Used 2021 Kia Seltos for Sale nearChicago, IL

How much does the 2021 Kia Seltos cost?

Prices have softened 8.47% compared to this time last year, making it a favorable time to shop this model year.

There are 924 listings available, which suggests you should have a workable selection to compare.

Is the 2021 Kia Seltos a good car?

Yes — with a 4.8/5 user rating and an 8/10 expert rating, the 2021 Kia Seltos lands as a strong pick in its class. The standout strength is Look and feel at 9/10.

Owners consistently praise the value, the great looks, and the comfortable handling. They also like the generous standard features and safety technologies, which helps the Seltos feel well equipped for the money.

The trade-offs are familiar: the base engine leaves some drivers wanting more power, and a few shoppers wish for features that appear on other models. In context, this is a small SUV aimed at buyers who want a polished, well-finished cabin and useful space rather than the most stripped-down entry in the segment.

With 31.9% of listings marked 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.

The owner feedback points to a vehicle people feel good about living with over time, especially because it is seen as a strong value with comfortable handling and useful standard equipment. That combination usually matters most when you want a used SUV you can count on day to day.

The expert notes also support that impression by describing the Seltos as a well-rounded small crossover with solid driving dynamics and a high-quality cabin. If you buy used, the main long-term risk is less about the concept and more about finding one that has been maintained well and not worn hard.

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

At 74.5% 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 close inspection of body panels, paint consistency, and signs of prior repair. It also makes sense to focus on the condition of the cabin, the ride quality, and how the powertrain feels under acceleration, since those are the areas most likely to affect your day-to-day satisfaction.

Key things to evaluate:

• Trim level: The LX is the most basic version, with 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 bring the more powerful engine, and the SX Turbo adds the largest touchscreen and upgraded audio.
• 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 available 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 with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The SX Turbo upgrades to a 10.25-inch touchscreen, a Bose premium sound system, and a 7-inch digital display in the instrument panel.
• 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 setup 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 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 the higher trims.
• S: This is the best-value trim for many shoppers because it adds useful style and comfort upgrades like LED daytime running lights, roof rails, leatherette-and-cloth upholstery, and a leather-wrapped steering wheel. It also keeps the core infotainment setup while moving you beyond the most basic cabin.
• EX: This trim is the sweet spot if you want more everyday convenience, thanks to the sunroof, power driver’s seat, automatic climate control, and wireless charging. It also adds blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert, which makes it a strong choice if you want a more complete feature set without jumping to the turbo models.
• S Turbo: Choose this if you want the stronger turbocharged engine and standard AWD, along with some additional driver-assistance features. It is the right pick if performance and traction matter more to you than staying near the bottom of the price range.
• SX Turbo: This is the most fully equipped version, with the larger 10.25-inch touchscreen, upgraded audio, rear cargo cover, LED fog lamps, and the most advanced driver-assistance content. It suits you best if you want the most technology and convenience in one package.

The safety package is not standard on the LX, so if safety tech matters to you, start your search 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 with some leverage if you compare listings carefully.

• Deal availability: 31.9% of listings are priced as good or great deals.
• Inventory: There are 924 listings available.
• Price trend: Prices have softened 8.47% compared with last year.
• Clean inventory: 74.5% of listings are accident-free.

If you find a listing below $16,054, 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 $16,061 sits slightly below last year's $17,547.

That decline suggests the market has already adjusted downward, which can help you as a buyer today but may temper what a future seller can expect. If you buy at the right price and keep the vehicle in strong condition, you reduce the risk of taking a bigger hit later.

The Seltos still has traits that support demand: it has a strong reputation for value, useful space, and a polished driving feel. Those qualities can help it stay appealing to used shoppers when it is time for you 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?

The 2021 Kia Seltos earns a Top Safety Pick rating from IIHS and five-star ratings from NHTSA.

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

The standard safety equipment includes front- and side-impact airbags, electronic stability control, tire pressure monitoring, and rear-seat child-seat anchor latches. The driver-assistance suite includes forward-collision avoidance with automatic emergency braking and pedestrian detection, lane-departure warning, and automatic high beams on all trims except the LX.

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. That means the base LX is the main trim-level gap to watch if you want the full safety package.

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:

• 31.9% of listings are priced as good or great deals.
• At 74.5% accident-free, a meaningful share of listings has prior incidents — history verification is especially important.
• Price trend: Prices have softened 8.47% 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 $17,932, the 2022 costs more than the current year's $16,061 average.
• It adds a Nightfall Edition and expands availability of driver-assist tech and the 10.25-inch touchscreen.

The bottom line: If you want the better value today, the 2021 is the stronger starting point because prices are softer and the feature set is already well rounded. If you are willing to pay more for broader tech availability and a newer model-year update, the 2022 is worth a look.

These recommendations are based on CarGurus' proprietary market data from September 15, 2026, CarGurus experts' opinions, and generative AI.