LA Auto Show 2019

Meet the 2021 Kia Seltos, a subcompact SUV with an adventurous spirit

Eileen Falkenberg-Hull
Nov 20, 2019, 11:37 pm

Kia has designed the Seltos to be an urban, suburban, and trail explorer.

Photo courtesy of Kia Motors

Hyundai has the Venue and now Kia has the Seltos, a subcompact SUV that slots into their lineup between the smaller Soul and the bigger Sportage. The SUV is new for the 2021 model year.

Seltos combines the design of Sportage and Soul well, walking the line between funky and functional, assertive and inviting.

2021 Kia Seltos The model is meant to look more rugged than the Hyundai Venue.Photo courtesy of Kia Motors

On the outside, it's easy to see that the Seltos shares a platform with the Venue though Kia's styling is more straightforward and edges toward a customer more apt to enjoy a fresh design approach whereas the Hyundai's look is much safer. Kia has positioned the Seltos as a capable off-roader noting that tits lower front bumper design allows for a sharper approach angle, it has front and rear skid plates and black wheel arch cladding. However, it's also meant to be stylish, sporting dual exhaust pipes with chrome trim, 17- and 18-inch alloy wheels, and red wheel center caps. The Seltos boasts 7.2 inches of ground clearance.

Under its hood is the buyer's choice of the standard 2.0-liter four-cylinder end that produces 146 horsepower and 132 pound-feet of torque or the available turbocharged 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine that delivers a spirited 175 horsepower and 195 pound-feet of torque. The larger engine is paired with an intelligent variable transmission and the smaller is mated to a dual clutch transmission.

The Seltos comes with three drive modes: Normal, Eco, Sport. All-wheel drive with torque vectoring control and lock mode are available in higher trim levels.

2021 Kia Seltos Buyers can get the Seltos with all-wheel drive.Photo courtesy of Kia Motors

The SUV comes with a good list of standard and available equipment. Each model gets Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. A 10.25-inch infotainment touch screen with satellite radio, navigation, and telematics is available, as is an 8-speaker Bose audio system, wireless charging system, three USB ports, and multi-Bluetooth connectivity.

2021 Kia Seltos The vehicle is at least as nicely appointed as what you'll find in the Sportage.Photo courtesy of Kia Motors

Seltos boasts a standard 3.5-inch driver information display. In the top trim driver's get a 7-inch display. On Seltos S, EX, and SX models there is leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob and sliding front console cover. The top trim level has Bose speakers with six color schemes in the same way that are in the Soul. EX and SX models also have a rear air vent and USB charging port.

The rear seat features two-step recline.

Kia has given the SUV a long list of available safety technology including blind spot monitoring, Safe Exit Assist, rear cross traffic alert, lane departure warning, and lane keeping assist.

2021 Kia Seltos A 10.25-inch infotainment touch screen is available.Photo courtesy of Kia Motors

The 2021 Kia Seltos will be available in LX, EX, S 2.0L, S 1.6L, and SX trim levels. Full pricing details will be available closer to the model's on-sale date but Kia has revealed that LX with all-wheel drive will start below $22,000 and the S with front-wheel drive will have a similar price point.

Kia will sell the SUV in the U.S. starting in early 2020.

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Geneva Motor Show 2020

2021 Kia Sorento has Seltos in the front, Telluride in the back

Photo courtesy of Kia Motors

Ahead of its official debut at the Geneva International Motor Show, Kia has released images of the redesigned 2021 Kia Sorento. The midsize three-row SUV's last redesign was in 2015.

Kia says that its design was inspired by "refined boldness" but really it just looks like the Seltos and Telluride mated and formed an attractive offspring. Sure, it's refined and bold, with a more sculpted design than its predecessor. There's plenty of geometric detail, as is apparent on the other Kia models, and elongated proportions.

2021 Kia Sorento face front The front of the Sorento is reminiscent of the Seltos.Photo courtesy of Kia Motors

The SUV has a longer wheelbase this this fourth generation than in the past

Sorento gets new "tiger eye" LED daytime running lights in this iteration, which thankfully do not pop out like the Sportage's.

