2020 Jeep Renegade vs 2021 Kia Seltos

The 2020 Jeep Renegade stood out with its iconic Jeep aesthetics, encapsulating the brand's rugged, adventurous spirit. The signature round headlights, seven-slot grille, and trapezoidal wheel arches were unmistakably Jeep, wrapped in a design that balanced purpose and expressiveness. The Jeep Renegade came in several trim levels: Sport, Latitude, Limited, and the off-road-ready Trailhawk. Additionally, special editions spanned from the budget-friendly Jeepster to the lavish High Altitude. Starting at $25,210 for the base Sport trim, our test model was the High Altitude, brimming with luxurious extras pushing its price to $36,515.

Our High Altitude test vehicle featured premium paint, stylish dark gray 19-inch wheels with all-season tires, and a dual-pane panoramic glass roof, illuminating the black leather interior. This gave the Renegade a matured aesthetic, combining full LED lighting, contrast stitching, and metallic cabin accents for a luxurious feel. However, the interior's primary material was hard plastic, paired with an all-black color scheme that made it look somewhat uninspired and cheaper than its price suggested.

In contrast, the 2021 Kia Seltos, though classified as a subcompact SUV, presented a big-car feel with an upright layout providing a commanding road view. Its headlight design, albeit busy, seamlessly flowed into the grille, and the aggressive lower front bumper hinted at adventure, although it wasn’t designed for off-roading. Our test model showcased a trendy two-tone roof, and the red circles around the wheel centers added a sporty touch.

Inside, the Seltos featured a straightforward design layout typical of modern Kias, with clean lines and integrated tech influences reminiscent of upscale brands like Audi. The digital climate control display and touchscreen atop the dash added symmetry, while the unique handle framing the center stack emphasized its utilitarian yet sporty nature. Trim levels ranged from LX, S, EX, S Turbo, to SX Turbo, each ascending in luxury and features. Notably, the S turbo trims added powerful engines and additional driver assistance features.

The 2020 Jeep Renegade offered two engine choices. Most trims came with a rather underwhelming 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine, generating 180 horsepower and 175 lb-ft of torque. The higher trims, including our test vehicle, featured a turbocharged 1.3-liter four-cylinder engine producing 177 horsepower and 210 lb-ft of torque, paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission. The Renegade could be configured with FWD on base models or AWD on higher trims. Our test car had the Active Drive setup, which saved fuel by disconnecting the rear driveline until front wheel slip was detected.

The 1.3-liter turbo engine offered spirited performance with peak torque at 1,750 rpm. However, turbo lag and a fuel-economy-focused transmission calibration led to a somewhat hesitant driving experience, especially when cornering or maneuvering through urban environments. This setup often resulted in an annoying game of cat and mouse with the accelerator pedal.

The Renegade’s drivetrain saw disappointing fuel economy, averaging 23.6 mpg against the 26 mpg EPA estimate in combined driving, partly due to the turbo’s requirement for premium fuel. Moreover, a small 12.7-gallon fuel tank meant frequent refueling stops. Highway driving was marred by a rough ride and noisy cabin, although urban driving was more palatable. The Trailhawk trim remained the best variant for serious off-roaders.

The 2021 Kia Seltos, by comparison, offered a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine across the LX, S, and EX trims, producing 146 horsepower and 132 lb-ft of torque mated to a continuously variable transmission (CVT), with FWD or AWD options. This engine was adequate for city driving but lacked power for highways or more spirited driving.

The S Turbo and SX Turbo trims featured a more lively turbocharged 1.6-liter engine, delivering 175 horsepower and 195 lb-ft of torque through a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission to standard AWD. These engines provided ample low-end power for quick starts and dynamic highway performance. The steering felt light, but the Drive Mode dial offered Normal, Sport, and Smart modes. Sport mode enhanced throttle response and tightened steering, aligning better with the turbocharged engine’s performance. The Seltos exhibited minimal body roll, felt composed in corners, and retained a smooth ride over rough terrain, surpassing the Renegade's driving dynamics.

When stepping into the 2020 Jeep Renegade, one immediately noticed the distant windshield, thick pillars, and vertical side glass. These features, coupled with the panoramic glass roof, made the interior feel spacious. Despite this perception, the actual interior space was limited. The front seats provided a comfortable position with an eight-way power adjustment for the driver, though front passengers sat lower, impacting dashboard visibility. The rear seats were cramped, especially for longer journeys, and lacked air conditioning vents. Storage options were sparse, with modest cargo space measured at 18.5 cubic feet behind the rear seats, expanding to 50.8 cubic feet with the seats down.

Conversely, the 2021 Kia Seltos excelled in cargo capacity, offering 26.6 cubic feet behind the rear seats, expanding to a generous 62.8 cubic feet when folded. This made it one of the roomiest subcompact SUVs, even competing with some compact SUVs. The SX Turbo trim added a functional hard cargo cover that doubled as a small-item tray. The Seltos’ interior was plentiful with cubbies and compartments, including large door cubbies, bottle holders, and a spacious center console. The rear-seat space impressed with ample headroom and legroom, making it comfortable for passengers of various heights.

The 2020 Jeep Renegade provided solid technological offerings. The highlight was the Uconnect infotainment system, featuring an 8.4-inch touchscreen. While this system was aging, it retained user-friendly controls, including volume and tuning knobs and clearly labeled menu buttons. The system supported Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Amazon Alexa, and a Wi-Fi hotspot. SiriusXM satellite radio powered the connected services, and the new Kenwood premium audio system delivered excellent sound. For driver convenience, the Renegade had a configurable driver information center and optional parking assist for both parallel and perpendicular parking.

The 2021 Kia Seltos featured a rich array of tech, starting with the base LX and S trims’ 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system and 3.5-inch TFT digital instrument display. The SX Turbo elevated this with a Bose premium sound system, a 7-inch digital instrument display, and a massive 10.25-inch touchscreen. This screen balanced smartly between CarPlay/Android Auto functionalities and additional data like navigation or climate controls.

However, the Seltos had some minor irritations. Plugging in a smartphone defaulted the audio to the phone rather than the current media source, and the backlit USB port only provided power, not data connectivity, causing potential confusion at night. Despite these quirks, Kia's infotainment remained user-friendly with hard button redundancy aiding in straightforward menu navigation without distraction.

The safety features of the 2020 Jeep Renegade were commendable but had room for refinement. The Advanced Tech Group package included adaptive cruise control, forward collision warning with automatic emergency braking, lane departure warning, lane-keeping assistance, and automatic high beams. The Safety and Security Group added blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic warning. Although these features were less refined than some competitors', they performed accurately, albeit sometimes startlingly, like the loud collision warning. The Renegade received a 4-star overall rating from the NHTSA, with a concerning 3-star rating in rear-seat side-impact protection. The IIHS awarded it good scores, but it lost its Top Safety Pick designation due to stringent new criteria.

The 2021 Kia Seltos came packed with standard safety features, including front and side airbags, electronic stability control, and child-seat anchors. Advanced driver-assistance features were included from the S trim upwards, offering 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 Turbo went a step further with adaptive cruise control featuring idle stop-and-go, cyclist detection, and an exit safety feature. Unique to the Seltos was a helpful alert system to notify drivers if a vehicle ahead had moved off when stopped, avoiding late starts and potential honks from impatient drivers behind.