Used 2021 Kia Seltos for Sale nearChicago, IL

How much does the 2021 Kia Seltos cost?

Prices have softened 7.55% compared to this time last year, making it a favorable time to shop this model year.

There are 896 listings available, which gives you a solid amount of inventory to compare.

Is the 2021 Kia Seltos a good car?

Yes — the 2021 Kia Seltos earns a 4.8/5 user rating and an 8/10 expert rating. The standout strength is Look and feel at 9/10.

Owners consistently praise its great looks, comfortable handling, and value-for-money appeal, along with the generous standard features and safety technologies. The overview also points to a high-quality cabin, refined driving dynamics, and useful cabin and cargo space, which helps it feel more substantial than many small SUVs.

The trade-offs are the underwhelming base engine and the poor ride quality, plus a cramped back seat. That means you should think of it as a well-rounded small SUV for everyday use rather than a comfort-first family hauler.

The market also looks reasonably favorable, with 35.4% of listings marked as good or great deals.

Is the 2021 Kia Seltos reliable?

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

The owner summary points to a dependable-feeling ownership experience, with praise for the value, comfort, and standard features that help the Seltos feel easy to live with over time. The expert summary also emphasizes confidence-inspiring ride height, usable cabin space, efficiency, and a well-rounded driving character.

The cost-effectiveness notes reinforce that this model is meant to be practical and efficient, especially in its base configuration. For used buyers, the main long-term risk is choosing a neglected example with a history of hard use or inconsistent maintenance.

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

At 70.5% 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 pre-purchase inspection, especially if the listing price looks unusually attractive. Focus on body condition, signs of prior repair, and whether the equipment level matches the trim being advertised.

Key things to evaluate:

• Trim level: The LX includes 17-inch alloy wheels, manually adjustable front seats, remote keyless entry, power windows, and an 8-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The S adds LED daytime running lights, roof rails, leatherette-and-cloth upholstery, and a leather-wrapped steering wheel, while the EX adds a sunroof, leatherette upholstery, a power driver’s seat, automatic climate control, and wireless charging. The S Turbo and SX Turbo add the more powerful engine, with the SX Turbo bringing the larger 10.25-inch touchscreen, upgraded stereo, and additional driver-assistance features.
• 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.
• 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, while 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 base setup includes an 8-inch touchscreen, and the base S trim also gets a 3.5-inch TFT digital screen in the instrument panel. The SX Turbo upgrades to a 10.25-inch touchscreen, a 7-inch digital display, and a Bose premium sound system.
• Fuel efficiency: The base 2.0-liter engine with front-wheel drive returns 29 mpg city, 34 highway, 31 combined. With AWD, it returns 27 mpg city, 31 highway, 29 combined. The 1.6-liter AWD test car is rated at 25 mpg city, 30 highway, 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 least expensive way into the Seltos, but it is also the trim where you give up the driver-assistance suite that appears on the rest of the lineup. It makes sense if you want the lowest entry price and can live with the simpler equipment list.
• S: This is the best-value trim for many shoppers because it adds useful style and comfort upgrades, including LED daytime running lights, roof rails, leatherette-and-cloth upholstery, and a leather-wrapped steering wheel. It also keeps the easy-to-use 8-inch touchscreen and is a smart middle ground if you want more than the base model without stretching too far.
• EX: This trim is the right step up if you want more everyday convenience, thanks to the sunroof, power driver’s seat, automatic climate control, wireless charging, and blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert. It is the trim to target if you want a more polished feel and stronger safety coverage.
• S Turbo: This is the choice if you care most about stronger acceleration and standard AWD, since it brings the turbocharged engine and the more powerful drivetrain setup. It is the better pick if you want the Seltos to feel more responsive on the highway.
• SX Turbo: This is the top trim, with the larger 10.25-inch touchscreen, upgraded stereo, rear cargo cover, and the most advanced driver-assistance features. Buy this one if you want the most fully equipped Seltos and are willing to pay for it.

The safety package is not standard on the LX, so if you want the full driver-assistance suite, start at the S trim or higher.

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

This looks like a moderate, selective buyer’s market, so you can shop patiently but should move quickly on strong listings.

• Deal availability: 35.4% of listings are priced as good or great deals.
• Inventory: There are 896 listings available.
• Price trend: Prices have softened 7.55% compared with last year.
• Clean inventory: 70.5% of listings are accident-free.

If you find a listing below $15,601, 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 $15,601 sits slightly below last year's $16,875.

That softer pricing suggests the Seltos has already absorbed some depreciation, which can help future sellers if they buy at the right price. If you shop carefully now, you may have less downside left than a buyer who paid closer to the original market peak.

The model’s strong owner satisfaction should also help support demand when it is time to sell. 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?

It earns an 8/10 safety score from our experts.

The Seltos comes standard with a full array of front- and side-impact airbags, electronic stability control, a tire pressure monitoring system, and child-seat anchor latches for the rear seats. 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 can detect whether it is safe to exit the vehicle when parallel parking on the street. 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:

• 35.4% of listings are priced as good or great deals.
• At 70.5% accident-free, a meaningful share of listings has prior incidents — history verification is especially important.
• Price trend: Prices have softened 7.55% compared with last year.
• Owners rate it 4.8/5 — a strong satisfaction signal.
• The 2021 stands out as an all-new model with high-quality cabin materials, refined driving dynamics, and the latest infotainment and safety technologies.

Consider the 2022 if:

• At $17,418, the 2022 costs more than the current year's $15,601 average.
• It adds a Nightfall Edition with blacked-out trim.

The bottom line: If you want the better value, the 2021 is the stronger buy because it already delivers the core Seltos strengths at a lower average price. If you care more about a newer model-year update and can spend more, the 2022 is the secondary path to consider.

How does the 2021 Kia Seltos compare to the 2021 Hyundai Kona?

Expert Pros & Cons (per CarGurus review team)

2021 Kia Seltos:

• Pros: Stylish design, Great handling, Easy-to-use technology.
• Cons: Underwhelming base engine, Poor ride quality, Cramped back seat.

2021 Hyundai Kona:

• Pros: Great handling, Easy-to-use technology, Standard advanced safety features.
• Cons: Cramped back seat, Underwhelming base engine, Poor value for money.

Our experts score the 2021 Kia Seltos 8/10 and the 2021 Hyundai Kona 7.2/10. The Seltos has the edge if you want a more stylish, better-rounded small SUV with a stronger value story. The Kona counters with standard advanced safety features, but it also carries a weaker value impression and the same cramped back-seat drawback.

Read our full side-by-side expert comparison here.

These recommendations are based on CarGurus' proprietary market data from November 10, 2026, CarGurus experts' opinions, and generative AI.