cloth/leather seats. Have you tried cleaning the leather? Water, armor all, ANY kind of cleaner stains the seat. Isn’t what to do.
@@kaitlins2701 Sorry Kaitlin, I have not tried to clean the seats. It's not really leather, so perhaps there is a specific product for it. My wife recently went to an auto parts store for some cleaning material for her car (she does have leather), and whatever they recommended did the trick, so I'd seek advice from such if you have one nearby. The product she used was "Armor All Air Freshening Cleaning Wipes (with the power of orange)."
Hey, just wanted to stop by and say I am on my fourth kia now. Two of which hit the 200,000 mile mark, the third one I traded at 120,000 for something newer and current Kia Sportage is at 107,xxx. I have found kia’s to be extremely dependable. I hope you have your seltos for a long time and hope this gives you peace of mind.
we just bought a 2021 Seltos fully loaded, my only dislike is, that the arm rest is geared for a tall person, they should take in to consideration of short people and make the arm rest to be able to be pulled forward for us, instead of having to buy a arm rest extender to slide in between the seat. Other than that l love it .
Wish KIA spent money on refining the engine to reduce noise rather than Gimmicks like lane keep and radar cruise. Unfortunately auto makers don't care about basics anymore and focus on getting their feature list long.
well I got one like 3 months ago and I felt something not right about it every time I drove it but it felt like that feature it has called Idle Stop and Go System trying to engage while I was driving but I brushed it off till it started getting worse so I made an APT with my Kia dealer to service or check it out at only 1800 miles and I barely made it to shop that day it was stopping and dying on me 2 miles from dealership but I made it. they said I need a NEW transmission... they got me a rental and after 2 weeks I finally got it back and I asked them why and he said well every once in awhile a part can be bad and your was. now when I drive it I still feel like i felt that feeling of the engine crapping out but sometimes I think its just from the first episode I had with it. I do not feel safe but what do I do. I really wanted a Telluride but would have to put $1000 down and wait 6 months so it is what it is. I got this.'
I am leasing one and it's awesome. The one thing I noticed about kia cars is that if you have the windows down at a certain leaving the whole inside vibrates aggressively from the air passing through. That's very annoying.
Luv my 2021 Seltos In Canada my EX Premium includes LED lights and forward collision plus 10.25 media heated seats etc Just missing Turbo 7 speed tran and heads up
I agree with your likes and dislikes. I came from a Honda fit, so this is quieter than the Honda. Some of the road noise is due to the all wheel drive parts that are always in motion while driving. The ride is you might say sporty, which I like. I wanted the Yellow and black, only available on the top of the line model. If I could have ordered it, I would have chosen FWD. with real 7 spd auto. the color that I liked, and 2 color interior . My main dislike is that f***n sound of nature that can't be turned off of the infotainment center, I HATE IT.
If you live rural or semi-rural the dual-clutch is magic. But, they are not suited for urban stop-start driving...although I have no trouble when I visit Sydney. You just have to know how to drive them in that environment...few do.
I value your opinion, Sir!!! You saying the halogens don't work well is worrying! Not so much for me, because I would go for the top trim to get the LED headlights and stay away from the CVT. But worrying because others will pick this with the halogens, and them not working well is a safety issue! Keep up the great work, Sir!!!
Thank you Lance! I appreciate that. I’m definitely hard in halogens just because the LEDs have so much better distance in most vehicles..and if they can put them in any model to help with viability..it would be nice if they would..but I totally understand costs and all of that, but still lol. At least modern LEDs are better about not glaring or being too bright for oncoming traffic like some. I like your choice, thanks again!
Most trims come with AWD, S trim FWD doesn’t even come with blind spot monitor, If I have to buy AWD, I would rather go with crosstrek symmetrical AWD along with 8.7 inches of ground clearance, it also come with LED steering responsive headlight and reserve automatic braking.
The cargo space with all seats down is 68 cubic feet, not 62. I get a laugh out of people that get upset over not having LED headlights. You can buy LEDs for it and it would take about 20 minutes to change them out, all for around $65, or more, depending on the lumens. I have a 2017 Sportage and the first I did when I got it was change out the headlights and back up camera lights, both to LED.
Yep the headlights are super easy to change (on many vehicles, but not all). Yet most people won’t and will be driving with sub-optimal headlights. It costs Kia basically nothing to do that.. The space is 62.8 cu ft according to Kia - still fantastic though for this size www.kia.com/us/en/seltos/specs-compare
In some countries a design change such as halogen to led falls outside of aftermarket design rules and constitute an illegal alteration that may effect insurance claims. This is true in Australia.
