2021 Hyundai Kona vs 2021 Kia Seltos

The 2021 Kia Seltos, despite being a subcompact SUV, offered a surprisingly spacious feel. Its upright design provided a commanding view of the road, and while the headlight design was somewhat intricate, it complemented the grille's styling. The lower front bumper had an aggressive approach angle, hinting at off-road capabilities, even though the Seltos wasn't designed for such adventures. The red accents around the wheel centres added a sporty touch, enhancing its on-road dynamics. Inside, the Seltos featured a straightforward design with clean lines and integrated tech, reminiscent of more upscale brands. The interior boasted a clean LCD screen for climate controls and a touchscreen atop the dash, with a unique handle framing the centre stack, emphasizing its utilitarian yet sporty nature.

In contrast, the 2021 Hyundai Kona presented a funky and youthful exterior, blending mild and wild styling elements. The front grille was flanked by multiple lighting features, creating a playful look aimed at younger buyers. The rear design was more subdued, with a standard crossover shape. Inside, the Kona maintained a fun attitude without being overly whimsical. The seats featured neat patterns with standard cloth upholstery, and higher trims offered leather upgrades. The interior layout was simple and intuitive, with an infotainment system touchscreen mounted high on the dash and physical climate controls, making it user-friendly and well-suited to the Kona's compact size.

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 continuously variable transmission (CVT). This engine was adequate for city driving but lacked power at higher speeds. The SX Turbo trim 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 driving. 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 well with minimal body roll, offering a smooth ride akin to a luxury SUV.

The 2021 Hyundai Kona also offered two powertrain options. The base model had a 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine with 147 horsepower and 132 pound-feet of torque, paired with a six-speed automatic transmission. The turbocharged 1.6-litre engine, available on higher trims, produced 195 horsepower and 195 pound-feet of torque, coupled with a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. While neither engine was exceptionally powerful, both provided sufficient power for city and highway driving. The Kona's dual-clutch transmission improved its sporty feel, though it was less smooth at low speeds. The Kona handled confidently, offering agility and engagement, with a balance of comfort and composure on curvy roads. Fuel consumption ratings varied depending on the drivetrain, with the turbo engine and AWD achieving 9.0/8.0/8.6 L/100 km city/highway/combined.

The 2021 Kia Seltos excelled in cargo space, offering 752 litres behind the rear seats and expanding to 1,778 litres with the seats folded, making it one of the most spacious subcompact SUVs. It featured numerous cubbies and compartments for storage, with large cubbies and bottle holders in the doors and a spacious centre console. The rear seats provided ample head- and legroom, a rarity among subcompact SUVs.

The 2021 Hyundai Kona, however, had less cargo space, ranking near the bottom of its segment. While the rear seats could be folded to increase space, it still lagged behind competitors like the Honda HR-V. The Kona offered decent front-seat headroom and legroom, with controls easily accessible. The front seats were wide and well-padded but lacked support for spirited driving. Rear-seat passengers had good headroom but limited legroom, and large rear-facing car seats could pose challenges for taller front passengers. Small-item storage was generous, with large door pockets and a spacious centre console.

The 2021 Kia Seltos featured a range of tech options. The base LX and EX trims came with a 3.5-inch TFT digital screen and an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system. The EX Premium and SX Turbo trims upgraded to a 7-inch digital display and a 10.25-inch touchscreen, capable of displaying Apple CarPlay/Android Auto alongside other data. The SX Turbo included a Bose premium sound system. However, the Seltos had some quirks, such as defaulting to phone audio when plugged in via USB and only one data-capable USB port. Despite these issues, the infotainment system was intuitive, with a helpful home button and hard buttons for easy navigation.

The 2021 Hyundai Kona came equipped with an eight-inch infotainment system touchscreen, Bluetooth, six speakers, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and USB inputs. Higher trims offered SiriusXM radio, navigation, a Harman Kardon audio system, and a 10.25-inch touchscreen. The infotainment software was simple, colourful, and responsive, making it easy to navigate. Wireless smartphone connectivity was a significant advantage, especially for lower trims, though the larger touchscreen was not compatible with wireless features.

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. In Canada, the base LX included blind spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert. Higher trims added a full suite of driver-assistance features, including collision avoidance assist, lane-departure warning, and lane-keep assist. The EX Premium and SX Turbo trims offered adaptive cruise control with idle stop-and-go. The Seltos received a Top Safety Pick from the IIHS and a four-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA.

The 2021 Hyundai Kona also earned a Top Safety Pick from the IIHS and a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA. Standard safety features included forward-collision avoidance assist, pedestrian detection, automatic emergency braking, and cruise control. AWD grades added blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert. Optional upgrades included lane-keeping assist, lane-following assist, adaptive cruise control, a head-up display, and parking sensors.