2021 Toyota Highlander Hybrid 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 interior boasted a straightforward design with clean lines and tech features reminiscent of more upscale brands. The intuitive layout included a clean LCD screen for climate controls and a touchscreen atop the dash, enhancing its sporty yet utilitarian appeal.

In contrast, the 2021 Toyota Highlander Hybrid presented a bold and distinctive exterior with a blunt, bulbous nose and black windshield pillars that created a floating roof effect. Its styling, while initially polarizing, became familiar over time. The interior of the Highlander Hybrid Platinum trim offered roomy and supportive accommodations, with features like a heated steering wheel and leather upholstery. However, the third-row seat was cramped and uncomfortable, and the overall interior storage was less generous compared to its predecessor. Despite these drawbacks, the Highlander Hybrid provided a spacious cargo area, making it a practical choice for families.

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). While adequate for city driving, this engine 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, coupled with a 7-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. This engine provided ample power for highway driving and spirited acceleration, especially in Sport Mode, which enhanced throttle response and steering feel. The Seltos exhibited minimal body roll and maintained a smooth ride, offering a driving experience akin to a luxury SUV.

The 2021 Toyota Highlander Hybrid, following its redesign, utilized a 2.5-litre four-cylinder engine with a total output of 243 horsepower. It achieved impressive fuel efficiency, rated at 6.7 L/100 km in combined driving. However, the trade-off for this efficiency was a lack of driving excitement. The Highlander Hybrid's power was adequate but unremarkable, and the engine sounded strained during hard acceleration or hill climbs. The steering felt lifeless, and the ride exhibited unwanted body movement. While the Highlander Hybrid excelled in fuel efficiency, it lacked the engaging driving dynamics of its predecessor.

The Kia Seltos impressed with its generous 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 available. The interior featured numerous storage compartments, providing ample space for passengers and their belongings. Rear-seat passengers enjoyed plenty of head- and legroom, a rarity in subcompact SUVs.

The Toyota Highlander Hybrid Platinum trim provided comfortable accommodations for the driver and front passenger, with power-adjustable seats and heating and ventilation features. However, the second-row bench seat, while increasing seating capacity to eight, felt narrow and uncomfortable for three adults. The third-row seat was cramped and lacked support, making it unsuitable for adults. Cargo space behind the third-row seat measured 453 litres, expanding to 2,387 litres with the seats folded. While storage was plentiful, it was not as generous as the previous-generation Highlander.

The Kia Seltos featured a user-friendly infotainment system, with the base LX and EX trims equipped with an 8-inch touchscreen and a 3.5-inch digital screen in the instrument panel. The EX Premium and SX Turbo trims offered a larger 10.25-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility. However, the system had quirks, such as defaulting to phone audio when connected via USB. Despite this, the infotainment system was intuitive, with helpful hard buttons for easy navigation.

The Toyota Highlander Hybrid came equipped with a comprehensive infotainment system, including Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and SiriusXM satellite radio. The Platinum trim featured a 12.3-inch touchscreen display, an 11-speaker JBL premium audio system, and a navigation system. The infotainment controls were well-designed, with large knobs and shortcut buttons for easy access. The JBL sound system, while powerful, had mixed audio quality depending on the music genre. The Highlander also offered Driver Easy Speak technology and a video rearview mirror for enhanced convenience.

The Kia Seltos came standard with a full array of airbags, electronic stability control, and a tire pressure monitoring system. In Canada, the base LX grade included blind spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert. Higher trims offered a comprehensive suite of driver-assistance features, including 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 Toyota Highlander Hybrid featured Toyota Safety Sense 2.5+, which included automatic high beams, dynamic radar cruise control, and automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection. The system also offered intersection support and emergency steering assistance. The Highlander received a Top Safety Pick+ rating from the IIHS and a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA. While the adaptive cruise control and lane-centring assistance had some quirks, the overall safety features were effective.