2021 Honda HR-V vs 2021 Kia Seltos

The 2021 Kia Seltos, despite being a subcompact SUV, had a big-car feel. It featured an upright layout with a commanding view of the road. The headlight design, though busy, flowed well into the grille styling. The lower front bumper had an aggressive approach angle, hinting at off-road capabilities, even though the Seltos was not designed for off-roading. The test model showcased a two-tone roof design, a popular trend among modern cars and SUVs. Red circles around the wheel centers added a touch of on-road driving dynamics. The interior boasted a straightforward design layout with clean lines and seamlessly integrated tech features, reminiscent of upscale brands like Audi. The clean LCD screen for climate controls added visual symmetry with the touchscreen atop the dash. The “handle” framing the right side of the tray below the center stack underscored the utilitarian yet sporty nature Kia aimed for.

Trim levels for the Seltos included LX, S, EX, S Turbo, and SX Turbo. The LX came with 17-inch alloy wheels, manually adjustable front seats, remote keyless entry, and power windows with a one-touch-down driver’s window. It also featured an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The S trim added LED daytime running lights, a satin finish to the exterior belt-line, and integrated roof rails. Inside, it included combination leatherette-and-cloth upholstery, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, and unique blue stitching for the dash. The EX provided 17-inch machine finish alloy wheels, darker tinted windows, and a sunroof with power sunshade. It also included LED interior lighting, full leatherette upholstery, a 10-way power-adjustable driver’s seat, automatic climate control, a wireless charging pad, and one-touch up/down driver’s power window. The S Turbo had similar content to the EX but included a more powerful engine, 18-inch alloy wheels, and additional driver assistance features. The SX Turbo, the range-topping trim, offered LED fog lamps, a larger 10.25-inch infotainment touchscreen, a rear cargo cover, an upgraded stereo, and more driver assistance features.

The 2021 Honda HR-V had a softer, friendlier appearance compared to Honda’s larger SUVs like the CR-V, Passport, and Pilot. It featured distinctive details such as upper and lower window lines converging near the taillights in a triangular point housing the rear door handles. Most trim levels came with 17-inch alloy wheels, with a machined finish on the EX and EX-L. Sport models had matte-black 18-inch wheels and blacked-out trim. Fog lights were standard on all but the base LX trim level.

The interior styling was plain but functional, with good material quality and fit and finish. EX and EX-L models included push-button start, automatic climate control, a moonroof, and heated front seats, with EX-L models also getting leather upholstery.

The 2021 Kia Seltos offered a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine in the LX, S, and EX trims, producing 146 horsepower and 132 pound-feet of torque. This engine was paired with a continuously variable transmission (CVT) and could power either the front wheels or all-wheel drive (AWD). AWD was standard on LX and EX and optional on the S. The base engine was adequate for city driving but lacked power at higher speeds. The S Turbo and SX Turbo trims featured a turbocharged 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine, delivering 175 horsepower and 195 pound-feet of torque, paired with a 7-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission and standard AWD. This engine provided ample power for both city and highway driving, with brisk acceleration and responsive handling, especially in Sport Mode. The Seltos exhibited minimal body roll in turns and maintained a smooth ride over bumps, combining attributes typically expected from a luxury SUV.

The 2021 Honda HR-V was powered by a 1.8-liter four-cylinder engine, producing 141 horsepower and 127 pound-feet of torque, paired with a CVT. AWD was available on all trim levels, with FWD as standard. The powertrain remained unchanged from previous models, resulting in underwhelming highway performance and an ineffective CVT. Competitors like the Kia Seltos and Subaru Crosstrek offered more powerful engine options. However, the HR-V’s chassis compensated for its engine, providing a rewarding driving experience on twisty roads and decent ride quality. The HR-V’s AWD system was suitable for slippery roads but not for rougher terrains, and it lacked towing capabilities.

The 2021 Kia Seltos provided 26.6 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seats, expanding to 62.8 cubic feet with the rear seats folded, making it one of the most spacious subcompact SUVs. The SX Turbo trim included a hard cargo cover that doubled as a tray for small items. The Seltos featured numerous cubbies and compartments, with large cubbies and bottle holders in the front doors, a spacious center console, and a tray between the driver and front passenger. The rear seats offered ample head- and legroom, a rarity among subcompact SUVs.

The 2021 Honda HR-V offered impressive cargo space, thanks to the “Magic Seat” 60/40 split-folding rear bench seat. With the seat folded, it provided 58.8 cubic feet of cargo space (57.6 for AWD models), and 24.3 cubic feet (23.2 cubic feet with AWD) with the seat up. These figures surpassed competitors like the Chevrolet Trax, Hyundai Kona, and Subaru Crosstrek, though the Kia Seltos offered more cargo space. The HR-V excelled in rear-seat legroom, leading the segment, while front-seat legroom and headroom were average. The HR-V’s interior featured sensibly-designed controls, including large knobs for climate control and an audio volume knob. The narrow center console was dominated by a large shift lever, and a standard tilt-and-telescopic steering wheel made finding the perfect driving position easier.

The 2021 Kia Seltos’ base S trim included a 3.5-inch TFT digital screen in the instrument panel and an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system. The SX Turbo trim featured a Bose premium sound system, a 7-inch digital display screen in the instrument panel, and a 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment system. This large screen could display Apple CarPlay/Android Auto while also showing radio, climate, or navigation data. However, plugging in a smartphone via USB defaulted the audio to the phone’s output, which could be inconvenient. Only one of the two USB ports allowed data connection, with the other solely for charging. Despite these quirks, Kia’s infotainment system was straightforward and intuitive, with helpful home and hard buttons for easy menu navigation.

The 2021 Honda HR-V’s base LX trim included Bluetooth, a 5-inch display screen, and a four-speaker audio system. The Sport trim and higher levels featured a 7-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, while EX and EX-L models added SiriusXM satellite radio. The infotainment system was plain but functional, with two USB ports located in a cubbyhole ahead of the shifter. However, the 7-inch touchscreen was relatively small, and competitors offered Apple CarPlay and Android Auto as standard features across all trims. Honda required buyers to upgrade from the base LX trim to access these features.

The 2021 Kia Seltos came standard with front- and side-impact airbags, electronic stability control, a tire pressure monitoring system, and child-seat anchor latches. All trims except the base LX included a suite of driver-assistance features, such as forward-collision avoidance with automatic emergency braking and pedestrian detection, 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 with idle stop-and-go, cyclist detection, and a safe exit feature. The Seltos also had a feature that alerted drivers if the vehicle in front had moved when stopped, preventing the need for a courtesy honk from the driver behind.

The 2021 Honda HR-V received top “Good” scores in all IIHS crash tests and a “Superior” rating for its optional front-crash prevention tech. However, it received “Marginal” and “Poor” headlight ratings and an “Acceptable” rating for LATCH child-seat anchor ease of use. The NHTSA awarded the HR-V a five-star overall safety rating, with five stars in side crash testing and four stars in frontal and rollover crash testing. The HR-V’s EX and EX-L trims included Honda Sensing safety features, such as forward-collision warning, lane-departure warning, automatic emergency braking, Road Departure Mitigation, lane-keep assist, automatic high beams, adaptive cruise control, and Honda’s LaneWatch. Higher trims also upgraded the rearview camera with dynamic gridlines.