2021 Cadillac XT5 vs 2021 Kia Seltos

The 2021 Kia Seltos, despite being a subcompact SUV, offered a surprisingly spacious and commanding driving experience. Its upright design provided a clear view of the road, and the headlight design, though intricate, seamlessly integrated with the grille. While not intended for off-roading, the Seltos featured an aggressive lower front bumper, hinting at its dynamic on-road capabilities. The red accents around the wheel centres added a sporty touch. Inside, the Seltos boasted a clean and intuitive design, with tech features reminiscent of more upscale brands. The interior layout was straightforward, with a symmetrical LCD screen for climate controls and a sporty handle framing the centre stack, emphasizing its utilitarian yet sporty nature.

In contrast, the 2021 Cadillac XT5 aimed to reclaim its status as a refined vehicle within the General Motors lineup. Updated for 2020, the XT5 carried over its enhancements into 2021, including a new engine option and revised styling. The exterior featured standard LED lights and a snub-nosed design, with trim levels offering distinct features. Inside, the XT5 exuded elegance, with cut and sewn leather, natural wood, and carbon fibre accents. The interior design was more upscale than its GM sibling, the Chevrolet Blazer, with sweeping horizontal lines and straightforward materials. The Premium Luxury trim, in particular, showcased a level of sophistication that rivalled even the Escalade.

The 2021 Kia Seltos offered two engine options. The LX, EX, and EX Premium trims were equipped with a 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine producing 146 horsepower and 132 pound-feet of torque, paired with a CVT. While adequate for city driving, this engine struggled at higher speeds. The SX Turbo trim, however, featured a turbocharged 1.6-litre four-cylinder engine delivering 175 horsepower and 195 pound-feet of torque, mated to a 7-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. This engine provided ample power for quick acceleration and highway passing. The Seltos also featured a Drive Mode dial with Normal, Sport, and Smart modes, enhancing throttle response and steering feel. Despite its ground clearance, the Seltos handled turns with minimal body roll and maintained a smooth ride.

The 2021 Cadillac XT5 offered two engine choices as well. The Luxury and Premium Luxury trims came standard with a turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine producing 235 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque. The Premium Luxury trim could be upgraded to a 3.6-litre V6 engine with 310 horsepower and 271 pound-feet of torque, standard on the Sport trim. Both engines were paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission, which was smooth when upshifting but less so when downshifting. The V6 provided immediate throttle response, though additional low-end torque would have been beneficial. The XT5's fuel efficiency was commendable, with the AWD model achieving 9.4 L/100 km during testing, better than its estimated consumption. The XT5 handled various road conditions with ease.

The 2021 Kia Seltos impressed with its cargo space, offering 752 litres behind the rear seats and expanding to 1,778 litres with the seats folded. This made it one of the most spacious subcompact SUVs, even surpassing some compact models. The interior featured numerous storage compartments, including large cubbies and bottle holders in the doors, a spacious centre console, and a tray between the front seats. Rear-seat passengers enjoyed ample head- and legroom, a rarity in subcompact SUVs.

The 2021 Cadillac XT5 accommodated four adults comfortably in its two rows, though the rear seat's headroom was limited for taller occupants. The front seats, while visually appealing, lacked comfort on long trips due to a hard bottom cushion. Heated front seats were standard, with climate-controlled seats activating upon startup. The XT5 offered 850 litres of cargo space, though wheel bump-outs reduced the width. A cargo-management system and hands-free power liftgate added convenience. However, small-item storage was limited, with inadequate space for smartphones and small cubbies for loose items.

The 2021 Kia Seltos featured a straightforward infotainment system. The LX and EX trims came with a 3.5-inch TFT digital screen and an 8-inch touchscreen, while the EX Premium and SX Turbo offered a 7-inch digital display and a 10.25-inch touchscreen. The larger screen allowed for simultaneous display of Apple CarPlay/Android Auto and additional data. The SX Turbo included a Bose premium sound system. However, the system defaulted to phone audio when connected via USB, and only one of the two USB ports allowed data connection. Despite these quirks, the infotainment system was intuitive, with helpful home and hard buttons for easy navigation.

The 2021 Cadillac XT5 boasted a streamlined infotainment system with an elegant design. The climate control system featured hidden-button functionality within Piano Black plastic, providing haptic feedback. The tri-zone automatic climate control was adjustable via a chrome toggle switch, though it often ran colder than displayed. The XT5 included a heated steering wheel, heated rear seats, and a 60/40 split-folding rear seat. The 8-inch infotainment touchscreen housed various functions, with a rotary controller for navigation. The XT5 offered one-touch phone pairing, an eight-speaker Bose sound system, wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, and a 4G LTE WiFi hotspot. A rear camera mirror and head-up display were available, enhancing nighttime driving and providing essential information.

The 2021 Kia Seltos came equipped with a comprehensive array of safety features, including front- and side-impact airbags, electronic stability control, and a tire pressure monitoring system. In Canada, the base LX trim included blind spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert. Higher trims offered a full suite of driver-assistance features, such as collision avoidance assist, lane-departure warning, and adaptive cruise control. The Seltos received a Top Safety Pick rating from the IIHS and a four-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA.

The 2021 Cadillac XT5 offered a range of safety and driver assistance features, including front automatic emergency braking, forward-collision warning, and lane-change alert with side blind-zone alert. Not all features were standard across trims. The XT5 also featured Night Vision technology, enhancing nighttime visibility. General Motors' Teen Driver software allowed parents to monitor and limit vehicle features for young drivers. A rear-seat reminder and rearview camera were standard.