Nolan, it might be worth noting KIA's design philosophy compared to most brands from Europe, the US, and Japan. Unlike their competitors KIA offers very few individual options or packages of options for individual trim levels. Instead, they bundle options and make them standard on different trim levels. Buy a European brand, especially a luxury brand, and you can choose among literally dozens of individual options at a particular trim level, enabling a buyer to customize their vehicle in hundreds of ways. An American brand such as Ford provides an extensive set of option "packages" for individual trim levels. Again, an individual vehicle can be spec'ed a dozens of ways within a trim level. KIA's approach is different and applies to almost all their vehicles. Lower trims have a relatively generous set of features but very few options. The same is true of upper trims. An extensive set of features but very few individual options. In fact, top trims may have even fewer choices in terms of features such as color than lower trims. This approach can be frustrating for buyers who might want a particular feature (e.g.LED headlights) as an option on a lower trim vehicle and don't want some of the other features that come with a higher trim. Why can't I get a bench second row on a top trim (SX) Telluride, for example. And why is a bench seat only available on a lower trim and captain chairs aren't even available as an option on the lower trim (LX) version? Some customers believe this is purely to encourage a buyer to opt for a more expensive trim level. Surprisingly, though, it has less obvious advantages for most consumers. First, the approach radically simplifies the production process. If virtually all examples of a particular trim level are almost identical KIA can benefit from volume purchases of items such as captain chairs or LED headlights from suppliers. Likewise, a production line can be simplified with fewer different skills involved for a particular trim. Furthermore, dealers are less likely to have unique (but less popular) versions of a particular trim sitting on their lots unsold until they're eventually heavily discounted to be sold. You can buy a purple Lexus with a green interior. But because that's a version that has very limited appeal, it will be a very expensive set of options, not only for that particular unit but for other more popular color combinations that have to make up for the loss of a heavily discounted unit sitting on a lot for an extended period. All of this means that KIA can offer their vehicles at a significantly lower price to consumers than most competitors. Volume production at a lower cost and volume sales of models that the bulk of consumers want means a lower overall price to most customers. I've purchased two top trim KIA Sorentos in the last decade, each at several thousand dollars less than comparable competitors and in many cases with more and better features. Had I purchased a Highlander or an Explorer I would have had more color choices. I could have purchased a lower trim of those vehicles and optioned most of the features I wanted without those that were a lower priority for me. But in each case those choices would have cost more.
Imo, lack of standard led headlights ( i mean all the wiring, etc., is already there so led would not cost that much more), and no amber rear turn signals are both safety issues. No excuse for not having both, especially as the cost uptick is minimal
we have a cerato GT wit 7 sp dct -and it works just fine ....people need to learn how to use them and also the reviewers never seem to understand that the DCT will "learn" how you use it and adapt...they probably never spend enough time with it to get to that point.
Your first dislike about headlights is really a safety issue and not an options issue. These small fish-eye projector lights are a common source of complaints from owners of last generation Rav4's and the new Telluride. Had the same poor lighting on my 2005 Mazda6. It is a known problem. Don't understand why manufacturers continue with this dangerous design flaw. On the 2019 Rav4 Toyota corrected this flaw with new Led lights on all trims.
Great full review. Disappointed car does not have even the option of automatic trunk lift gate. Would the lift gate be hard to lower for a shorter person with back problems?
The new Kia trim offerings on several new cars (see former Optima now K5). For instance, KIA offers wireless CarPlay in lower trims, though not the top trims. Also, AWD in lower trims and not higher trims. The Seltos is going to get a high IIHS rating with those halogen lights. How much more would that cost KIA to add LED’s?
Nice thorough and honest review. Weighing out my options on compact SUV from Honda, Toyota, and Kia. I like the price of the the KIA. However, I trust the reliability and performance will last longer with a Toyota. Can you do a comparison between the three brands? If possible, talk about long life expectancy, reliability, key features, how well it might do in snow and long road trips etc... great video, thank you for sharing!
Thank you very much! I know what you mean, Kia is appealing but there are question marks long term, especially with a brand new model like this. Is it the HRV and CHR or RAV4 and CRV you’re looking at?
The blind spot isn’t bad when comparing it to other vehicles in the class...but it’s definitely still tough to see at times. Not the worst I’ve been in. I don’t believe it does..maybe it has that option but I don’t think so. It still has the “Smart key” where you can touch the door handle to lock in when leaving but I never saw anything about it automatically locking like some other vehicles do
Kia knows how to design and build for a very affordable price. Can this Selto be classified to tow and if it does what are the limits? I wish if Kia would also make the Selto a hybrid vehicle. I currently own a Niro but it looks that this Kia Seltos could be another best seller in a hybrid configuration.
I suggest Pirelli Scorpion Verde all season tires when the original tires wear out. They are probably noisy on rough pavement to put higher miles per gallon numbers on the window sticker. I would also test drive the Mazda CX-3 and CX-30.
There were other things you did not mentioned about the dislikes. First, the 2021 Kia Seltos (any trim level) is cheap. Looks good on the outside and has great safety features. But, take a closer look in the inside and the roof and floor is basically covered up with cardboard. Highway noise is ridiculously loud. The cheap radio that comes with it will not drown out the noise. No LED headlights. You got them on the daylight running lights BUT at night the head lamps don't match because its regular bulb . All wheel drive is really not necessary because it can't really go off road like other vehicles. It will get you through snowy weather (to a point, and hope the transmission will not over heat as reported by other owners) but that's it. So why the hype of AWD? A regular FWD will do the job and will be a bit cheaper. The SX is the top trim with Bose speakers, XM radio and mood display. BUT, it will not come with a sun roof. The S Tubo (model under it) does not come with sunroof either, no XM radio, or Bose speaker. Yet the EX and lower will come with a sunroof and XM radio at a lower price. S Turbo, $27,250 and the SX $30,000. For that much money one could get a new Honda CRV which, to date, KIA will never beat. The Mazda CX-30 fair better in quality and power. Resale value on the CX-30 is better than the Seltos which is in the same class. The Seltos is a little bigger than the Soul but a little smaller than the Kia Sportage. Verdit. Don't rush to get the Seltos. Check out other vehicles first. Above all, at the end of the day, which vehicle will hold its resale value the best. It sure isn't KIA.
