Used 2021 Kia Seltos for Sale nearNew Bern, NC

How much does the 2021 Kia Seltos cost?

Prices have softened 9.18% compared to this time last year, making it a favorable time to shop this model year.

There are 886 listings available, which suggests you should have a workable selection 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 stylish design, great handling, and easy-to-use technology. They also like the value proposition and the generous standard features and safety tech. On the downside, the expert notes call out the underwhelming base engine, poor ride quality, and cramped back seat.

That mix fits you best if you want a small SUV that feels more polished and complete than many rivals, especially if cabin quality and everyday usability matter more than outright performance. Good and great deals account for 35.9% of listings, so there is still some 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 feedback points to a dependable, trouble-free ownership experience, with comments centered on value, comfort, and confidence in the vehicle over time. The expert notes also emphasize that the Seltos punches above its weight in driveability, cabin quality, space, and utility.

If you are buying used, the main long-term risk is choosing a poorly maintained example, especially one that has seen harder use or skipped service.

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

At 74.7% 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 cabin and drivetrain feel consistent with the mileage. Because the Seltos is a value-oriented small SUV, condition matters a lot when you are comparing similarly priced examples.

Key things to evaluate:

• Trim level: The LX is the most basic version, with manually adjustable front seats and an 8-inch touchscreen, while the S adds LED daytime running lights, roof rails, leatherette-and-cloth upholstery, and a leather-wrapped steering wheel. The EX adds a sunroof, full leatherette upholstery, a power driver’s seat, automatic climate control, and wireless charging, making it the best-value step up for many shoppers.
• 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 upgrade to a turbocharged 1.6-liter four-cylinder with 175 horsepower and 195 pound-feet of torque, plus a 7-speed dual-clutch automatic and standard AWD.
• Safety package: The standard driver-assistance 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, 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 gets a 10.25-inch touchscreen, a Bose premium sound system, and a 7-inch digital instrument display. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard, and the larger screen can show those functions alongside 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, it returns 27 mpg city, 31 highway, and 29 combined. The 1.6-liter AWD turbo model 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 17-inch alloy wheels, remote keyless entry, an 8-inch touchscreen, and standard AWD. It makes sense if you want the lowest-cost way into the Seltos, but it is also the trim most likely to feel stripped down.
• S: This trim adds a more polished look with LED daytime running lights, roof rails, and a nicer cabin with leatherette-and-cloth upholstery and a leather-wrapped steering wheel. It is the trim that best balances price and everyday equipment for many buyers.
• EX: This is the best-value upgrade if you want more comfort and convenience, thanks to the sunroof, power driver’s seat, automatic climate control, wireless charging, and blind-spot monitoring. It is the sweet spot for shoppers who want a more complete-feeling SUV without jumping to the turbo models.
• S Turbo: This trim keeps much of the EX’s equipment but adds the more powerful turbocharged engine, 18-inch wheels, and additional driver-assistance features. Choose it if you care more about stronger acceleration and standard AWD than about staying near the lower end of the price range.
• SX Turbo: This is the range-topper, with the 10.25-inch touchscreen, Bose audio, rear cargo cover, LED fog lamps, and more driver-assistance features. It is the right pick if you want the most tech and the most upscale feel in the lineup.

The safety package is not standard on the LX, so if driver assistance 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 are patient.

• Deal availability: 35.9% of listings are priced as good or great deals.
• Inventory: There are 886 listings available.
• Price trend: Prices have softened 9.18% compared with last year.
• Clean inventory: 74.7% of listings are accident-free.

If you find a listing below $15,804, 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 $15,805 sits slightly below last year's $17,404.

That decline suggests the market has already adjusted downward, which can help you buy at a more favorable entry point today. For a future seller, it also means you should expect resale value to depend heavily on condition, mileage, and trim choice rather than on broad market momentum alone. Well-equipped trims and clean history examples should be easier to move than base models with visible wear.

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 a five-star overall rating from NHTSA, with five-star ratings in frontal crash, side crash, and rollover tests.

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 standard driver-assistance suite includes forward-collision avoidance with automatic emergency braking and pedestrian detection, lane-departure warning, and automatic high beams. Blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert are added on the EX, while the SX adds adaptive cruise control with idle stop-and-go, cyclist detection, and a safe-exit-style alert for parallel parking situations.

One important caveat is that these driver-assistance features do not come standard on the base LX, so you need to move up a trim if you want a fuller 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:

• 35.9% of listings are priced as good or great deals.
• At 74.7% accident-free, a meaningful share of listings has prior incidents — history verification is especially important.
• Price trend: Prices have softened 9.18% compared with last year.
• Owners rate it 4.8/5 — a strong satisfaction signal.
• The 2021 is all-new, with polished cabin quality and modern infotainment and safety tech.

Consider the 2022 if:

• At $17,670, the 2022 costs more than the current year's $15,805 average.
• It adds a Nightfall Edition and spreads more driver-assist and 10.25-inch touchscreen availability across the lineup.

The bottom line: If you want the better value today, the 2021 is the stronger buy because prices have eased and inventory is healthy. If you are willing to pay more for a newer model-year update and broader feature availability, the 2022 is worth a look. For most price-sensitive shoppers, though, the 2021 gives you the cleaner path to a well-equipped Seltos.

These recommendations are based on CarGurus' proprietary market data from October 6, 2026, CarGurus experts' opinions, and generative AI.