2021 Hyundai Santa Fe vs 2021 Kia Seltos

Despite its classification as a subcompact SUV, the 2021 Kia Seltos 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 such terrain. The two-tone roof design and red circles around the wheel centers added a touch of modernity and sportiness. Inside, the Seltos boasted a straightforward design layout with clean lines and seamlessly integrated tech features, reminiscent of more upscale brands like Audi. The clean LCD screen for climate controls and the touchscreen atop the dash added visual symmetry, while the handle framing the tray below the center stack underscored its utilitarian yet sporty nature.

The 2021 Hyundai Santa Fe, on the other hand, offered a more luxurious feel. The Calligraphy trim, in particular, exuded quality with its premium leather, suede-like headliner, and quilted stitching. The new bridge-style center console with storage underneath housed the electronic transmission controls, drivetrain settings, climate switchgear, and stereo controls. The 12.3-inch digital instrumentation panel added a high-tech air of sophistication. The exterior featured new running lights, a reworked grille, and a new bumper, giving each trim level a unique character. The Santa Fe's interior was designed to make you feel like middle-class royalty, with features like a full panoramic glass sunroof and a solid, refined action of the controls.

The 2021 Kia Seltos offered two engine options. The LX, S, and EX trims came with a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine producing 146 horsepower and 132 pound-feet of torque, paired with a continuously variable transmission (CVT). AWD was standard on LX and EX trims and optional on the S trim. This 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 generating 175 horsepower and 195 pound-feet of torque, mated to a 7-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission with standard AWD. This engine provided ample power for both city and highway driving, especially in Sport mode, which enhanced throttle response and steering feel. The Seltos handled well, showing little body roll in turns and maintaining a smooth ride over bumps.

The 2021 Hyundai Santa Fe offered three new powertrains. The SE and SEL trims came with a 191-horsepower 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine and an eight-speed automatic transmission. The hybrid models featured a turbocharged 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine combined with an electric drive motor, producing a total of 226 horsepower. The higher-level Limited and Calligraphy trims had a turbocharged 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine generating 281 horsepower and 311 pound-feet of torque, paired with an eight-speed wet-plate dual-clutch transmission. The Santa Fe offered Normal, Sport, and Smart driving modes, with the turbocharged engine providing impressive acceleration and handling. The EPA rated both the standard and turbocharged engines at 24 mpg in combined driving, with the turbo being slightly more efficient on the highway.

The 2021 Kia Seltos provided a solid amount of cargo space, with 26.6 cubic feet behind the rear seats and 62.8 cubic feet with the rear seats folded. This made it one of the most spacious subcompact SUVs on the market. The SX Turbo trim included a hard cargo cover that doubled as a tray for small items. The Seltos also offered plenty of storage compartments and cubbies, with large bottle holders in the doors and a spacious center console. The rear seats provided ample head- and legroom, making it comfortable for passengers.

The 2021 Hyundai Santa Fe, designed for those who didn't need a third-row seat, offered generous passenger room. All trims included dual-zone automatic climate control with Clean Air ionization. The Calligraphy trim featured premium Nappa leather, a suede-like headliner, and quilted stitching. The Santa Fe was equipped with an eight-way power driver’s seat and an available eight-way power front passenger’s seat, with heated and ventilated front seats, heated rear seats, and a heated steering wheel in the higher trims. The rear seat was spacious and comfortable, with air-conditioning vents, quick-charge USB ports, a power outlet, and rear side-window sunshades. The Santa Fe offered 36.4 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seats and 72.1 cubic feet with the rear seats folded.

The 2021 Kia Seltos came with a standard 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, and a 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment system. The infotainment system was intuitive, with a helpful home button and hard buttons below the touchscreen for easy menu navigation. However, only one of the two USB ports allowed data connection, which could be frustrating.

The 2021 Hyundai Santa Fe Calligraphy was loaded with technology, including a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, a surround-view camera system, and an 8.5-inch color head-up display (HUD). The basic 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system came with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, while the 10.25-inch touchscreen offered wired versions of these platforms, upgraded voice-recognition technology, and enhanced Blue Link connected services. The 12-speaker Harman Kardon surround-sound system with Clari-Fi digital music restoration technology was available with the larger screen. Blue Link provided a range of connected services, including remote engine start, climate control adjustment, and seat heating or ventilation activation. The Santa Fe also offered Digital Key and Remote Smart Parking Assist technology.

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 safety features, such as forward-collision avoidance with automatic emergency braking, 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 and cyclist detection.

The 2021 Hyundai Santa Fe offered an impressive array of safety features, especially in the Calligraphy trim. The forward-collision warning system included pedestrian, cyclist, and junction turning assistance. Safe Exit Assist used blind-spot monitoring sensors to warn occupants of approaching vehicles or cyclists. The rear-occupant alert system, available in mid-grade and higher trims, could detect movement within the Santa Fe for up to 24 hours. The Blind-Spot View Monitor displayed a video view within the digital instrument cluster when the turn signal was active. Highway Driving Assist combined adaptive cruise control with lane-centering and lane-following technologies. The Santa Fe earned a "Top Safety Pick" rating from the IIHS when equipped with LED projector headlights.