Used 2021 Kia Seltos for Sale nearBaltimore, MD

How much does the 2021 Kia Seltos cost?

Prices have softened 8.88% compared to this time last year, making it a favorable time to shop this model year.

There are 873 listings available, which gives you a decent amount of inventory to compare.

Is the 2021 Kia Seltos a good car?

Yes — the 2021 Kia Seltos earns a 4.8/5 from owners and an 8/10 from our experts. The standout strength is Look and feel at 9/10.

Owners consistently praise its great looks, comfortable handling, and strong value for money. They also like the many standard features and safety technologies, while some wish for more horsepower and a few extra comfort features.

That lines up with the broader appeal of this model year: you get a well-finished small SUV with useful space, polished driving manners, and easy-to-use technology. The main trade-offs are the underwhelming base engine and poor ride quality.

With 35.7% of listings priced as good or great deals, the market still offers some attractive opportunities.

Is the 2021 Kia Seltos reliable?

Owners rate it 4.8/5, a strong signal of long-term satisfaction.

Owner feedback points to a vehicle that feels dependable, with many shoppers highlighting its value, comfort, and standard equipment as reasons they’d trust it over time. The expert notes also emphasize that it punches above its weight in driveability, cabin quality, space, and utility.

The ownership risk for used buyers is less about outright durability and more about finding one that has been maintained well and hasn’t been driven hard.

What should I look for when buying a used 2021 Kia Seltos?

At 73.2% accident-free, a meaningful share of listings has prior incidents — history verification is especially important.

You should start with a vehicle history report and then prioritize a careful inspection of body panels, paint consistency, and any signs of prior repair. Because this model year has a meaningful accident history share, condition matters more than usual when comparing similar-priced listings.

Pay close attention to how the cabin, electronics, and driver-assistance features function, since this model’s appeal depends heavily on its tech and overall polish.

Key things to evaluate:

• Trim level: The LX includes 17-inch alloy wheels, manually adjustable front seats, remote keyless entry, power windows with a one-touch-down driver’s window, and an 8-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The S adds LED daytime running lights, integrated roof rails, leatherette-and-cloth upholstery, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, and blue dash stitching. The EX adds machine-finish alloy wheels, darker tinted windows, a sunroof with power sunshade, LED interior lighting, full leatherette upholstery, a 10-way power driver’s seat, automatic climate control, and a wireless charging pad. The S Turbo adds the more powerful engine and additional driver-assistance features, while the SX Turbo adds the larger 10.25-inch touchscreen, upgraded stereo, rear cargo cover, LED fog lamps, and more driver assistance. The best-value trim is the S Turbo if you want the stronger engine without jumping all the way to the top trim.
• Powertrain: The LX, S, and EX use a 2.0-liter four-cylinder with 146 horsepower and 132 pound-feet of torque, paired with a CVT and front-wheel drive or AWD. The S Turbo and SX Turbo use a turbocharged 1.6-liter four-cylinder with 175 horsepower and 195 pound-feet of torque, paired with a 7-speed dual-clutch automatic and standard AWD. The base engine is fine around town but lacks punch at highway speeds, while the turbo setup delivers much stronger passing power.
• Safety package: All trims but the base LX include forward-collision avoidance with automatic emergency braking and pedestrian detection, lane-departure warning, and automatic high beams. The EX adds blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert. The SX adds adaptive cruise control with idle stop-and-go, cyclist detection, and a feature that helps detect whether it is safe to exit the vehicle when parallel parking.
• Infotainment: The LX and S use an 8-inch touchscreen, while the SX Turbo upgrades to a 10.25-inch touchscreen. The S includes a 3.5-inch TFT digital screen in the instrument panel, and the SX Turbo gets a 7-inch digital display. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard, but wireless projecting is not mentioned.
• Fuel efficiency: The base 2.0-liter engine with front-wheel drive returns 29 mpg city, 34 highway, and 31 combined. With AWD, that engine is rated at 27 mpg city, 31 highway, and 29 combined. The 1.6-liter AWD turbo is rated at 25 mpg city, 30 highway, and 27 combined.

