Edmunds, Kelley Blue Book, U.S. News & World Report, other research companies have reviewed the Kia Seltos and called the main disadvantages of the newcomer to the American small SUV segment.
The Kia Seltos have recently entered the U.S. market. By results of the Q1 2020, it took the place among the TOP 10 bestsellers of its class. It does not overtake the Chevy Trax, but 5000 sales within three months allow a cautious optimism.
With all its pros, the Soul’s “elder brother” has some disadvantages in reality. American large research companies have already examined the Kia Seltos in detail. The list of its cons is short but definite.
Thus, Travis Langness from Edmunds notes impacts from bumps at lower speeds are palpable and send a vibration through the cabin, plus tires are noisy on rough surfaces. The steering wheel is poorly weighted and not responsive enough. When you go around a turn, a body lean is more pronounced in the Seltos than the Soul.
U.S. News & World Report experts say the Kia Seltos’ standard 146-hp 4-cylinder engine paired with a CVT provides sufficient power for city driving, but it struggles at higher speeds on the highway.
A 175-hp turbo-four with a 7-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission comes optional. There’s a noticeable turbo lag when you accelerate hard from a stop. At lower speeds, the gearbox bumbles around to find a suitable gear. It can also hesitate to downshift when more power is needed.
Kelley Blue Book believes that a higher starting price of the Seltos is its main disadvantage compared with rivals like the Nissan Kicks and Hyundai Kona. Besides, the base version – LX – lacks active safety systems.
According to Edmunds, and we agree, a tougher look and AWD make the 2021 Kia Seltos a good companion to the street-oriented Soul in the brand’s lineup. Along with the Honda HR-V, Hyundai Kona, Mazda CX-3, this model could be a fine choice for an extra-small crossover SUV.
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