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A gray kia seltos with yellow and red trim on display

Is the 2021 Kia Seltos Worth Buying?

The Telluride has quickly become one of Kia’s most popular SUVs, and it’s dominating the third-row seat SUV market, too. But, it isn’t the only worthy option in the brand’s lineup, as there are several other Kia vehicles worth taking for a test drive. Among the four available SUVs in the Kia lineup, perhaps you …

The Telluride has quickly become one of Kia’s most popular SUVs, and it’s dominating the third-row seat SUV market, too. But, it isn’t the only worthy option in the brand’s lineup, as there are several other Kia vehicles worth taking for a test drive. Among the four available SUVs in the Kia lineup, perhaps you should check out the 2021 Kia Seltos.

Is the Kia Seltos worth the price?

The 2021 Kia Seltos is one of the most affordable SUVs that you can buy new from any manufacturer. It has a starting price of around $22,000, or you can upgrade to the fully-loaded, highest trim level for a still reasonable $28,000. For such a modest price, you might expect to be missing something from the Kia Seltos, but you’d be wrong.

A yellow 2021 Kia Seltos all-wheel-drive compact SUV drives through the mud on a sunny day
2021 Kia Seltos | Kia

Modern from the inside out

You can tell just from the first glance that the 2021 Kia Seltos both belong to the brand, and all of the modern features make it stand out from the crowd. The floating roofline, sharp headlines that integrate into the body lines, and tactful color options are just a few reasons you’ll love to look at it, and the interior won’t leave you feeling disappointed.

The modest interior of the Kia Seltos isn’t boastful of high-end designs and expensive trims. Rather, the minimal interior provides the driver with everything they need, including tech features and safety options, without being overly complicated or ornate.

The interior of the 2021 kia seltos
2021 Kia Seltos Interior | Kia

Performance and ride quality

The overall performance aspect of the 2021 Kia Seltos isn’t particularly impressive, but it does provide a responsible fuel economy and decent ride quality. While it is relatively raw and not as absorbing of imperfections in the road as some others, you can at least expect to get around 28mpg on average, according to Consumer Reports. Some trim levels even make the Seltos an off-road capable option for all of your overlanding adventures.

A gray kia seltos with yellow and red trim on display
2021 Kia Seltos X-Line Urban Concept is on display at the 112th Annual Chicago Auto Show | Raymond Boyd, Getty Images

For an affordable price, the 2021 Kia Seltos is a great option for buying a new SUV. The fact that its a complete new SUV, meaning you won’t see a bunch of them on the road quite yet, is just a bit of a bonus, but if it follows in the footsteps of the Telluride, the Seltos will do well in it’s market.

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