Which 2021 Kia Seltos trim should I buy?

The 2021 Kia Seltos is offered in 5 trim levels: LX, S, EX, S Turbo, and SX Turbo.

Here's the short version:

• LX: This is the entry point, and it gives you the essentials, including the 8-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. It makes sense if you want the lowest-cost way into the Seltos, but it misses the broader driver-assistance suite that comes on higher trims.
• S: This is the trim to focus on if you want the best balance of price and equipment. It adds LED daytime running lights, roof rails, a nicer interior treatment, and the same 8-inch touchscreen plus a digital instrument display, making it the most sensible value pick for many shoppers.
• EX: This trim adds more comfort and convenience, including a sunroof, wireless charging, automatic climate control, and a power driver’s seat. It suits you if you want a more upscale feel without moving to the turbo models.
• S Turbo: This is the one to choose if you care most about stronger acceleration and more confident highway passing. It keeps much of the EX-style equipment while adding the turbo engine and extra driver-assistance features, making it the best choice for buyers who want more performance without going all the way to the top trim.
• SX Turbo: This is the most fully equipped version, with the larger 10.25-inch touchscreen, upgraded audio, LED fog lamps, and the most advanced driver-assistance content. Buy this if you want the most tech and convenience features in the lineup.

All trims but the base LX include the full driver-assistance suite, so that trim is the main safety-package gap to watch for.

Is now a good time to buy a used 2021 Kia Seltos?

This is a moderate market for selective buyers, with enough inventory to shop carefully and enough deal activity to find value.

• Deal availability: 35.7% of listings are priced as good or great deals.
• Inventory: There are 873 listings available.
• Price trend: Prices have softened 8.88% compared with last year.
• Clean inventory: 73.2% of listings are accident-free.

If you find a listing below $15,899, that's toward the low end of the year-round range and worth acting on quickly.

What is the 2021 Kia Seltos's resale value?

The current average of $15,899 sits slightly below last year's $17,448.

That decline suggests the market has already adjusted downward, which can help you as a buyer but may limit upside if you plan to resell soon. If you buy at the right price and keep the vehicle in strong condition, you can reduce the impact of that softer market.

Vehicles with strong owner satisfaction ratings, like this model year's 4.8/5, tend to retain buyer demand, which supports resale value over time.

Is the 2021 Kia Seltos safe?

The 2021 Kia Seltos earns an 8/10 safety score from our experts.

It comes standard with front- and side-impact airbags, electronic stability control, a tire pressure monitoring system, and rear-seat child-seat anchor latches. All trims but the base LX include forward-collision avoidance with automatic emergency braking and pedestrian detection, lane-departure warning, and automatic high beams.

The EX adds blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert, while the SX adds adaptive cruise control with idle stop-and-go, cyclist detection, and a feature that helps determine whether it is safe to exit the vehicle when parallel parking. The main safety caveat is that the full driver-assistance suite does not come standard on the base LX.

Should I buy a 2021 Kia Seltos or consider a different year?

If you're weighing the 2021 against nearby model years, here's how to think about it:

Choose the 2021 if:

• 35.7% of listings are priced as good or great deals.
• At 73.2% accident-free, a meaningful share of listings has prior incidents — history verification is especially important.
• Price trend: Prices have softened 8.88% compared with last year.
• Owners rate it 4.8/5 — a strong satisfaction signal.
• It arrives as an all-new model with a high-quality cabin and the latest infotainment and safety tech.

Consider the 2022 if:

• At $17,740, the 2022 costs more than the current year's $15,899 average.
• It adds a Nightfall Edition and expands availability of driver-assist and the larger touchscreen.

The bottom line: If you want the better value, the 2021 is the smarter buy because it already delivers the core strengths that make the Seltos appealing. If you’re willing to pay more for broader tech availability and a few added style touches, the 2022 is the better secondary path.

These recommendations are based on CarGurus' proprietary market data from September 29, 2026, CarGurus experts' opinions, and generative AI.