2021 Toyota Sequoia vs 2022 Kia Seltos

The 2021 Toyota Sequoia, despite its attempts to stay modern with a facelift in 2018, still showed its age. The subtle updates to the headlights and grille were overshadowed by the vehicle's large silhouette. Inside, the Sequoia's design was reminiscent of the mid-2000s, with a massive, multi-tiered center dash and a standard 7-inch touchscreen that appeared small against the expansive dashboard. The front seats, though bulky, left tall drivers feeling cramped, especially with the optional sunroof. However, the second-row seats offered ample headroom and legroom, providing comfort and support throughout the cabin. The Sequoia was available in several trims, including the SR5, TRD Sport, Limited, Nightshade Edition, TRD Pro, and Platinum, each offering various features and enhancements.

The 2022 Kia Seltos positioned itself between the smaller Soul and the larger Sportage, offering five trim levels: LX, S, EX, Nightfall Edition, and SX. The Nightfall Edition, our test vehicle, featured matte-black 18-inch alloy wheels, a turbocharged engine, and a dual-clutch transmission. The Seltos boasted a stylish interior with contrast-color dashboard panels, exposed stitching, and metallic accents, though it was marred by an abundance of shiny hard plastic. The controls were logically arranged, with knobs and buttons for easy access to commonly adjusted features. Despite some nitpicks, the Seltos was larger, more refined, and more powerful than many of its direct competitors, making it a compelling choice in its class.

The 2021 Toyota Sequoia was powered by a robust 5.7-liter V8 engine, delivering 381 horsepower and 401 pound-feet of torque. This engine, paired with a six-speed automatic transmission, provided strong acceleration, even for an SUV weighing up to 6,000 pounds. The Sequoia's driving dynamics were akin to a truck, with a soft suspension and overpowered brakes that some drivers appreciated. However, it exhibited body-roll in corners, despite its wide stance. The Sequoia's towing capacity reached up to 7,400 pounds, which was less than competitors like the Ford Expedition and Chevrolet Tahoe.

The 2022 Kia Seltos offered two engine options: a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine with 146 horsepower and a turbocharged 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine with 175 horsepower. The turbo engine, available in the Nightfall Edition and SX trims, provided a more engaging driving experience with its seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. The Seltos featured Normal, Sport, and Smart driving modes, with Smart mode balancing fuel efficiency and responsiveness. The AWD system included a Lock function for power distribution, and the Seltos achieved an EPA fuel economy rating of 27 mpg in combined driving. However, the suspension tuning was less than ideal, leading to a bouncy ride on uneven roads.

The 2021 Toyota Sequoia's standout feature was its spacious cabin, offering nearly 19 cubic feet of cargo space behind the third row and an impressive 120 cubic feet with all rear seats folded. The Sequoia also featured a power-retractable rear window, a convenient feature for accessing items without fully opening the hatch. While the front-row space could have been better utilized, the Sequoia provided ample storage options, including deep in-door pockets and a massive center console.

The 2022 Kia Seltos excelled in form and function, offering a roomy interior with easy access due to its ride height and large door openings. The Nightfall Edition featured a six-way manually adjustable driver's seat and a tilt-and-telescopic steering wheel for a comfortable driving position. The rear seat accommodated adults comfortably, with generous legroom and footroom. The Seltos provided decent storage space, including a smartphone shelf and plastic grocery sack hooks. Cargo space measured 26.6 cubic feet behind the back seat and 62.8 cubic feet with the rear seat folded down.

The 2021 Toyota Sequoia came standard with a 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system, featuring Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Amazon Alexa, and a WiFi hotspot. Our test model included a larger 9-inch screen, though it still felt small on the large dash. The older infotainment system was user-friendly, with simple menu navigation and large hard buttons. The digital trip computer was small but easy to use, offering a refreshing simplicity.

For 2022, Kia expanded the availability of its 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment system to include the S trim level. This system, standard on the Seltos EX, Nightfall Edition, and SX, offered Bluetooth connectivity, a navigation system, connected services, satellite radio, and a six-speaker stereo. While the system required a cable connection for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, it was intuitive to use, with physical buttons for quick access to primary functions. However, the voice recognition system was less effective without an active subscription to connected services.

The 2021 Toyota Sequoia was equipped with the Toyota Safety Sense-P suite, including forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, pedestrian detection, adaptive cruise control, lane-departure warning, and automatic high beams. It also featured blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and front-and-rear parking sensors. Despite its age, the Sequoia offered a generous list of safety features, though it lacked more advanced tech like lane-keeping assist. The Sequoia scored four out of five stars in the NHTSA's rollover test.

The 2022 Kia Seltos came with numerous driving assistance systems, including forward-collision avoidance, pedestrian detection, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, lane-centering assist, and automatic high-beam headlights. The Seltos EX added blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert, while the SX offered adaptive cruise control and Highway Driving Assist. The Seltos earned a Top Safety Pick rating from the IIHS for the SX trim and a four-star overall rating from the NHTSA.