2021 Kia Seltos vs 2021 Ford Bronco Sport

The 2021 Kia Seltos, despite being classified as a subcompact SUV, had a commanding presence with a big-car feel. It featured an upright layout that offered a commanding view of the road. The headlight design, although slightly busy, flowed seamlessly into the grille, enhancing its cohesive look. The lower front bumper had an aggressive approach angle, hinting at off-road capabilities, even though the Seltos was not intended for heavy off-roading. Our test model boasted a trendy two-tone roof design and red circles around the wheel centers, which subtly hinted at its on-road driving dynamics. The overall design had numerous elements, but they worked harmoniously.

Inside the Seltos, the layout was intuitive and straightforward, a hallmark of modern Kia designs. Clean lines and well-integrated tech elements borrowed influences from upscale brands like Audi. The clean LCD screen for climate controls added visual symmetry with the touchscreen atop the dash. The right side of the center stack featured a handle that underscored the vehicle's sporty and utilitarian vibe.

The Seltos offered a range of trim levels: LX, S, EX, S Turbo, and SX Turbo. The base LX trim included 17-inch alloy wheels, manually adjustable front seats, remote keyless entry, and power windows. It also featured an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The S trim added LED daytime running lights, combination leatherette-and-cloth upholstery, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, and unique blue stitching for the dash. The EX trim provided 17-inch machine-finish alloy wheels, darker tinted windows, a sunroof, and a suite of additional features like LED interior lighting and a wireless charging pad. The S Turbo mirrored the EX with a more powerful engine and 18-inch alloy wheels. The top-tier SX Turbo included distinctive features like LED fog lamps, a 10.25-inch touchscreen, a rear cargo cover, an upgraded stereo system, and advanced driver-assistance features.

In contrast, the 2021 Ford Bronco Sport had a modern retro look that evoked the heritage of its big brother, the Ford Bronco. Designed as a unibody crossover, it catered more to suburban drivers while being ready for weekend adventures. The Bronco Sport featured short front and rear overhangs ideal for rugged trails, tall fender wells, and tucked-in body sides to avoid snags. The front and rear designs tied in visually with the upcoming Bronco, and the bold "BRONCO" lettering on the grille and tailgate emphasized its lineage. The Ford blue oval appeared modestly at the rear, keeping the focus on the Bronco identity.

Wheel designs varied across trims: the Base model had 17-inch Sparkle Silver wheels, while the Big Bend featured 17-inch Carbonized Gray-painted wheels. The Outer Banks had 18-inch machined-face aluminum Ebony Black-painted wheels. The Badlands model matched the Outer Banks wheel design but paired them with beefy 28.5-inch all-terrain tires, and the First Edition boasted 17-inch Ebony Black-painted wheels with 29-inch tires. Upsizing options were available across trims, offering enhanced off-road and on-road performance.

Inside, the Bronco Sport sported a rugged yet tasteful design with an uncluttered layout. The HVAC vents shared a distinctive shape, lending unity to the cabin. The center stack featured convenient open storage cubbies and an 8-inch infotainment screen perfectly positioned. The rotary gear selector and cupholders in the center console added to the practical design.

Like the Seltos, the Bronco Sport's interior trim stepped up predictably from model to model, from cloth seats to leather-trimmed heated sport-contour bucket seats, up to Navy Pier Leather power front seats in the First Edition. Storage solutions were also well thought out, with rubberized cargo floors and seat protectors adding to the Bronco Sport's functionality.

The 2021 Kia Seltos offered two engine choices. The LX, S, and EX trims were powered by a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine producing 146 horsepower and 132 pound-feet of torque. This engine was paired with a continuously variable transmission (CVT) and could send power to either the front wheels or all-wheel drive (AWD). AWD was standard on the LX and EX trims and optional on the S trim. While the base engine was adequate for city driving and parking lot maneuvers, it lacked punch at higher speeds, making highway acceleration a bit slower.

For those seeking more power, the Seltos S Turbo and SX Turbo trims featured a turbocharged 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine generating 175 horsepower and 195 pound-feet of torque. This engine was mated to a 7-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission, delivering power to standard AWD. The turbocharged engine provided a significantly more engaging driving experience, with enough power to accelerate quickly and confidently on highways. The Drive Mode dial offered Normal, Sport, and Smart modes. Sport mode enhanced throttle response, shift mapping, and steering feel, making the Seltos feel sportier and more responsive. The Smart mode adjusted to real-time driving conditions, optimizing the settings accordingly.

Despite its upright design and 7.3 inches of ground clearance, the Seltos exhibited minimal body roll in turns. In Sport mode, the turn-in felt quick and nimble, making high-speed turns stable and smooth. The ride comfort remained impressive, even over bumps, a feature more commonly associated with luxury SUVs.

