2021 Hyundai Kona vs 2021 Kia Seltos

The 2021 Kia Seltos, despite being a subcompact SUV, had a big-car feel with its upright layout and commanding road view. The headlight design, though busy, flowed well into the grille styling, and the lower front bumper had an aggressive approach angle. The two-tone roof design and red circles around the wheel centers added a trendy and dynamic touch. Inside, the Seltos featured a straightforward design with clean lines and seamlessly integrated tech, reminiscent of upscale brands like Audi. The LCD screen for climate controls and the handle framing the tray below the center stack underscored its utilitarian yet sporty nature.

The 2021 Hyundai Kona had a funky, playful exterior with a busy front grille flanked by multiple lighting features, appealing to younger buyers. The rear design was more subdued with a standard crossover shape. Inside, the Kona maintained a fun attitude without being too whimsical. The seats featured neat patterns and standard cloth upholstery, with higher trims offering leather upgrades. The well-organized interior had an infotainment system touchscreen mounted high on the dash and physical climate controls, making the layout simple and intuitive.

The 2021 Kia Seltos offered two engine options. The LX, S, and EX trims came with a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine producing 146 horsepower and 132 pound-feet of torque, paired with a continuously variable transmission (CVT). AWD was standard on LX and EX and optional on the S. The base engine was adequate for city driving but lacked power at higher speeds. The S Turbo and SX Turbo trims featured a turbocharged 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine with 175 horsepower and 195 pound-feet of torque, paired with a 7-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission and standard AWD. This engine provided ample power for quick acceleration and highway driving. The Seltos had a Drive Mode dial with Normal, Sport, and Smart modes, enhancing throttle response and steering feel. Despite its upright layout, the Seltos handled well with minimal body roll and a smooth ride.

The 2021 Hyundai Kona also offered two powertrain options. The base model had a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine with 147 horsepower and 132 pound-feet of torque, paired with a six-speed automatic transmission. The optional turbocharged 1.6-liter engine produced 195 horsepower and 195 pound-feet of torque, paired with a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. FWD was standard, with AWD available for an additional $1,400. The base engine provided sufficient power for city and highway driving, while the turbo engine offered a sportier feel, though the dual-clutch transmission was less smooth at low speeds. The Kona handled confidently, feeling agile and engaging, with a balance of comfort and composure on curvy roads. Fuel economy varied by configuration, with the base engine and FWD achieving 27/33/30 mpg city/highway/combined, and the turbo engine with AWD achieving 26/29/27 mpg.

The 2021 Kia Seltos provided ample cargo space, with 26.6 cubic feet behind the rear seats and 62.8 cubic feet with the rear seats folded. This made it one of the most spacious subcompact SUVs. The SX Turbo trim included a hard cargo cover that doubled as a tray. The Seltos had numerous cubbies and compartments, with large door cubbies and bottle holders, a spacious center console, and a tray between the front seats. Rear-seat passengers enjoyed generous head- and legroom, a rarity among subcompact SUVs.

The 2021 Hyundai Kona offered decent headroom and legroom for front-seat passengers, with controls and displays within easy reach. The front seats were wide and well-padded but lacked support for spirited driving. Rear-seat passengers had good headroom but limited legroom. The large rear door openings facilitated loading and unloading children, though large rear-facing car seats could be problematic for taller front passengers. The Kona had limited cargo space, only surpassing the Mazda CX-3 in its segment. The rear seats folded to expand cargo space, and small-item storage was generous and conveniently located.

The 2021 Kia Seltos' base S trim came with a 3.5-inch TFT digital screen in the instrument panel and an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system. The SX Turbo trim featured a Bose premium sound system, a 7-inch digital display screen, and a 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment system. The large screen could display Apple CarPlay/Android Auto alongside other data. However, plugging in a smartphone via USB defaulted the audio to the phone's output, which could be inconvenient. Only one of the two USB ports allowed data connection, with the other solely for charging. Despite these quirks, Kia's infotainment system was straightforward and intuitive, with helpful home and hard buttons for easy navigation.

The 2021 Hyundai Kona came standard with an eight-inch infotainment system touchscreen, Bluetooth, six speakers, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and USB inputs. Available tech included SiriusXM radio, navigation, wireless device charging, a Harman Kardon audio system, and a 10.25-inch touchscreen system. Hyundai's infotainment software was simple, colorful, and responsive, making it easy to navigate without requiring multiple clicks to access features. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were significant benefits, especially for lower trims, providing navigation, streaming audio, and voice controls.

The 2021 Kia Seltos came standard with front- and side-impact airbags, electronic stability control, a tire pressure monitoring system, and child-seat anchor latches. All trims except the base LX included driver-assistance features like forward-collision avoidance with automatic emergency braking and pedestrian detection, lane-departure warning, and automatic high beams. The EX trim added blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert, while the SX trim included adaptive cruise control with idle stop-and-go and cyclist detection. The SX also had a feature to alert drivers when the vehicle in front had moved, preventing courtesy honks from other drivers.

The 2021 Hyundai Kona earned a Top Safety Pick from the IIHS with "Good" scores in all crash test areas and a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA. Standard safety features included forward-collision warning, pedestrian detection, lane-keeping assist, lane-following assist, automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, a driver attention warning system, and rear occupant alert. Optional features included blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, a head-up display, and parking sensors.