The inside of the Sorento shows off what Kia does best - deliver high-quality, premium level design and appointments to the masses. Kia brags that the 2021 Sorento has, " One of the highest quality interior spaces found in any Kia to-date." There are metallic trims, leather upholstery, and embossed wood-effect surfaces

Its sophisticated design features fresh technology that Kia calls "intuitive." There's a 10.25-inch infotainment touch screen front and center on the dashboard and a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster in front of the driver.

2021 Kia Sorento rear back The rear of the Sorento is similar to the Kia Telluride's backside.Photo courtesy of Kia Motors

The automaker is also promising that the redesigned Sorento is more comfortable than in the past. Unlike the Hyundai Santa Fe, which was downgraded to two rows when the Palisade debuted, the Sorento is retaining its three-row design for 2021.

Kia has confirmed that there will be a 2021 Kia Sorento Hybrid model.

The three-row 2020 Kia Sorento starts at $26,990. It is likely that Kia will continue to offer the Sorento at a starting price near that level in its new generation. That 2020 Sorento was named one of U.S. News & World Report's Best Cars for the Money.

2021 Kia Sorento cabin interior The Sorento's cabin is an evolution in Kia design.Photo courtesy of Kia Motors

The new Sorento will make its debut on March 3.

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Chicago Auto Show 2020

Refreshed 2020 Kia Cadenza gets refined features, luxe accommodations

Kia has refreshed the Cadenza for the 2020 model year. It will arrive at dealerships soon.

Photo courtesy of Kia Motors

Kia continues to surprise with products that highlight the sleek exterior and high-quality interiors the company is capable of producing and selling for budget-friendly rates. The refreshed 2020 Kia Cadenza is no exception, delivering new design elements, advanced technology, and available convenience features.

The refresh of the Cadenza falls into familiar territory. There's a redesigned hood and grille with deeper vertical fascia. It has standard multi-lens LED headlights and redesigned LED daytime running lights. The Cadena's new lower front fascia has integrated turn signals while the rear and trunk lid are also redesigned and features new LED combination taillights.

2020 Kia Cadenza The 2020 Cadenza features a new front end design.Photo courtesy of Kia Motors

Kia has given the Cadeza redesigned standard 18-inch wheels and available 19-inchers.

Despite all the exterior changes, the most impactful enhancements for the 2020 model year come on the inside. The car's dashboard and instrument cluster are new. Audio controls have been relocated to sit above the climate controls. It has a new standard 4.2-inch screen in the instrument panel, 12.3-inch infotainment touch screen, three additional charging ports, enhanced wireless charging, Smart Key with remote start, and Bluetooth connectivity. Ambient LED mood lighting is available in the Limited trim level.

Kia will offer the Cadenza with two Nappa leather trimmed seat colors: Saddle Brown and Gray. Limited models have quilted bolsters.

The Cadenza comes standard with Sensor Fusion, a suite of safety and driver assistance technology that includes forward collision warning, forward collision avoidance assist with pedestrian and cyclist detection, adaptive cruise control with stop and go, and high beam assist. Blind spot monitoring and assist, lane change assist, and Safe Exit Assist are also standard.

Kia has installed Highway Driving Assist, which uses federal highway speed limit information to automatically adjust vehicle speed to be within the posted speed limit, and Navigation-based Smart Cruise Control, uses navigation data to lower the vehicle's speed proactively before upcoming curves in every Cadeza.

2020 Kia Cadeza The 2020 Cadenza is more luxe than in previous model years.Photo courtesy of Kia Motors

Under the hood of the Cadenza is a 3.3-liter V6 that achieves a satisfying 290 horsepower and is paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission.

Kia has made enhancements to the 2020 model to help reduce noise, vibration, and harshness including redesigned shock valves and larger rear dampers.

2020 Kia Cadenzaza Kia has kept the engine in the Cadenza the same for the 2020 model year.Photo courtesy of Kia Motors

The large car will be offered in Technology and Limited trim levels when it goes on sale later this year. Last year, the car was also offered in a Premium grade but that has been eliminated for the new model year.

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