I would go with the RAV4, even though it would cost more to get similar features. You considering the RAV4? I really like the Seltos, but I like the bigger size of the Rav, it’s pretty efficient, good reliability track record and proven resale value
@@raya74 gotta love the V6. The Prime is a plug in hybrid version...and it’s actually fast, faster than the new Camry V6 by a hair. It’s spendy...but a RAV4 that’s your speed 😜
Thank you! Well I haven’t been able to drive one yet. From a practicality stand point it seems like Kia would be hard to beat but I’m sure the Mazda drives nice and has a nice feel to it!
My 2012 forte was recalled with the same issue. Thing has almost 200k miles no issues. Last i checked the issue has only affected a handful of vehicles. I'll role the dice on this car.
I had planned to buy a Seltos. I waited for months for them to arrive in the U.S. but was very disappointed when they finally made it. I could not get LED front lights without buying the GT which I didn't want and I could not get the 10.2 infotainment screen for the same reason. So I chose to buy the Soul EX wich came with all those things. The only think I dislike about my Soul is the very stiff ride.
Interesting that some reviews say noisy ride, some say quiet ride. I've driven a base model and it was very quiet, but the difference seems to lie in FWD vs. AWD and/or 16" wheels vs. 18", or a combination of both. I'd like to see that aspect investigated.
If all-wheel drive is standard on most models why on earth would anyone complain that they only want a front -wheel drive? Doesn't make sense, so why include it as a "dislike"?
AWD is more expensive in the long run for maintenance and at the pump. Personally, I prefer AWD, but there are tons of people who don’t need or want it. If they want a Seltos, they’re stuck with more expensive and less efficient AWD regardless...why on earth did they make it that way? It’s not like this is a 4Runner or Jeep rubicon...even the 4Runner offers 2wd across trim levels
The Seltos is on my wife and I's list of possible new car purchases, the Sportage is the other. Consumer Reports didn't like the ride on the highway and deemed the Seltos not very good on a road trip, what was your experience with the ride? We haven't taken the Seltos for a test drive yet, I have driven the Sportage and liked it.
It’s been a while since I’ve been in the shortage, but I still felt like the Seltos ride was adequate. Compared to larger vehicles like the Sorento, it’s stiffer but it’s on par with most others in this class. I didn’t spend 3 hours in there at a time but I drive about 35 min to work on all country highway and it was just fine to me ...if you test one out, see if you can have an extended test drive or even take it home 👍
Timothy Martin personally, I drove 2,860km across Ontario and back, and it was AMAZING in the Seltos. Comfy seats, the climate system is great, sound system is amazing, fuel economy was great, great power response, steering was nice, next to no ‘play’ with the wheel.
We purchased a 2021 KIA Seltos a couple of weeks ago, trading in out 2015 Kia Rondo. We loved the Rondo and find the Seltos even better. No complaints here.
Does it have a power lift gate?
@@mrz6462 not our model. Don’t know about the other models.
I’ve had my yellow/ black GT Seltos for over 9 months and I still have that thrill when I go into the garage you get with a new car. It’s absolutely gorgeous. It’s great to drive around town with fabulous visibility. In contrast I test drove the rav 4 and felt I did not know where the car ended. I did not want a big car yet when you go on a vacation it is super comfy on a long drive and great trunk for a sub compact. I shopped by color and style. Wanted a car to bring me joy. The Seltos has totally exceeded my expectations.
That’s fantastic, I’m glad to hear it and thank you for sharing! 😁👍
Best bang for the buck. My friend bought one and let me test drive it yesterday. Spacious, elegant, sporty, AWD, high tech, engine bay is clean and nicely painted, the led lights are all neat and classy. I love it.
There's only one thing that I don't like about it....is that I don't own one yet lol
bingo!
HAHA SAME!!!!
sameeeew:(
serpantseed08 I just got a 2021 AWD sx turbo in pearl white. I love it. I don’t do any extreme off roading, but I do go to beaches where you can drive up the beach. I love it. I couldn’t be happier with it.
CarliEadsFiit bought the same model last weekend, ocean blue with white roof.. A M A Z I N G
We've had our Seltos SX Turbo for 10 months. We love it! It's loaded, drives like a sports car, and looks great.
Wife bought S Turbo in March, nave 2000 miles on it, and she LOVES it!! Great performance, AWD, safety technology, and less than $26,000! Great looks and interior room, and here is the biggest surprise, gets 35 MPG on the hwy..........no BS!. 27-28 in town. She traded 2016 Sportage, which she had never had any problems with. This little SUV is a super value for the $.
My buddy has the turbo. He used some tuner company down south and now he's running around 220whp and 270wtq. Pretty cool. Only complain from him is that it has no paddle shifters
I bought the Seltos Sports+ Turbo AWD at the beginning of 2020 (and the beginning of the pandemic). That car never misses a beat and is sheer pleasure to drive. Would highly recommend. 😊👍
I never even knew this vehicle existed until I've seen the ads!
