Used 2021 Kia Seltos for Sale nearChicago, IL

How much does the 2021 Kia Seltos cost?

Prices have softened 7.29% compared to this time last year, making it a favorable time to shop this model year.

There are 922 listings available, which gives you a solid pool of options to compare.

Is the 2021 Kia Seltos a good car?

Yes — you’re looking at a 4.8/5 user-rated SUV with an 8/10 expert rating. The standout strength is Look and feel at 9/10.

Owners consistently praise its great looks, comfortable handling, and strong value for money, along with the many standard features and safety technologies. The overview also points to a high-quality cabin, refined driving dynamics, and plenty of cabin and cargo space, which makes it feel more complete than many rivals.

The trade-offs are clear: the base engine is underwhelming, the ride quality is poor, and the back seat is cramped. Even so, the Seltos fits you well if you want a small SUV that feels modern, polished, and easy to live with rather than stripped-down.

There are 34.4% good or great deals in the market, so you still have room to shop selectively.

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 vehicle that feels like a fantastic value, with many drivers appreciating its comfortable handling and the sense that it delivers a lot for the money. That same feedback also highlights the numerous standard features and safety technologies, which usually helps ownership feel more dependable day to day.

The expert notes reinforce that impression by describing the Seltos as a vehicle that punches above its weight from driveability to cabin quality, space, and utility. It also emphasizes that you do not need to compromise as much as you might in other subcompact SUVs.

For used buyers, the main long-term risk is less about outright durability and more about whether the specific example has been maintained well and equipped to your needs.

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

At 73.4% 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 any signs of prior repair. Because this model year has a meaningful accident history in the market, condition matters more than usual when you compare listings.

Pay extra attention to how the cabin, electronics, and driver-assistance features function, since the Seltos leans heavily on its tech and usability. If you’re shopping a higher trim, make sure the added equipment is actually present and working as advertised.

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 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 and SX Turbo add the more powerful engine, with the SX Turbo also bringing the larger 10.25-inch touchscreen, upgraded stereo, rear cargo cover, and LED fog lamps.
• 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 with 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 higher speeds, while the turbo engine 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 can detect whether it is safe to exit the vehicle when parallel parking.
• Infotainment: The base setup includes an 8-inch touchscreen, and the S trim adds 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 screen, and a Bose premium sound system. The larger screen can show Apple CarPlay and Android Auto while still leaving room for other information.
• 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 returns 27 mpg city, 31 highway, and 29 combined. The 1.6-liter AWD turbo test car 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 core Seltos experience with the 8-inch touchscreen, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and the basic cabin and convenience features. It makes sense if you want the lowest-cost way into the model, but it also misses the full driver-assistance suite that starts above it.
• S: This is the best-value trim for many shoppers because it adds the driver-assistance safety suite, plus useful upgrades like LED daytime running lights, roof rails, and a nicer interior treatment. If you want the strongest balance of price, features, and everyday usability, this is the trim to focus on.
• EX: This trim is for you if you want more comfort and convenience, including the sunroof, wireless charging pad, power driver’s seat, and blind-spot monitoring. It feels like the more upscale choice without jumping all the way to the turbo models.
• S Turbo: This is the right pick if you want the stronger engine and standard AWD, along with the added driver-assistance features that come with the higher-spec setup. It suits you best if performance matters more than staying near the base price.
• SX Turbo: This is the most fully equipped version, with the larger touchscreen, upgraded stereo, rear cargo cover, LED fog lamps, and the most advanced driver-assistance content. Choose it if you want the most technology and convenience in one package.

All trims above the LX include the full suite of driver-assistance safety features, while the EX and SX add more advanced safety equipment.

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

The market looks moderate and selective, so you can shop with some leverage if you compare listings carefully.

• Deal availability: 34.4% of listings are priced as good or great deals.
• Inventory: There are 922 listings available.
• Price trend: Prices have softened 7.29% compared with last year.
• Clean inventory: 73.4% of listings are accident-free.

If you find a listing below $15,795, 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 $15,802 sits slightly below last year's $17,045.

That decline suggests the market has already adjusted downward, which can help you as a buyer today but may limit upside if you plan to resell soon. If you buy at a strong price now, you reduce the chance of taking a bigger hit later.

The good news for future resale is that the Seltos has broad appeal: it combines style, useful space, and easy-to-use technology in a way that many shoppers still value. Strong owner satisfaction can also help keep demand steady when you eventually 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 an 8/10 safety score from our experts.

It 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.

That means you should pay close attention to trim level if safety tech matters to you, because the base LX misses the full driver-assistance suite. The Seltos also stands out because these features are not standard across the lineup, even though they are a major part of the vehicle’s appeal.

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:

• 34.4% of listings are priced as good or great deals.
• At 73.4% accident-free, a meaningful share of listings has prior incidents — history verification is especially important.
• Price trend: Prices have softened 7.29% compared with last year.
• Owners rate it 4.8/5 — a strong satisfaction signal.
• The 2021 stands out as the all-new debut year with a high-quality cabin, refined driving dynamics, and plenty of cabin and cargo space.

Consider the 2022 if:

• At $17,671, the 2022 costs more than the current year's $15,802 average.
• It adds a Nightfall Edition with blacked-out trim and expands availability of key driver-assist and infotainment features.

The bottom line: If you want the lower price and the original all-new package, the 2021 is the smarter buy. If you’re willing to spend more for broader feature availability and a special-edition appearance package, the 2022 is the better secondary path.

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 brings the stronger overall value story here, especially if you care about style, cabin polish, and a more complete-feeling package. The Kona counters with standard advanced safety features and slightly better highway fuel economy, but it also carries a weaker value impression in the expert review.

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

These recommendations are based on CarGurus' proprietary market data from October 27, 2026, CarGurus experts' opinions, and generative AI.