On the other hand, the 2021 Ford Bronco Sport came with two engine options, each tied to specific trims. The Base, Big Bend, and Outer Banks trims were equipped with a 1.5-liter EcoBoost turbocharged three-cylinder engine, producing 181 horsepower and 190 pound-feet of torque. This engine was coupled with an eight-speed automatic transmission and standard AWD. The 2.0-liter EcoBoost turbocharged four-cylinder engine, delivering 245 horsepower and 275 pound-feet of torque, powered the Badlands and First Edition trims.

Ford organized a media drive at Holly Oaks ORV Park, allowing various Bronco Sport variants to showcase their off-road prowess. The Bronco Sport's short wheelbase (105.1 inches), four-wheel independent suspension, and generous suspension travel contributed to its off-road capabilities. Ground clearance ranged from 7.8 to 8.8 inches, depending on tire and wheel size, allowing it to handle rugged trails with ease.

While the Bronco Sport excelled off-road, it was also well-mannered on pavement, making it suitable for daily driving. The 2.0-liter engine was better matched to the vehicle's character, providing ample power without sounding strained.

The 2021 Kia Seltos impressed with its cargo space, offering 26.6 cubic feet behind the rear seats. Folding down the rear seats expanded this to 62.8 cubic feet, making it one of the roomiest subcompact SUVs available. The SX Turbo trim added a hard cargo cover that doubled as a tray for small items. The Seltos also had numerous cubbies and compartments for storage. Front passengers had access to large door cubbies, bottle holders, a spacious center console, and a tray between the seats. Rear passengers enjoyed ample headroom and legroom, a rarity in subcompact SUVs.

In comparison, the 2021 Ford Bronco Sport catered to active lifestyles with innovative storage solutions. The cargo area was designed to hold two 27.5-inch-wheel mountain bikes and offered a catalog of over 100 accessories for transporting outdoor gear. The roof could handle up to 150 pounds (100 pounds with a moonroof). The 2.0-liter engine equipped models could tow up to 2,200 pounds, and the 1.5-liter models could tow 2,000 pounds.

Additional smart features included the flip-up rear glass, a slide-out work table, a 400-watt inverter, and liftgate floodlamps. The front cabin had multiple storage compartments, including large door pockets and various cubbies.

Minor complaints about driving position impacted outward visibility, especially for taller drivers on-road and during off-road adventures.

The 2021 Kia Seltos offered a tech-savvy interior. The base S trim came standard with a 3.5-inch TFT digital screen in the instrument panel and an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system. The SX Turbo upgraded to a Bose premium sound system and a 7-inch digital display screen in the instrument panel, along with a 10.25-inch touchscreen. The touchscreen was large enough to display Apple CarPlay or Android Auto alongside other information like radio, climate, or navigation data.

However, some quirks in the Seltos' tech included the default switch to the phone's music when plugging in a smartphone via USB, potentially leading to embarrassing audio outputs. Only one of the two USB ports allowed data connection, which was not backlit, causing confusion in low light. Despite these issues, Kia's infotainment system was generally intuitive, with helpful hard buttons and a home button for easy navigation.

In contrast, the 2021 Ford Bronco Sport featured the latest infotainment systems, anchored by an 8-inch touchscreen with SYNC 3, compatible with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Available tech included Ford+Alexa, SiriusXM, FordConnect with 4G LTE WiFi hotspot, and an optional Bang & Olufsen sound system on higher trims. The Bronco Sport also offered a 360-degree camera with a washer, ideal for off-road situations.

The terrain management system's G.O.A.T. modes included various driving modes: Normal, Eco, Sport, Slippery, and Sand for the Base, Big Bend, and Outer Banks trims; Mud/Ruts and Rock Crawl modes were added for the Badlands and First Edition trims. Trail control tech enabled a cruise-control-like feature for off-roading, allowing drivers to focus on steering.

Intelligent access with push-button start was standard on all trims except Base, while heated and leather-wrapped steering wheels and a 6.5-inch digital instrument panel were available on higher trims.

The 2021 Kia Seltos came with standard front- and side-impact airbags, electronic stability control, a tire pressure monitoring system, and child-seat anchor latches. Excluding the base LX, all trims featured advanced driver-assistance systems such as forward-collision avoidance with automatic emergency braking and pedestrian detection, lane-departure warning, and automatic high beams. The EX added blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert. The SX included adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go functionality and cyclist detection for collision avoidance. It also offered a feature to alert drivers when it was safe to exit the vehicle when parallel parked.

The Ford Bronco Sport's safety suite, Ford Co-Pilot360, was standard across all trims. It included pre-collision assist with automatic emergency braking and pedestrian detection, forward collision warning, dynamic brake support, blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert, 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, voice-activated navigation, SiriusXM Traffic and Travel Link, and road sign recognition. AWD was a standard feature on all Bronco Sport trims, contributing to enhanced safety through improved traction.

Trailer sway control came with the tow package, essential for safe towing operations. However, neither the IIHS nor NHTSA had released crash-worthiness ratings for the Bronco Sport at the time.