I think it's their first year
@@D.S.Torr14 it is!
me too
I have a Canadian SX Turbo model. The DCT takes a little getting used to, but 99% of the time it's great. I did a long highway trip and got 6.4l/100km (36.7 MPG) which surprised me. I have zero complaints about this car. I test drove an LX (AWD) and was surprised how nice the CVT felt, and it felt quicker than the horsepower numbers would have suggested. If I needed to save a little money, I would have been happy with the EX or EX Premium.
I'm three years into a Kia Sedona purchase (What can I say, I have kids). I saw this a few weeks ago and immediately wanted one. I think I will wait one to two more years to see if they refine it a bit more/work out any kinks, but then I'm all in!
Transmission choices are the main problem. Non-turbo gets a CVT which minimizes driving engagement, the turbo gets a dual-clutch transmission which can be a real problem if you have a steep driveway or live in a hilly area. We had a Hyundai Elantra Sport with the turbo/DCT combo. It was fine at first, but in daily driving the DCT/turbo engagement got weird. The car never seemed to know what gear to be in. Trying to get the car up our steep driveway and into the garage was a tricky experience. If you are going to pick the Turbo powertrain I would suggest you rent one before buying one.
I've had the SX Turbo for about 3 weeks and the only thing I don't like is the Lane Assistance . Drives me nuts! The braking assistance scared the hell out of me at first as well. But all this stuff is saving me about $45 in insurance a month
You can either turn that off completely, or set it to just beep. I have mine set to beep because I didn't like it trying to nudge me over, but do like the added safety feature of knowing when I'm drifting.
I don't care for the lane assist either, there are times that it is not useful. I have turned mine off.
I test drove a sportage this weekend and liked everything but the fuel economy and outside styling but this looks like a range rover for less! Gonna hit up a dealer very soon
I just was in this suv today... I almost am willing to trade in my Audi SQ5 for this. Thats saying a lot! Very pretty. Slightly Range Rover-like on the front end. Really pretty. But I did say ALMOST... lol
Keep the Audi
@Ursula Conroy
Yeah...keep the Audi...until you need a part to be replaced. Let me know how much it costs...comparing to KIA parts.
My wife just picked up a yellow sx a few days ago and I've been watching so many review videos and commenting which I dont usually do but I just wanted to see if other reviewers are feeling the same way I feel. The car is just really good! Coming out of of mazda cx5 this car has been a breath a fresh air. The drive, the power, the design, the infotainment system is just so good. I know kia and Hyundai are doing their thing lately. We first test drove the base engine and for a base engine I would still choice it over the hrv, mazda, Nissan, but the sx will hit all checkmarks. If anybody remembers the Nissan Juke nismo this is what the car drives like but bigger, better, and more attractive. When people get wind of how good this car is i expect to see them everywhere
I’m between 2021 Mazda CX-5 and the 2022 seltos. What’s was wrong with the Mazda CX-5?
@@briannadawes2097 in my opinion it's overrated. The Kia seltos just feels bigger yet it drives like a sports car. To me the Mazda felt very numb despite reviews saying other wise. Test drive both and see which one is better. The one negative conplaint I have for the seltos is the transmission , in stop and go traffic there is a weird stutter which I know comes from a have a dry dual clutch tranny
@@AnotherRichEXP I just am so in love with both. It’s hard. The Mazda comes with a power lift gate which the Seltos doesn’t. In my opinion the Bose sound system is incredible in the Mazda compared to the Bose system in the Seltos. The Seltos isn’t bad but to me, there’s just a difference. I wish the top trim (the sx) that I’m looking at is just lacking more features that should be in it and there’s a ton of gloss black which I’m scared is going to get scratched especially because I have gloss black now and it’s scratched up. Basically, I just wish there was more on the top trim of the Seltos. I have a Seltos on hold with the plum interior but I’m still just so confused on both. How’s the gas on the Mazda?
@@briannadawes2097 yea I get. I forgot about the lift gate that was silly of Kia on that part and while the infotainment system is better in the seltos I do agree the Bose in the Mazda was nicer. I do like the party lights in the seltos though, cool feature . As far as gas mileage the Mazda was about 25.6 mixed and the seltos we get about 30 mixed. The shiny plastic on the seltos is actually holding up fine so far. Another complaint on the Mazda is that the seats are very slippery and you tend to slide alot around turns.
@@briannadawes2097 honestly it's going to come down to price
I really like the looks and the package. Great new entry!
No matter what there's always good and bad in any car brands we cnt have all..but still i love kia seltos😀
Just picked up my new Seltos S-turbo blue with white roof. Quite pleased. Good steering/handling. Turbo makes it very zippy and fun to drive.
I was planning on an S-turbo with that same color combo. The blue and white really suit the car well.
I have the 2021 Kia Seltos SX GTI AWD (loaded) and it has all front LED headlamps...gear shifting a little clunky first two shifts then smooth after that...I bought it because it’s what I’ve been looking for after test driving comparable vehicles.
Just bought the 2021 Kia seltos ex, I actually love it.
How much did you get it for ?
Would you say it burns oil?
I bought it yesterday its amazing!
I wish I can say I bought it yesterday
Just picked up the EX trim 1 week ago. Overall love it, only one thing I dislike is the big sensor box behind the rear view mirror. I feel it blocks your sight line. The road noise is not an issue for me,as I was driving a 2015 Outlander and the Seltos is much quieter. Baby version of the Telluride.
Just bought the EX, its the best trim in my opinion especially for the price!
