2021 Hyundai Kona vs 2022 Kia Seltos

The 2021 Hyundai Kona was a small SUV that combined a funky and playful exterior with a more subdued rear design. Its front featured a busy arrangement of lights and a distinctive grille, appealing to younger buyers. The interior mirrored this playful attitude with neat patterns and standard cloth upholstery, while higher trims offered leather upgrades. The layout was simple and intuitive, with a high-mounted infotainment touchscreen and physical climate controls, making it user-friendly despite its compact size.

In contrast, the 2022 Kia Seltos positioned itself between the smaller Soul and larger Sportage, offering a more refined and spacious interior. The Nightfall Edition, with its matte-black 18-inch alloy wheels and turbocharged engine, added a sporty touch. Inside, the Seltos boasted a stylish dashboard with contrast-color panels and metallic accents, though it was marred by shiny hard plastics. The controls were logically arranged, and the infotainment system, despite its odd purple theme, was intuitive. The Seltos offered a more spacious and comfortable cabin, with excellent build quality and thoughtful design elements.

The 2021 Hyundai Kona offered two powertrain options: a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine with 147 horsepower and a turbocharged 1.6-liter engine producing 195 horsepower. The base engine was paired with a six-speed automatic transmission, while the turbocharged engine came with a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. Front-wheel drive was standard, with all-wheel drive available for an additional cost. The Kona delivered a confident and agile driving experience, with fuel economy ranging from 25 to 33 mpg depending on the configuration.

The 2022 Kia Seltos provided a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine with 146 horsepower for the LX, S, and EX trims, paired with a continuously variable transmission. The Nightfall Edition and SX trims featured a turbocharged 1.6-liter engine with 175 horsepower and 195 lb-ft of torque, paired with a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. The Seltos offered driving modes like Normal, Sport, and Smart, with the latter balancing fuel efficiency and responsiveness. The Seltos returned an EPA-estimated 27 mpg in combined driving. While the Seltos excelled in urban environments, its suspension tuning was less impressive, leading to a bouncy ride on uneven roads.

The 2021 Hyundai Kona provided decent headroom and legroom for front-seat passengers, with wide and well-padded seats. However, rear-seat legroom was limited, and cargo space was below average for the segment. The rear seats folded to expand cargo capacity, and small-item storage was generous and conveniently located.

The 2022 Kia Seltos excelled in interior space, offering easy entry and exit, a comfortable driving position, and ample rear legroom. The Nightfall Edition featured cloth upholstery with simulated leather bolsters and heated front seats. The Seltos provided generous storage space, with 26.6 cubic feet behind the rear seats and 62.8 cubic feet with them folded down. The interior design was practical, with thoughtful storage solutions and a spacious cargo area.

The 2021 Hyundai Kona came equipped with an eight-inch infotainment touchscreen, Bluetooth, six speakers, and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Higher trims offered additional features like SiriusXM radio, navigation, and a Harman Kardon audio system. The infotainment system was user-friendly, with a colorful and responsive interface.

The 2022 Kia Seltos expanded its 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment system to more trims, offering features like Bluetooth, navigation, and a Bose premium sound system. While the system required a cable connection for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, it was intuitive to use, with physical buttons for quick access. However, the voice recognition system was less effective without an active subscription to connected services.

The 2021 Hyundai Kona earned a Top Safety Pick from the IIHS and a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA. It came standard with features like forward-collision warning, lane-keeping assist, and automatic emergency braking. Optional features included blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert.

The 2022 Kia Seltos was equipped with a comprehensive suite of safety features, including forward-collision avoidance, lane-departure warning, and automatic high-beam headlights. Higher trims offered additional features like blind-spot monitoring and adaptive cruise control. The Seltos received a Top Safety Pick rating from the IIHS for the SX trim and a four-star overall rating from the NHTSA.