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 927 listings available, which suggests you have room to compare prices and equipment levels.

If you find a listing below $16,159.46, that's toward the low end of the year-round range and worth acting on quickly.

Is the 2021 Kia Seltos a good car?

Yes — the 4.8/5 user rating points to strong owner satisfaction, and the expert rating is 8/10. The standout strength is Look and feel at 9/10.

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

The trade-offs are familiar: some owners want more horsepower, and a few wish for extra comfort features that appear on other vehicles. The overview also frames it as a small SUV that delivers useful cabin and cargo space, easy-to-use technology, and a more substantial feel than many rivals.

With 33.2% of listings marked as good or great deals, you have a decent chance of finding a competitive offer.

Is the 2021 Kia Seltos reliable?

Owners rate it 4.8/5, a strong signal of long-term satisfaction. The owner feedback also points to a vehicle that feels dependable and trouble-free enough to inspire confidence over time.

The expert evaluation reinforces that impression by describing the Seltos as a vehicle that punches above its weight in driveability, cabin quality, space, and utility. That combination usually matters most when you want a used SUV you can count on day to day.

If you buy one, focus on maintenance history and overall condition, since long-term ownership risk is best managed by choosing a well-kept example.

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

Accident-free inventory is solid at 75.4% — always verify the vehicle history report.

You should still run a history report on any candidate, even if the listing looks clean. Prioritize a pre-purchase inspection that checks the drivetrain, brakes, tires, and interior wear. Pay close attention to how the vehicle drives at low speeds and on the highway, since that can reveal whether it has been maintained properly.

Key things to evaluate:

• Trim level: The LX is the most basic version, with manually adjustable front seats and remote keyless entry, while the S adds LED daytime running lights, roof rails, and upgraded interior trim. The base trim also misses the full suite of driver-assistance safety features.
• Powertrain: The LX, S, and EX use a 2.0-liter four-cylinder with 146 horsepower and 132 pound-feet of torque, while the S Turbo and SX Turbo use a 1.6-liter turbocharged engine with 175 horsepower and 195 pound-feet of torque. The base engine is efficient, but it feels weak at higher speeds.
• Safety package: A full suite of driver-assistance safety features is standard on all trims but the base LX. That suite includes 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 and cyclist detection.
• 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 most efficient setup is the 2.0-liter engine with front-wheel drive at 29 mpg city, 34 highway, 31 combined. With AWD, that engine 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:

• Base trim: The LX gives you the essentials, but it lacks the full driver-assistance suite that comes on the other trims.
• Sweet-spot trim: The S is the best value if you want a nicer cabin and more style without jumping too far in price.
• Premium/top trim: The SX Turbo is the most fully equipped choice, with the larger touchscreen, upgraded audio, and additional driver-assistance features.

The safety package is not standard on the LX, so if that matters most to you, start your search at the S trim or higher.

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

This is a moderate buyer’s market, so you can shop selectively without expecting every listing to be a bargain.

• Deal availability: 33.2% of listings are priced as good or great deals.
• Inventory: There are 927 listings available.
• Price trend: Prices have softened 7.55% compared with last year.
• Clean inventory: 75.4% of listings are accident-free.

If you find a listing below $16,159.46, 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 $16,386 sits slightly below last year's $17,724.

That price movement suggests the Seltos has already absorbed some depreciation, which can help future sellers if they buy at the right price. A lower entry cost gives you more room to preserve value over your ownership period.

Strong demand for well-kept examples should also help support resale performance, especially if you choose a trim with desirable equipment.

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. A full suite of driver-assistance safety features is standard on all trims but the base LX, including 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 if it is safe to exit the vehicle when parallel parking on the street. That means you should pay close attention to trim level if safety tech is a priority.

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:

• 33.2% of listings are priced as good or great deals.
• Accident-free inventory is solid at 75.4% — always verify the vehicle history report.
• Price trend: Prices have softened 7.55% 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 technologies.

Consider the 2022 if:

• At $18,358, the 2022 costs more than the current year's $16,386 average.
• It adds a Nightfall Edition and expands availability of driver-assist and infotainment tech.

The bottom line: If you want the better value play, the 2021 is the smarter starting point because it already delivers strong owner satisfaction, solid safety tech, and a lower average price. If you want more access to newer equipment and are willing to pay more, the 2022 is the better alternative.

These recommendations are based on CarGurus' proprietary market data from August 21, 2026, CarGurus experts' opinions, and generative AI.