Agree
how much
Thanks for the review. I traded in a 2016 Soul for one of these when I saw it in the showroom while waiting for an oil change on my Soul (damned expensive oil change). For me, it satisfied the one thing I didn't like about the Soul, and that was lack of cargo space with all seats up. I got the 'S' version because I wanted FWD for the slightly better gas mileage, and as you noted, only the 'S' trim comes with the option of FWD; otherwise, I might have considered the lower LX version. Unfortunately, with us having to 'shelter in place,' I haven't driven it much since my purchase on Feb. 29, but I'd say it drives similarly to the Soul - ride isn't the smoothest (my wife's Suby Crosstrek is smoother), but it's not like sitting on a gokart either. As for headlights, I haven't had a chance to drive it much at night, but I do like that they will auto-low-beam when you have the high beams on and another car is detected either coming at you or is close in front of you. One of the things I preferred in the 'S' trim was the cloth/leather (or faux leather) seat trim, as I'm not a big fan of all leather, which is all you could get in the higher trims. As for practicality, I think the only competition in its class in the U.S., when you consider seating room and cargo space, is the Crosstrek, and the Suby is a little more expensive with less warranty. Time will tell, but the Seltos provides me with everything I want in a vehicle, and I'm hoping to hold onto it for quite some time.
But, you exchanged the better independent suspension tha t comes with the AWD for rear Torsion Bars which doesn't provide as good a ride.
@@fredbillie Not being mechanical, that's not something I would have even thought about. When I buy a car, I typically try to keep pricing as low as possible by going for only what I feel I need, and also try to be practical by considering gas mileage and repair costs. My 'research' found that 4wd systems were typically a bit more complex than FWD, and thus more expensive to repair, so that was also a consideration. How much difference I would have noticed in the ride of the 4wd version will never be known, but certainly something others might want to consider.
Question for you - I have the S too with the cloth/leather seats. Have you tried cleaning the leather? Water, armor all, ANY kind of cleaner stains the seat. Isn’t what to do.
@@kaitlins2701 Sorry Kaitlin, I have not tried to clean the seats. It's not really leather, so perhaps there is a specific product for it. My wife recently went to an auto parts store for some cleaning material for her car (she does have leather), and whatever they recommended did the trick, so I'd seek advice from such if you have one nearby. The product she used was "Armor All Air Freshening Cleaning Wipes (with the power of orange)."
Hey, just wanted to stop by and say I am on my fourth kia now. Two of which hit the 200,000 mile mark, the third one I traded at 120,000 for something newer and current Kia Sportage is at 107,xxx. I have found kia’s to be extremely dependable. I hope you have your seltos for a long time and hope this gives you peace of mind.
we just bought a 2021 Seltos fully loaded, my only dislike is, that the arm rest is geared for a tall person, they should take in to consideration of short people and make the arm rest to be able to be pulled forward for us, instead of having to buy a arm rest extender to slide in between the seat. Other than that l love it .
Does it come with 6 speed manual transmission ? If not, that's bad.
I LOVE MINE, SO GLAD I WALKED INTO DEALERSHIP LAST OCTOBER JUST TO LOOK... HAHAHAH LOVE IT!! MY 3RD KIA IN A ROW...
Wish KIA spent money on refining the engine to reduce noise rather than Gimmicks like lane keep and radar cruise. Unfortunately auto makers don't care about basics anymore and focus on getting their feature list long.
well I got one like 3 months ago and I felt something not right about it every time I drove it but it felt like that feature it has called Idle Stop and Go System trying to engage while I was driving but I brushed it off till it started getting worse so I made an APT with my Kia dealer to service or check it out at only 1800 miles and I barely made it to shop that day it was stopping and dying on me 2 miles from dealership but I made it. they said I need a NEW transmission... they got me a rental and after 2 weeks I finally got it back and I asked them why and he said well every once in awhile a part can be bad and your was. now when I drive it I still feel like i felt that feeling of the engine crapping out but sometimes I think its just from the first episode I had with it. I do not feel safe but what do I do. I really wanted a Telluride but would have to put $1000 down and wait 6 months so it is what it is. I got this.'
It's jerking and wants to shut off smh
Yes. I'm starting to think transmission issues already at 700 miles! Check engine light came on and went away but the way is driving feels like
Any updates?
@@eveef42 Any updates
I am leasing one and it's awesome. The one thing I noticed about kia cars is that if you have the windows down at a certain leaving the whole inside vibrates aggressively from the air passing through. That's very annoying.
Luv my 2021 Seltos
In Canada my EX Premium includes LED lights and forward collision plus 10.25 media heated seats etc
Just missing Turbo 7 speed tran and heads up
I agree with your likes and dislikes. I came from a Honda fit, so this is quieter than the Honda. Some of the road noise is due to the all wheel drive parts that are always in motion while driving. The ride is you might say sporty, which I like. I wanted the Yellow and black, only available on the top of the line model. If I could have ordered it, I would have chosen FWD. with real 7 spd auto. the color that I liked, and 2 color interior . My main dislike is that f***n sound of nature that can't be turned off of the infotainment center, I HATE IT.
Maybe if you put an aftermarket radio it will go away
If you live rural or semi-rural the dual-clutch is magic. But, they are not suited for urban stop-start driving...although I have no trouble when I visit Sydney. You just have to know how to drive them in that environment...few do.
