Page 19 - Motor Trend (May 2020)

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2021 Kia Seltos
he 2021 Seltos represents the fifth
member of Kia’s SUV family and will the 1.6-liter feels far quicker. The CVT
Tslot between the Soul and Sportage.
It offers a more conventional crossover
design than the Soul, but it stays on the
larger end of the subcompact SUV range.
Familiar engines are employed: a
2.0-liter four-cylinder with 146 hp and 132 tire noise is minimal. Most folks will drive
lb-ft of torque and a 1.6-liter turbo that’s
good for 175 hp and 195 lb-ft. The natu-
rally aspirated engine is coupled to a CVT; locking differential that can split the
the turbo gets a seven-speed dual-clutch.
What’s odd is the structure of the trims, axles for better off-asphalt traction.
as there are two base models—one with
less equipment and standard all-wheel
drive and another with more features and
front-drive, but both can be upgraded.
The first thing I noticed is how well the
steering was weighted on the SX 1.6-liter
turbo. There’s such responsive feedback
and balance that the Seltos can challenge
Mazda for the best-handling small SUV
title. Unfortunately, only the 1.6-liter has
that steering feeling. We had a chance to
drive the base 2.0-liter and didn’t notice
the same kind of balance, feedback, or
weight that we saw on the SX 1.6.
The Seltos keeps body vibrations to a
minimum. AWD adds independent rear
suspension, and we saw exceptional body
control on the twisty parts of our drive
route, keeping us planted at all times.
(FWD models come with a torsion beam.)
FIRST DRIVE
TALON
I prefer the 2.0-liter for its balance, but
BRAKE KITS
on the base engine is quiet and refined, available including High Performance
whereas the seven-speed with the 1.6 Street 5.0, HPS, Performance Ceramic,
or LTS pads depending on application.
turbo is jerky at low speeds.
Regardless of engine or trim, you’ll High performance TALON ROTORS
hear some wind noise at high speeds, but enable harder, more precise braking
for your street vehicle.
the Seltos on pavement most of the time,
but the AWD system includes a center
power equally between the front and rear
Inside, the Seltos is spacious for a
vehicle of its size. With the driver’s seat
adjusted to my 6-foot frame, there’s still
enough legroom in back. The rear seat
backs also recline and can fold flat. The
cargo floor can be lowered about 3 inches.
The 10.3-inch screen looks premium HP PLUS
for an entry-level SUV, though it’s only
AUTOCROSS / TRACK PADS
for the top-trim SX. Other trims get an
8.0-inch screen with Apple CarPlay,
Android Auto, and SiriusXM. All Seltos
models arrive with at least two USB
ports; EX and SX trims add another USB STREET 5.0
port, air vents for rear passengers, and HIGH PERFORMANCE PADS
a one-zone automatic climate control
system. A slew of active safety systems
are available.
Kia is pricing the Seltos at $23,110 for
the LX AWD and S FWD base models. HP520 DOT 4 BRAKE FLUID
Miguel Cortina 500ml $10.79 prices subject to change
SPECS 2021 Kia Seltos
Base Price $23,110 Vehicle Layout Front- FAST FREE SHIPPING
engine, FWD/AWD, 5-pass, 4-door SUV on All Orders Over $50
Engines 2.0L/146-hp/132-lb-ft DOHC www.tirerack.com/freeshipping
16-valve I-4; 1.6L/175-hp/195-lb-ft turbo
DOHC 16-valve I-4 Transmissions Cont
variable auto/7-speed twin-clutch auto
Curb Weight 3,300 lb (mfr) Wheelbase
103.5 in L x W x H 172.0 x 70.9 x 63.6 in
0-60 MPH 6.5-8.5 sec (MT est) EPA City/
Hwy/Comb Fuel Econ 25-27/30-31/27-29 888-372-8473
mpg (est) On Sale in U.S. Currently
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