Start with the styling, where the 2021 Seltos gets right what so many affordable SUVs miss—it looks like an SUV and not a tall hatchback. Even if you don’t like the pops of character provided by eye-catching details inside and out, the Seltos resembles a larger SUV than it actually is.

That impression continues inside, where the Seltos delighted us with its spacious, reclinable rear seats. The outstanding package is marred only slightly by the occasional cheap materials the driver and passengers will find across the trim lineup. But that’s expected on an SUV with a price tag ranging from about $23,000 to $30,000. What you don’t expect, however, is a refined driving experience.

“Within the first 100 feet you can feel the quality of engineering in this car,” features editor Scott Evans said about our 2.0-liter base-engine FWD tester (pictured in white). “It turns in sharply and handles body motions well. It rides very well over choppy, bumpy roads, better than even some of the luxury vehicles here. This is just a very pleasant car to drive.”

Multiple editors complimented the tuning of the CVT—a notable accomplishment considering how much we disliked Kia’s earlier CVT efforts. Higher trims get more power from a 1.6-liter turbo-four mated with a dual-clutch transmission. We’ve seen this combination in many Hyundais and Kias over the years, with some harsh shifting results. The Seltos shows Kia has taken those lessons to heart, providing smoother shifts without losing the immediacy of the DCT’s quick-shifting purpose.

If it were our money, however, most of us would stick with the 2.0-liter/CVT pairing. The car is more responsive than you’d expect, yet it still earns 29/34 mpg city/highway in EPA tests for FWD models or 27/31 mpg with AWD. Although subcompact SUVs in general deliver disappointing fuel economy that merely matches the mpg of larger compacts, the Seltos’ efficiency competes near the top of its segment.

Kia still delivers value on the top-trim SX Turbo, which includes the quicker 175-hp 1.6-liter turbo-four, spritely handling for this type of vehicle, and a 10.3-inch touchscreen with Kia’s intuitive infotainment setup—the kind of feature you wouldn’t expect on a $30,000 subcompact SUV. The ride is a bit firm (but not harsh), and a couple judges commented on the 1.6-liter’s turbo lag. The upgraded faux-leather seats felt a bit rubbery, too.

Aside from an NHTSA four-star overall safety rating (out of five stars) and an interior with so-so materials, the 2021 Seltos is very likable—especially with the base engine. Unlike its sibling Soul, the Seltos offers AWD across its lineup, as well as hill descent control and a differential lock. And its smart cruise and lane centering tech are better than what some luxury vehicles costing twice as much offer.

MotorTrend en Español managing editor Miguel Cortina captured how we feel: “The Seltos is compelling every way you look at it. Kia cracked the code on small crossovers.”

Added Evans: “Now the question you should be asking is not whether the Seltos or the Soul is better, but whether you want a city car or an off-road car? A beach cruiser or a mountain bike? It’s not about better. It’s about preference.”

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