I value your opinion, Sir!!! You saying the halogens don't work well is worrying! Not so much for me, because I would go for the top trim to get the LED headlights and stay away from the CVT. But worrying because others will pick this with the halogens, and them not working well is a safety issue! Keep up the great work, Sir!!!
Thank you Lance! I appreciate that. I’m definitely hard in halogens just because the LEDs have so much better distance in most vehicles..and if they can put them in any model to help with viability..it would be nice if they would..but I totally understand costs and all of that, but still lol. At least modern LEDs are better about not glaring or being too bright for oncoming traffic like some. I like your choice, thanks again!
You need something to worry about
Looks like you have a winner
I’m currently waiting for my 1.5L Diesel Seltos with Torque Converter AT here in Indonesia. Should receive it by the end of this month. 😊
Most trims come with AWD, S trim FWD doesn’t even come with blind spot monitor, If I have to buy AWD, I would rather go with crosstrek symmetrical AWD along with 8.7 inches of ground clearance, it also come with LED steering responsive headlight and reserve automatic braking.
I got the S and it's the best 🎉 definitely would get another Seltos S
did u get the 2021 model or a newer 2024 ? looking to buy one used for my son.
Apple car play ? Built in navigation ?
The cargo space with all seats down is 68 cubic feet, not 62. I get a laugh out of people that get upset over not having LED headlights. You can buy LEDs for it and it would take about 20 minutes to change them out, all for around $65, or more, depending on the lumens. I have a 2017 Sportage and the first I did when I got it was change out the headlights and back up camera lights, both to LED.
Yep the headlights are super easy to change (on many vehicles, but not all). Yet most people won’t and will be driving with sub-optimal headlights. It costs Kia basically nothing to do that..
The space is 62.8 cu ft according to Kia - still fantastic though for this size
www.kia.com/us/en/seltos/specs-compare
In some countries a design change such as halogen to led falls outside of aftermarket design rules and constitute an illegal alteration that may effect insurance claims. This is true in Australia.
The Mazda cx 30 is said to have a quiet cabin ride. Deciding between the two but will most likely opt for cx30.
For the warranties alone, I'll be a kia/Hyundai buyer from here on out
@@ricoaztec1 should I get the hyundai kona?
I agree it does have a jerky transmission! I have the SX with the Turbo and with all the features it does not have a power tailgate!
I'm like a kia seltos vehicle is really super in all respect looking, driving & any good or bad road feeling better than other vehicles
Which Country Variant You Are Having ?
I bought a 2022 S model yesterday
great video!
can you please let me know your height just want to get a better idea about the rear seating?
Thanks
Nolan, it might be worth noting KIA's design philosophy compared to most brands from Europe, the US, and Japan. Unlike their competitors KIA offers very few individual options or packages of options for individual trim levels. Instead, they bundle options and make them standard on different trim levels. Buy a European brand, especially a luxury brand, and you can choose among literally dozens of individual options at a particular trim level, enabling a buyer to customize their vehicle in hundreds of ways. An American brand such as Ford provides an extensive set of option "packages" for individual trim levels. Again, an individual vehicle can be spec'ed a dozens of ways within a trim level. KIA's approach is different and applies to almost all their vehicles. Lower trims have a relatively generous set of features but very few options. The same is true of upper trims. An extensive set of features but very few individual options. In fact, top trims may have even fewer choices in terms of features such as color than lower trims.
This approach can be frustrating for buyers who might want a particular feature (e.g.LED headlights) as an option on a lower trim vehicle and don't want some of the other features that come with a higher trim. Why can't I get a bench second row on a top trim (SX) Telluride, for example. And why is a bench seat only available on a lower trim and captain chairs aren't even available as an option on the lower trim (LX) version?
Some customers believe this is purely to encourage a buyer to opt for a more expensive trim level. Surprisingly, though, it has less obvious advantages for most consumers. First, the approach radically simplifies the production process. If virtually all examples of a particular trim level are almost identical KIA can benefit from volume purchases of items such as captain chairs or LED headlights from suppliers. Likewise, a production line can be simplified with fewer different skills involved for a particular trim.
Furthermore, dealers are less likely to have unique (but less popular) versions of a particular trim sitting on their lots unsold until they're eventually heavily discounted to be sold. You can buy a purple Lexus with a green interior. But because that's a version that has very limited appeal, it will be a very expensive set of options, not only for that particular unit but for other more popular color combinations that have to make up for the loss of a heavily discounted unit sitting on a lot for an extended period.
All of this means that KIA can offer their vehicles at a significantly lower price to consumers than most competitors. Volume production at a lower cost and volume sales of models that the bulk of consumers want means a lower overall price to most customers. I've purchased two top trim KIA Sorentos in the last decade, each at several thousand dollars less than comparable competitors and in many cases with more and better features. Had I purchased a Highlander or an Explorer I would have had more color choices. I could have purchased a lower trim of those vehicles and optioned most of the features I wanted without those that were a lower priority for me. But in each case those choices would have cost more.
Imo, lack of standard led headlights ( i mean all the wiring, etc., is already there so led would not cost that much more), and no amber rear turn signals are both safety issues. No excuse for not having both, especially as the cost uptick is minimal
we have a cerato GT wit 7 sp dct -and it works just fine ....people need to learn how to use them and also the reviewers never seem to understand that the DCT will "learn" how you use it and adapt...they probably never spend enough time with it to get to that point.
