2021 Kia Seltos S Turbo AWD

For 2021, Kia added the Seltos subcompact crossover to its lineup, slotting it in between the Soul and Sportage models. The Seltos sticks to Kia’s value formula, offering class-leading competitors’ features at a lower price point. Practicality is part of that formula, as well: The Seltos offers lots of interior room, especially good headroom and cargo space, plus good visibility from the driver’s seat. Our test car’s 1.6-liter turbocharged engine—standard on the midlevel Turbo S trim—and 7-speed automatic transmission produced surprisingly quick acceleration and additional power. All-wheel drive, for improved bad-weather traction, and added advanced safety features are included on the S Turbo trim, as well. Unfortunately, the Seltos, of necessity, has to cut corners and comes up short in a few important areas: poor driving dynamics, with noticeable turbo lag; a jerky transmission; and lackluster steering-wheel feedback. Also, lots of engine and tire noise gets into the cabin, and the quality of the interior materials feels substandard. Finally, the halogen headlights provide insufficient visibility; LED headlights come only on the top-trim SX version.