2022 Kia Seltos vs 2021 Ford Bronco Sport

The 2021 Ford Bronco Sport was a highly anticipated addition to the Ford lineup, designed as a smaller sibling to the rugged Bronco. It featured a modern retro aesthetic reminiscent of the Land Rover, with short front and rear overhangs for better off-road capability. The vehicle's tall fender wells and tucked-in body sides were crafted for trail driving, minimizing the risk of catching on obstructions. The front grille and tailgate prominently displayed the "BRONCO" name, with a smaller "SPORT" postscript, while the Ford blue oval appeared modestly on the tailgate.

The Bronco Sport's wheels varied by model, with options ranging from 17-inch Sparkle Silver wheels on the Base model to 18-inch machined-face aluminum Ebony Black-painted wheels on the Outer Banks. The interior was rugged yet tasteful, featuring an uncluttered design with unique HVAC vent shapes and an 8-inch infotainment screen. Interior trim levels progressed from cloth seats to leather-trimmed, heated sport-contour bucket seats, with the First Edition offering Navy Pier Leather power front seats. The cargo area was designed with active lifestyles in mind, featuring a rubberized cargo floor and second-row seat protector.

The 2022 Kia Seltos positioned itself between the smaller Soul and the larger Sportage, offering five trim levels: LX, S, EX, Nightfall Edition, and SX. The Nightfall Edition, our test vehicle, featured matte-black 18-inch alloy wheels, a turbocharged engine, a dual-clutch transmission, a black grille, added body cladding, and robust roof rails. The Seltos boasted a stylish interior with a contrast-color dashboard panel, exposed stitching, gloss-black trim, and metallic accents. However, the abundance of shiny hard plastic detracted from the overall quality.

Kia arranged the controls logically, with knobs for stereo volume and cabin temperature, complemented by matte-black buttons with clear markings. The infotainment system's purple accent color was a minor quirk, but the Seltos excelled in offering a larger, more refined, and more powerful driving experience compared to many of its direct rivals. The Seltos' interior was roomy, with easy access, a comfortable driving position, and ample rear legroom. Cargo space was generous, measuring 26.6 cubic feet behind the back seat and 62.8 cubic feet with the rear seat folded down.

The 2021 Ford Bronco Sport offered two engine choices tied to trim levels. The Base, Big Bend, and Outer Banks trims featured a 1.5-liter EcoBoost turbocharged three-cylinder engine producing 181 horsepower and 190 pound-feet of torque. The Badlands and First Edition models came with a 2.0-liter EcoBoost turbocharged four-cylinder engine delivering 245 horsepower and 275 pound-feet of torque. All models had an eight-speed automatic transmission and all-wheel drive (AWD), along with a terrain management system with up to seven G.O.A.T. modes (Go Over Any Type of Terrain).

The Bronco Sport excelled off-road, thanks to its short wheelbase, four-wheel independent suspension, generous suspension travel, and decent ground clearance. On pavement, the crossover exhibited good manners, with the 2.0-liter engine better suited to its character. The 1.5-liter engine, while adequate, could sound strained when pushed hard.

The 2022 Kia Seltos offered two engine options. The LX, S, and EX trims had a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine producing 146 horsepower and 132 pound-feet of torque, paired with a continuously variable transmission (CVT). The Nightfall Edition and SX trims featured a turbocharged 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine delivering 175 horsepower and 195 pound-feet of torque, paired with a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission (DCT).

The turbocharged engine provided a more engaging driving experience, with torque arriving 3,000 rpm sooner than the naturally aspirated engine. The Seltos offered Normal, Sport, and Smart driving modes, with Smart mode balancing fuel efficiency and responsiveness. However, the suspension tuning was less appealing, with the vehicle exhibiting lateral rocking motions on uneven pavement and feeling bouncy on undulating roads. The AWD system had a Lock function for even power distribution at lower speeds, but the Seltos' ground clearance of 7.3 inches was less than class leaders.

The 2021 Ford Bronco Sport catered to active buyers with features like a cargo space designed to hold two 27.5-inch-wheel mountain bikes. Ford offered over 100 factory and aftermarket accessories for transporting outdoor gear. The roof could hold up to 150 pounds (100 with a moonroof), and the 2.0-liter engine could tow up to 2,200 pounds, while the 1.5-liter engine could tow 2,000 pounds. The cargo hold featured a flip-up rear glass, an optional cargo management package with a slide-out work table, a 400-watt inverter, and liftgate floodlamps.

The front cabin had ample storage compartments, including big door pockets, multiple cubbies, and covered storage. However, taller drivers might find it challenging to see past the roof overhang to spot traffic lights, and the bulges in the hood could obscure the trail ahead when off-road.

The 2022 Kia Seltos excelled in form and function, offering a roomy interior with easy access and a comfortable driving position. The Nightfall Edition featured cloth upholstery with Sofino simulated leather bolsters, a single-zone automatic climate control system, and heated front seats. The rear seat provided ample legroom and footroom, with rear air conditioning vents, a USB charging port, and a center armrest with cupholders. However, the seatback angle was a little too reclined for comfort.

Kia provided decent storage space, including a smartphone shelf under the climate control panel. Cargo space measured 26.6 cubic feet behind the back seat and 62.8 cubic feet with the rear seat folded down, with plastic grocery sack hooks to prevent items from rolling around.

The 2021 Ford Bronco Sport featured an 8-inch infotainment touchscreen with SYNC 3, compatible with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. It also offered Ford+Alexa and SiriusXM capability, with FordConnect providing a 4G LTE WiFi hotspot. The base audio system was an AM/FM stereo with six speakers, while a Bang & Olufsen sound system was available on higher trims. The terrain management system included up to seven G.O.A.T. modes, with trail control technology for off-roading.

Intelligent access with push-button start was included on all trims except the Base model. Higher trims featured heated and leather-wrapped steering wheels and a 6.5-inch digital instrument panel.

The 2022 Kia Seltos expanded the availability of its 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment system to include the S trim level. This system was standard on the EX, Nightfall Edition, and SX trims, with the SX trim pairing it with a Bose premium sound system. The system included Bluetooth, a navigation system, connected services, satellite radio, and a six-speaker stereo. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were available, but required a cable connection.

The infotainment system was intuitive to use, with physical buttons and knobs for primary functions. However, the voice recognition system was frustrating, and a native conversational voice recognition system was missing.

The 2021 Ford Bronco Sport came standard with the Ford Co-Pilot360 suite of safety features, including pre-collision assist with automatic emergency braking, pedestrian detection, forward collision warning, blind-spot monitoring, lane-keeping assist, auto high-beam headlamps, and a reversing camera. The Co-Pilot360 Assist+ package added adaptive cruise control, lane centering, evasive steering assist, and a voice-activated touchscreen navigation system. AWD and a terrain management system with G.O.A.T. modes were standard on all models.

The 2022 Kia Seltos included forward-collision avoidance, pedestrian detection, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, lane-centering assist, and automatic high-beam headlights. The EX trim added blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert, while the SX trim included adaptive cruise control, Highway Driving Assist, and Safe Exit Assist. The Seltos earned a Top Safety Pick rating from the IIHS and a four-star overall rating from the NHTSA.