I don't like that it does not come with automatic folding side mirrors I'm not sure why they didn't put them in it's really a nice feature
remote folding & adjustable mirrors are basic features. don't know why they only offer adjustable but not folding
I like your reviews. Do you think better tires could help the country road noise that you didn't like.
I like this car Seltos!
*I LIKE* the Range Rover vibe.
*I DON'T LIKE* the price disparity between the base and the top trim.
What was the second like?
Your first dislike about headlights is really a safety issue and not an options issue. These small fish-eye projector lights are a common source of complaints from owners of last generation Rav4's and the new Telluride. Had the same poor lighting on my 2005 Mazda6. It is a known problem. Don't understand why manufacturers continue with this dangerous design flaw. On the 2019 Rav4 Toyota corrected this flaw with new Led lights on all trims.
I have Android, I hat that it doesn't connect wireless by Bluetooth.
I have the EX I believe and I LOVE THIS CAR!!!
Great full review. Disappointed car does not have even the option of automatic trunk lift gate. Would the lift gate be hard to lower for a shorter person with back problems?
I own seltos S. It seems the rear speakers are faint in sound compared to front speakers. Does anyone have this issue?
Great video!
Thank you! Great to have you stop by!
I currently own a 2018 Accord Sport 1.5 Turbo. Is it worth going and getting and trading in my car for one of these?
The new Kia trim offerings on several new cars (see former Optima now K5). For instance, KIA offers wireless CarPlay in lower trims, though not the top trims. Also, AWD in lower trims and not higher trims. The Seltos is going to get a high IIHS rating with those halogen lights. How much more would that cost KIA to add LED’s?
Nice thorough and honest review. Weighing out my options on compact SUV from Honda, Toyota, and Kia. I like the price of the the KIA. However, I trust the reliability and performance will last longer with a Toyota. Can you do a comparison between the three brands? If possible, talk about long life expectancy, reliability, key features, how well it might do in snow and long road trips etc...
great video, thank you for sharing!
Thank you very much! I know what you mean, Kia is appealing but there are question marks long term, especially with a brand new model like this. Is it the HRV and CHR or RAV4 and CRV you’re looking at?
@@PrimeAutotainment Hey, I was checking out the Rav4 and CRV and also doing research on the Kia Seltos.
Its better option than Rav4 and CRV! why spend more? It has same capabilities
And HR-V
I agree with you about the dual clutch transmission
Has any one had problems out of 2021 ,, like on start up battery light stays on and a few more ,, have to shut it off and restart to get them off ,,,
Why ATL selling Kia seltos with 1.5 liter engine in a midsize cross over and the engine is not cover something wrong
how is the blind spot in this car ? also does it lock itself when you walk away from it ? like after parking getting out and closing the door??
The blind spot isn’t bad when comparing it to other vehicles in the class...but it’s definitely still tough to see at times. Not the worst I’ve been in.
I don’t believe it does..maybe it has that option but I don’t think so. It still has the “Smart key” where you can touch the door handle to lock in when leaving but I never saw anything about it automatically locking like some other vehicles do
Kia knows how to design and build for a very affordable price. Can this Selto be classified to tow and if it does what are the limits? I wish if Kia would also make the Selto a hybrid vehicle. I currently own a Niro but it looks that this Kia Seltos could be another best seller in a hybrid configuration.
I agree ~ would like the hybrid choice!!
I suggest Pirelli Scorpion Verde all season tires when the original tires wear out. They are probably noisy on rough pavement to put higher miles per gallon numbers on the window sticker. I would also test drive the Mazda CX-3 and CX-30.
CX3 is considerably smaller
mazda are having terrible mechanical and electrical fails atm
It's nice to see FPS russia doing new RUclips videos :)
There were other things you did not mentioned about the dislikes. First, the 2021 Kia Seltos (any trim level) is cheap. Looks good on the outside and has great safety features. But, take a closer look in the inside and the roof and floor is basically covered up with cardboard. Highway noise is ridiculously loud. The cheap radio that comes with it will not drown out the noise. No LED headlights. You got them on the daylight running lights BUT at night the head lamps don't match because its regular bulb . All wheel drive is really not necessary because it can't really go off road like other vehicles. It will get you through snowy weather (to a point, and hope the transmission will not over heat as reported by other owners) but that's it. So why the hype of AWD? A regular FWD will do the job and will be a bit cheaper. The SX is the top trim with Bose speakers, XM radio and mood display. BUT, it will not come with a sun roof. The S Tubo (model under it) does not come with sunroof either, no XM radio, or Bose speaker. Yet the EX and lower will come with a sunroof and XM radio at a lower price. S Turbo, $27,250 and the SX $30,000. For that much money one could get a new Honda CRV which, to date, KIA will never beat. The Mazda CX-30 fair better in quality and power. Resale value on the CX-30 is better than the Seltos which is in the same class. The Seltos is a little bigger than the Soul but a little smaller than the Kia Sportage. Verdit. Don't rush to get the Seltos. Check out other vehicles first. Above all, at the end of the day, which vehicle will hold its resale value the best. It sure isn't KIA.
Can I afford it? Lease options?
Great features. Great package
you did not say a word about power or gas mileage ?
Would you buy the Seltos S over the Corolla Hatchback SE?
Has anyone encounter issues with their brand new seltos 2021 lx at 700 miles? Check engine light came on and noticed the vechile jerking?
about the road noise, do you think getting a better quieter running tire would help with the noise??
