2022 Kia Seltos vs 2023 Genesis GV80

The 2022 Kia Seltos was positioned between the smaller Kia Soul and the larger Kia Sportage, offering a range of trim levels in Canada, including LX, EX, EX Premium, and SX. The Seltos, particularly in its Nightfall Edition, showcased a turbocharged engine and dual-clutch transmission, although this specific configuration was not available in Canada. The Seltos was noted for its appealing design, though the headlights were not universally liked. Inside, the Seltos combined style with practicality, featuring exposed stitching and metallic accents, but was criticized for its use of shiny hard plastics. The controls were logically arranged, but the infotainment system's purple accent colour was not a popular choice.

The 2023 Genesis GV80 exuded sophistication with its quad-lamp headlights and bold grille, presenting a stately presence just shy of 5 metres in length. The Prestige trim featured 22-inch alloy wheels and a matte Brunswick Green paint job, adding to its elegance. Inside, the GV80 continued the dark green theme with quilted leather seats and a dash split by thin air vents, complemented by metal and matte wood trim. The centre console housed three large dials for infotainment, transmission, and drive modes. The interior was spacious and luxurious, though the 14.5-inch infotainment screen seemed awkwardly placed atop the dash.

The 2022 Kia Seltos offered a 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine with 146 horsepower and 132 pound-feet of torque in its LX, EX, and EX Premium trims, paired with a CVT. The SX trim featured a more powerful 1.6-litre turbocharged engine, delivering 175 hp and 195 lb-ft of torque, paired with a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. The Seltos provided a choice of driving modes, including Normal, Sport, and Smart, though the Smart mode was sometimes unpredictable. The AWD system included a Lock function for power distribution, but the Seltos's suspension tuning was less than ideal, leading to a bouncy ride on uneven roads. Despite its shortcomings, the Seltos was lively in urban settings and easy to park, though it struggled with wind noise on highways.

The 2023 Genesis GV80 came standard with AWD and offered a choice between a turbocharged 2.5-litre four-cylinder engine with 300 horsepower and a twin-turbo 3.5-litre V6 with 375 hp. The GV80 excelled in highway driving, with smooth power delivery and an electronically controlled suspension that adjusted to road conditions. However, it was not particularly quick or nimble, taking over five seconds to reach 100 km/h. The GV80's active noise cancellation and smooth ride made it a comfortable choice for long commutes.

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 driver's seat was adjustable, and heated front seats were standard on most trims. The rear seat provided ample space for adults, though the seatback angle was slightly reclined. The Seltos offered decent storage space, with 752 litres behind the back seat and 1,778 litres with the rear seat folded down.

The 2023 Genesis GV80 compensated for its lack of driving excitement with luxury features. Standard equipment included heated and ventilated front seats, a heated steering wheel, and a tri-zone climate control system. The GV80 offered a third-row option, though legroom was limited. The interior featured Nappa leather seats and a 21-speaker Lexicon sound system. The GV80 boasted a large cargo space, with 988 litres behind the second row and 2,378 litres with the seats folded down. It also had a towing capacity of 2,720 kilograms.

The 2022 Kia Seltos featured a 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment system starting at the EX Premium grade, paired with a Bose sound system in the SX trim. The system included Bluetooth, navigation, satellite radio, and smartphone connectivity, though it required a cable connection. The infotainment system was intuitive, but the voice recognition system was frustrating without an active subscription to connected services.

The 2023 Genesis GV80 came with a 14.5-inch touchscreen and a 12.3-inch 3D digital gauge cluster. The infotainment system had a learning curve, with a dial for navigation and handwriting detection. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were available, though not wirelessly. The GV80 featured remote smart parking assist, allowing the car to park itself without the driver inside.

The 2022 Kia Seltos was equipped with numerous safety features, including blind spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, forward-collision avoidance, and lane-keeping assist. The Seltos SX offered adaptive cruise control and Highway Driving Assist. The Seltos received a Top Safety Pick rating from the IIHS and a four-star overall rating from the NHTSA.

The 2023 Genesis GV80 was equipped with advanced driver aids, including forward collision warning, lane-keeping assist, and blind-spot monitoring. The Blind-Spot View Monitor system provided a video feed of the blind spot in the digital gauge cluster. The GV80 received a five-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA and a Good rating for crashworthiness from the IIHS.