2020 Hyundai Kona vs 2021 Kia Seltos

The 2020 Hyundai Kona was a standout in its segment with a sleek, sporty, and dramatic exterior. Despite being shorter than most of its competitors, Hyundai managed to make the Kona visually stimulating with tiered lighting, a tall grille, and chunky matte plastic trim. The design elements, such as slim LED running lamps and fender creases, gave it a premium vibe. However, the interior did not match the exterior's quality, featuring hard plastics and lackluster finishes. While the buttons and screens were high-res and functional, the overall tactile quality lagged behind competitors like the Mazda CX-30 and Honda HR-V.

In contrast, the 2021 Kia Seltos had a big-car feel despite its subcompact classification. It featured an upright layout with a commanding view of the road and a busy yet cohesive headlight and grille design. The interior was straightforward and intuitive, with clean lines and seamlessly integrated tech features reminiscent of more upscale brands. The Seltos offered a range of trims, each adding more features and luxury, culminating in the SX Turbo with a 10.25-inch touchscreen and additional driver assistance features.

The 2020 Hyundai Kona surprised many with its performance. The 1.6-liter turbocharged inline-four engine produced 175 horsepower and 195 pound-feet of torque, making it one of the most powerful in its segment. This engine, paired with a 7-speed dual-clutch transmission, provided strong acceleration and confidence in various driving conditions. However, only the Limited and Ultimate trims featured this turbo engine. The standard 2.0-liter engine, with 147 hp and 132 lb-ft, was less impressive but still better than many competitors due to its traditional 6-speed automatic transmission. The Kona's handling was tight and stable, with minimal body roll, especially in AWD models with independent rear suspension. Fuel economy was average, with the 1.6T AWD achieving 26 mpg city and 29 mpg highway.

The 2021 Kia Seltos offered two engine options. The base 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine produced 146 horsepower and 132 pound-feet of torque, paired with a CVT. This engine was adequate for city driving but lacked power at higher speeds. The turbocharged 1.6-liter engine, available in the S Turbo and SX Turbo trims, delivered 175 horsepower and 195 pound-feet of torque, providing ample power for highway driving and quick acceleration. The Seltos also featured a Drive Mode dial with Normal, Sport, and Smart modes, enhancing throttle response and steering feel. Despite its upright layout, the Seltos handled well with minimal body roll and a smooth ride over bumps.

The 2020 Hyundai Kona struggled with interior space, offering only 19 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seats and 46 cubic feet with the seats folded. This was significantly less than competitors like the Honda HR-V and Kia Soul. While seating for four was comfortable, the Kona's cramped interior made it less practical for carrying passengers and cargo. The lack of side rails on the base SE model further limited its utility.

The 2021 Kia Seltos excelled in cargo space, providing 26.6 cubic feet behind the rear seats and 62.8 cubic feet with the seats folded. This made it one of the most spacious subcompact SUVs, even rivaling some compact SUVs. The Seltos also featured numerous cubbies and compartments for storage, enhancing its practicality. Rear-seat space was impressive, with ample head- and legroom, making it a comfortable choice for passengers.

The 2020 Hyundai Kona offered a good list of standard features, especially from the SEL trim upwards. The base SE model included a 7-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Higher trims added features like proximity entry, heated front seats, and an 8-inch touchscreen with navigation. The Ultimate trim also included adaptive cruise control and lane-centering abilities, although it lacked some advanced features found in more expensive models.

The 2021 Kia Seltos featured an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system in the base S trim, while the SX Turbo came with a 10.25-inch touchscreen and a Bose premium sound system. The infotainment system was intuitive, with helpful home buttons and hard buttons for easy navigation. However, the system had some quirks, such as defaulting to phone audio when connected via USB and only one data-connecting USB port. Despite these minor issues, the Seltos' tech features were user-friendly and comprehensive.

The 2020 Hyundai Kona scored five out of five stars overall in NHTSA crash tests and was rated a 2020 Top Safety Pick by the IIHS. It came standard with forward emergency braking, lane-keep assist, and a driver attention monitor. However, it lacked front knee airbags and rear side airbags, and pedestrian detection was only available on the Ultimate trim.

The 2021 Kia Seltos came standard with a full array of airbags, electronic stability control, and a tire pressure monitoring system. Most trims included a suite of driver-assistance features like forward-collision avoidance, lane-departure warning, and automatic high beams. The EX trim added blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert, while the SX trim included adaptive cruise control and cyclist detection. The Seltos also featured an alert for when the vehicle in front had moved, preventing embarrassing delays at stoplights.