Yes that would probably make a significant difference. Can’t say for sure but there are a lot of tires that vary in noise so that would be a good idea
Can I ask.. If saltos due to it is large size and weight.. Dose the 1600 engine chake on the long road.. Appreciate ur feedback
Great viewpoints my friend 👍
@@MiahD. He is not ...lol
how does it compare to the Honda CR-v
Like everything about it just wish it had the cool blind spot cameras
it does on the higher trims
@@lejeuvideo which trim?
@@peterdang8107 the top 2 ones EX and SX I think I can't remember what they are called
The car is super handsome... just like u
No ventilated seats or heated steering wheel right? That plus the road noise is why I won't get one. Looks nice.
Get a Honda...its an entry model.
@@sassouusasoo3607 just found the 2022 VW Taos. Nice.
Would’ve been nice if you included the HP and torque numbers on the engine choices.
2000 cc 149 horsepower
Toyota rav 4 vs kia seltos ?? Which would u pick?
I would go with the RAV4, even though it would cost more to get similar features. You considering the RAV4? I really like the Seltos, but I like the bigger size of the Rav, it’s pretty efficient, good reliability track record and proven resale value
@@PrimeAutotainment yess I prefer it top cant go wrong with Toyota just wish it was v6 or at least turbo. As long as its not cvt
Yeah too bad it’s not faster, you must have a need for speed Riri lol. Ever heard of the RAV4 Prime?
@@PrimeAutotainment yes you're right I've loved my toyota solora v6 I've heard of prime but can u tell me more!
@@raya74 gotta love the V6. The Prime is a plug in hybrid version...and it’s actually fast, faster than the new Camry V6 by a hair. It’s spendy...but a RAV4 that’s your speed 😜
Thanks for a great review - how does the Seltos compare to the new Mazda CX30 in your opinion, please 👍
Thank you! Well I haven’t been able to drive one yet. From a practicality stand point it seems like Kia would be hard to beat but I’m sure the Mazda drives nice and has a nice feel to it!
Kia recalls 147,000 Seltos and Soul vehicles for fire risks, new engines needed
My 2012 forte was recalled with the same issue. Thing has almost 200k miles no issues. Last i checked the issue has only affected a handful of vehicles. I'll role the dice on this car.
Really like this bad boy, but I do kind of consider the trailblazer also. What do you think about that one?
I haven’t been in the new Trailblazer yet to know 🤷🏻♂️
@@PrimeAutotainment hopefully you will soon! Haha! You have a small SUV that really stands out in your opinion?
Nice information. Wondering .. is Sorento discontinued and is this the alternative?
No, the Sorento is actually going to have a big price increased. Great vehicle!
The Sorento is completely redesigned. They're even introducing a new turbo hybrid with AWD
is traditional Chinese available on the North America version of the infotainment system ?
I had planned to buy a Seltos. I waited for months for them to arrive in the U.S. but was very disappointed when they finally made it. I could not get LED front lights without buying the GT which I didn't want and I could not get the 10.2 infotainment screen for the same reason. So I chose to buy the Soul EX wich came with all those things. The only think I dislike about my Soul is the very stiff ride.
Interesting that some reviews say noisy ride, some say quiet ride. I've driven a base model and it was very quiet, but the difference seems to lie in FWD vs. AWD and/or 16" wheels vs. 18", or a combination of both. I'd like to see that aspect investigated.
Would this be the equivalent a Subaru Crosstrek?
If all-wheel drive is standard on most models why on earth would anyone complain that they only want a front -wheel drive? Doesn't make sense, so why include it as a "dislike"?
AWD is more expensive in the long run for maintenance and at the pump. Personally, I prefer AWD, but there are tons of people who don’t need or want it. If they want a Seltos, they’re stuck with more expensive and less efficient AWD regardless...why on earth did they make it that way? It’s not like this is a 4Runner or Jeep rubicon...even the 4Runner offers 2wd across trim levels
Put the air above 2 and it howls a bit. Road noise? Why are you buying an all wheel drive vehicle?
35.7K Subscribers 😀😀 Well Done. .
what I don’t like on my EX Canadian Version is its headlight. Although the projector is cool etc, the lighting is poor, very very poor.
The Seltos is on my wife and I's list of possible new car purchases, the Sportage is the other. Consumer Reports didn't like the ride on the highway and deemed the Seltos not very good on a road trip, what was your experience with the ride? We haven't taken the Seltos for a test drive yet, I have driven the Sportage and liked it.
It’s been a while since I’ve been in the shortage, but I still felt like the Seltos ride was adequate. Compared to larger vehicles like the Sorento, it’s stiffer but it’s on par with most others in this class. I didn’t spend 3 hours in there at a time but I drive about 35 min to work on all country highway and it was just fine to me ...if you test one out, see if you can have an extended test drive or even take it home 👍
the AWD version solves the issue, the FWD does not have rear suspensions
Timothy Martin personally, I drove 2,860km across Ontario and back, and it was AMAZING in the Seltos. Comfy seats, the climate system is great, sound system is amazing, fuel economy was great, great power response, steering was nice, next to no ‘play’ with the wheel.
@@laurapardy8297 What kind of fuel mileage did you get?
Rusty Shackleford was around 8 or 9 L/100km in the highway. Got just under 8 hours per tank. Only about $60cad to fill up.